In February 2020, HRC and Marc Márquez pioneered the duration of their contracts after announcing a contractual relationship until the end of 2024. In a sport where contracts typically last a few seasons, that HRC strategy was replicated last week by KTM, who announced it will also work with Brad Binder through the end of 2024.
In the eyes of 2020 World Champion Joan Mir, this way of being has its advantages and disadvantages. A long-term contract for training in MotoGP allows the rider to be more relaxed and race without additional pressure. On the other hand, the driver risks being uncompetitive as there is no guarantee of how he will perform during the remaining years of the contract.
“If the driver is happy this is a strategy to keep in mind because it’s a good thing. You can be calmer and just focus on driving, but it’s true that it’s also a bit unpredictable because you don’t know if the bike will be competitive in 2023 and 2024. You don’t even know if you will be competitive next year. You take that risk, ”said the driver in Barcelona.