The insecure future for half a MotoGP grid

The MotoGP championship has already completed the first third and in these three almost consecutive appointments of Le Mans, Mugello and Catalunya, riders have to defend their position or attack the opponent in front of the so -called ‘contract mode. ’, their results will judge what their managers can talk about at a time that is also very critical of the economy. Not only because the crisis in 2022 is causing a factory like Suzuki, at least that’s what they say, to leave two top riders and a group of people from the ‘Champions League’ lying, it’s also trying to lower offers, both for that. they plan to renew for those who want to change scenery, and with so much ‘overbooking’, no team is in a hurry to tie up contracts for 2023.

And then there’s the unknown that could also extend the wait: if the championship goes from 12 to 11 teams, if Aprilia makes the two missing bikes available to a customer team, which will be Yamaha’s customer if RNF confirms of Razali his desire to separate himself from Yamaha, and whether the Leopard who had already raised his hand would extend to MotoGP and to whom.

Paco Sánchez, Joan Mir’s manager who was surprised that his renewal deal with Suzuki ended in nothing, also put his finger on another wound in a statement on autosport.com: “I will keep more or less same conditions. we’re with Suzuki. This is our priority. Otherwise, Joan will go home. She won’t be racing here for zero or for the rude contracts that KTM, Ducati are now giving to their riders. “

Joan Mir, one of the three MotoGP world champions on the grid, points to a factory team, but Between a few things and others, he just didn’t reach the podium area in this first third. Your partners alex rins, that he was in the same situation that he was almost on the brink of signing a renewal with Suzuki when the news of the championship panic broke, he could use his two podiums and that he became co-leader to find a good official seat .

The five with contracts

Marc Márquez (Repsol Honda), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) and Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) are certain of their future until 2024 and none of them need to justify themselves on the results, Marc said untouchable in HRC as he is the champion, Binder already has the podium despite the fact it is dropping and Bagnaia is living on a permanent roller coaster, a gray start, in Jerez his first victory with the Grand Chelem included for Le Mans to fall in the first one-on-one with Bastianini, by far the best Ducati this 2022 Franco Morbidelli also have a contract but until 2023, although his results -7th in the rain lottery in Indonesia is the best – put him in a serious commitment if not read by the VR46 manager handling his tasks. the small print is fine.

No one is in a hurry to negotiate

In this situation, those responsible for MotoGP teams go back to their old habits without rushing and decide on renewals and registrations around the summer instead of doing it in the preseason or first GGPP as happened with the last contracts before the pandemic. Even good results don’t make things easier. The win and three more podiums in a possible seventh and second in the championship did not soften Aprilia, considering Aleix Espargaro Their priority is the foundation on which they built their successful RS-GP, the second best bike on the current grid, but it doesn’t make sense that they want a 30% increase. Aleix has already sent an ultimatum: for Catalunya GP his future must be resolved.

Sa yamaha not in a hurry to renew, waiting for an economic offer at the level of a world champion who apparently did not receive from Jarvis, is fabio quartararo, the World Cup leader, and since November Iwata has been breaking the rock. He has another key to ‘mercato’, or nothing. If you have high economic hypocrisy, you have no place even in Repsol Honda, where Marc Márquez is already the best paid on the grid, and in Ducati, if we pay attention to the statements of those responsible, they want to ‘play ‘along with the parts they already have in the House. The others have no money.

Enea Bastianini He has already signed a two -year contract with a GP Factory from Ducati and now Borgo Panigale must decide whether Pecco Bagnaia will include him in the official team or keep him at Gresini Racing where he is reaping so much success in the family structure. this.

Two podiums started Jack Miller now 2022, but if there is no space at the Ducati Factory, his manager Aki Ajo is looking for a change of scenery at KTM. And Jorge Martín has a podium, running for that second Ducati in the official box with Bagnaia, but also amassing five zeros that will leave him at Pramac Racing where he will continue as Zarco’s partner who appreciated the two podiums for his part.

They restrict Moto2 and Superbike

Aside from the dangerous ‘mercato’ situation due to their results, many riders risked losing value or losing seats and they also sailed from Moto2 and Superbikes, respectively Ai Ogura (Idemitsu LCR Honda ) at Toprak Razgatlioglu (Yamaha).

So far, none of the four rookies are at the level of Jorge Martín or Enea Bastianini, who already scored more points last year, but they are favored by choosing a team that wants to act as a junior team in a factory. The best of them Bezzecchi, led by VR46 Management, shouldn’t have a problem staying in the orbit of the Mooney VR46, or for obvious reason Luca Marini despite his poor 9th result at Le Mans, the best-, but Celestino pushed Vietti, the leader of the Moto2 World Championship, another VR46 Academy.

The Honda Riders they have the handicap that all the benefits they taught in the preseason with Honda’s radical renewal are gone and it doesn’t help them either. Alex Márquez is seven points lower than last year at this point and Taka Nakagami, who has already had a gray year, is repeating himself. In the Repsol Honda Pol Espargaró contributed a lone podium and had 11 more points, but many wolves claimed his bike and he was not fighting for the championship.

of KTMs They were in a similar situation, although Brad Binder’s podium finish in Qatar and Miguel Oliveira’s victory in Indonesia signaled a good year for KTM, but they have faded. The Portuguese seem to be their first choice, but they already have several pilots in the pipeline.

either Maverick Vinales it can be very attractive in its adaptation to the Aprilia because many are already starting to apply for that bike -Rins, with better results, one of them-. Argentina’s 7th is the best, but his teammate Aleix Espargaró is fighting for the championship.

And of the failed return of Andrea Dovizioso about Yamaha a little more to check – the 11th in Portimao is the best – and in the seventh GP he started throwing things at the team owner who in 2023 wants to be the junior team of some factory. Leaving him in 2020 as fourth in the world championship, closing his Ducati stage, was a withdrawal at the height of a three-time runner-up.