Pramac Racing
In the same season the team ran in the 500 cc class with Japanese rider Norifumi Abe aboard a Yamaha YZR500.The team ran into financial difficulties mid-season and was not able to run a test program; their best result was a third place for Xaus in Qatar.[11][12] A podium in Brazil was the team's best result, while Biaggi scored two wins and finished the championship in third place.Many changes happened at the end of the season: Biaggi terminated his contract with Pramac and joined the Repsol Honda works team, Luca Montiron also left the team and founded JiR with Tamada as a rider while Pramac ended its relationship with Pons Racing to start a new project with Ducati and d'Antin.Hofmann had a more average season and he injured his hand in practice at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.Luis d'Antin resigned from the team midway though the 2008 season, at the German Grand Prix at the Sachsenring.[18] On 19 August 2009 it was announced Aleix Espargaró would race for Pramac in Indianapolis and Misano, the seat having been filled by Michel Fabrizio at Brno.He temporarily replaced Kallio who in turn filled in for Casey Stoner at the Ducati works team.The Pramac team competed in the 2011 championship with riders Loris Capirossi and Randy de Puniet[20] and achieving a sixth place as a best race result.[21] For 2013, Pramac Racing received Factory supported team Ducati status and fielded two factory-specification Desmosedici for works riders Andrea Iannone and Ben Spies.