Rins says: “Suzuki and Suppo told me they would like to continue with me, this makes me calm”. Martin says: “My manager is in charge of my future and right now I can go to any team”. MotoGP has arrived in Europe and the rider transfer market is starting to get underway. Of the 24 riders on the grid, only a handful have a clear future: Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia, Franco Morbidelli and Brad Binder. Twenty seats are therefore still potentially free and the managers are moving to play their cards, but all things considered still without much haste.
The feeling is that of the calm before the storm, when the moves are prepared that will (potentially) change the chessboard.
Right now, the most valuable piece is Quartararo, the one rider who can trigger a chain reaction or not. Obviously Yamaha would like to keep him and the only alternatives for Fabio would be Suzuki and Honda. Getting on the GSX-RR would perhaps be his best option (from the point of view of the bike’s competitiveness and ease of adaptation) but the money for his fee is an obstacle that could be insurmountable. It’s a problem that would not exist with HRC, but in that case the point is another: not who wants to get on the second RC213V, but who wants to share the garage with Marquez, his father and master.
Dream teams are fascinating, but they often end badly (as happened with Lorenzo and Marc) so that seat would suit a younger and a rider who has not yet ‘arrived’ better. The names of Bastianini and Martin (the same ones competing for the second seat in the official Ducati team) are the hot ones, but there is an exception. It is that of Joan Mir, who might think of accepting the face-to-face with Marc.
For Enea (whose cachet is currently on the up) there are many open doors. We mentioned Honda which is perhaps the most ajar, unlike of course Ducati. Suzuki too, however, is looking into the possibility of having the Italian and Aprilia is also interested.
In Noale, at the moment, they are buying time. Aleix Espargarò has already declared that he wants to stay for another two years, but there is no rush to renew. Vinales could be the man to bet on in the future, but first they need to be sure that he will be able to be competitive on the RS-GP and a few more Grands Prix will help to clarify the ideas. Also because Maverick is unlikely to have any other options in an official team.
As always, they will be the ones to make the first move and then the satellite teams will adapt. After all, KTM also has to decide whether to fully confirm its current line-up or think about some changes.
The next few weeks will be decisive for clarifying the ideas.