After watching the race from World Ducati Week it occurred to me that it would be smarter to wait until after the weekend to announce the departing of Diggia and Morbidelli before touting the arrival of the new crew. Also, I see that KTM has announced Diggia this morning. -T
Factory Ducati - MM & Pedro - confirmed Factory Aprilia - Bez & Pecco - confirmed Factory Yamaka - Martin & Ogura-san - confirmed Factory KTM - AM & Digi - confirmed Gresini Ducati - Holgado & Mir - confirmed Factory Honda - The Royale w/ Cheese & Diogo? VR46 Ducati - Fermin & (open slot) Bulega is tied to this seat and seems to be the most likely candidate for the call up given the relationship with Ducati Marini maybe? LCR Honda - David Alonso & Zarco Zarco a question mark after the accident Marini maybe if Zarco can't come back Trackhouse Aprilia - Raul & (open slot) Marini maybe? Pramac Yamaha - Toprak & (open slot) Marini maybe? Miller out Tech3 KTM - 2 open slots So then who is out of GP in '27? - Rins - Miller - Franky - Binder - Mav - his back & forth with Tech 3 isn't helping - Anyone else?
I thought I saw David Alonso is going direct to the Factory team and Diogo is staying on LCR. Marini is slated for Tech3 (or if Zarco retires, then LCR). Trackhouse is Enea and Raul. Pramac "might" be getting iZan Guevana from their Moto2 team.
The article I linked above says Alonso is going to Honda but that which team he's going to hasn't been decided. Interesting. These are still rumors thought, right? Nothing confirmed? Last I read Enea was free to sign with another team as his '27 KTM option expired. Raul is still a question mark as well. I need to start paying more attention to Moto2. I started watching the races more consistently, but the names haven't sunk in yet.
It's been a weird / unique silly season due to the late negotiations between MotoGP and the manufacturers and the independent teams. So many contracts were signed and "confirmed" in advance, but purposely withheld as leverage for the negotiations. Both Alonso and Enea I believe have the agreements essentially finalized and just need signatures (or might even have them already). Izan Guevara won the Moto3 championship a few years ago with numerous dominant performances, but took a long time to get going in Moto2. He hit his stride end of last year with his first win and is now 2nd in the championship. Pramac also took the spot the Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team on the grid as the BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 Team, so they have a direct line for talent for both Yamaha and Pramac.
The MSMA agreement certainly did hold up the silly season. On that note, you seen a detailed press release on the terms of MotoGP's "concorde agreement"? I haven't been able to find anything substantive; just the usual PR fluff; e.g., "great achievement", "amazing collaboration between all parties" blah blah blah. But no hard and fast numbers and dates other than the fact that teams are guaranteed a spot in the series for the next 8 years (?) but then it didn't say anything about the teams owning their seats or if Dorna/Liberty own them. Thank you for the context. Appreciate it.
When Izan came to Moto2, it was with much fanfare and high hopes. Wasn't util late last year he started to show some real potential, and this year he's really coming for it. I'm always going to root for Manu Gassss. but I'm expecting him to be the best of the rest this year against the maturing Izan.
I don't remember where I saw it, but I think teams will now be getting around an $8M media rights share (flat rate) instead of the previous $5M. MSMA/IRTA wanted a percentage instead of a flat rate, so they didn't get "everything they wanted", but the increase is certainly substantial. From what I understand, there are also considerable asks from MotoGP to the teams / riders / etc. to participate in more marketing and media activities. I have no idea if those are intended to be created by MotoGP, or if there is an expected amount of marketing manufacturers, teams, etc are meant to create themselves.
2027 Moto GP rookie influx story points out a few interesting moves. Factory Honda Royale with Cheese David Alonso (weird that Diogo doesn't move up as he's more senior than Alonso) VR46 Ducati Fermin Bulega is tied to this seat and seems to be the most likely candidate for the call up given the relationship with Ducati LCR Honda Zarco Diogo Marini maybe if Zarco can't come back? Trackhouse Aprilia - Raul ? Enea ? Pramac Yamaha Toprak Izan Guevara ? Tech3 KTM Manu Gonzalez or, Senna Aguis
From what I heard/read, Tech3 is good to go with Senna Agius. Steiner said he wanted a pair of riders that complimented one another. A your up and comer (Senna) and someone more experienced. It sounds like the first option is Luca Marini. If he ends up staying within Honda to replace Zarco, then Tech3's #2 choice is Brad Binder. Unfortunately it does look liekly that Manu might get overlooked this round. Izan and Bulega's seats sem to be the most questionable still, but I don't see Manu beating out those two for the spot. Bulega being a VR46 Academy rider and winning the WSBK title and clearly also getting support from Ducati and Izan close in points to Manu and also already riding for Pramac / Yamaha in Moto2. I'd also argue that those teams don't "need" to make any announcements or quickly sign riders since there's a handful of good candidates available and pretty much all of the other teams are sorted.
Life isn't fair, and racing really isn't fair, but it would be a huge injustice for other Moto2 riders being moved up over Manuel Gonzalez.
Maybe. But, every time i see him on TV or in interviews he seems like a dickhead. Just the vibe i get from my armchair. Plus, talented Spaniards are a dime a dozen. No need to put up with bullshit if there are others ready to come aboard without the baggage.
I believe each team is required to have one. That said, I think it wouldn't be uncommon for those announcements to happen after all the grid spots for 2027 are announced. I'm sure many of those contracts are complete as well, but just lined up waiting for more important announcements to take place.
I highly doubt a up and coming fast moto 2 rider would choose to sit on the sidelines as a backup GP rider but who knows. I guess stranger things have happened. The whole requirement seems like a joke.
I don't mind the idea. What's the alternative? Move out of the GP circus and then be an outsider? If you're a young rider, aren't getting the call, isn't this the next best opportunity? You get a decent salary, stay in the GP circus, continue to develop your professional connections, and you remain in the conversation. Moreover, riders age out of the sport and move out due to injury. When that happens you're there. That's the happy path.
I'd also argue that as the official backup rider, a high level of confidence has already been placed on you to perform well on a GP bike if the need arises. There's a very good chance an up and comer who doesn't have a grid slot could choose this as a possible path upwards to demonstrate their skill and speed and intelligence throughout testing and those possible fill-in races.
That's the detail that I've not seen anywhere else. If I were to be a backup rider, I'd want to be a part of every test and then some to stay bike fit and up to speed with the machinery in order to be reasonably competitive when called into action. If I were a manufacturer, I'd want to get something out of that track time beyond just keeping a guy ready. I'd want him to actually do testing for development of the bike, and you're just not gonna get good feedback from a moto2 graduate/MotoGP rookie, so obviously you're going to employ a Brad Binder or Jack Miller. I really don't see MotoGP teams making room for rookies as replacement riders, except maybe for a satellite team where they can focus on rider development instead of the bike, but in a satellite team with factory contracted riders even that doesn't seem likely.
