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Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team

The 2021 MotoGP champion has never looked more unhappy, and Yamaha looks no closer to providing him with the competitive machinery his undeniable talent demands.

Quartaro won’t go elsewhere next season as he’s under contract, but the knock-on effect will be if other manufacturers make room in 2025.

Quartararo’s age and brilliance mean most teams would love to sign him, and if Yamaha can’t give him the guarantees he needs, talk of where he could go next will dominate the 2024 season.

One of MotoGP’s most promising riders will vacate his current seat next year.

Morbidelli entered 2023 under intense pressure in the final year of his contract, but the early signs were promising. He briefly surpassed Quartaro.

Lynn Jarvis, Yamaha’s CEO, even named Morbidelli as his No. 1 choice for the factory bike next season if he keeps up his good form.

But Yamaha’s ties to Jorge Martin and Marco Bezecchi won’t go away, and Morbidelli must know his fate will be decided soon.

The Mooney VR46 team has a clear landing spot for Morbidelli if Marko Bezecki goes ahead. The obvious connection is that Morbidelli is one of four VR46 Academy graduates on the current network.

Ducati Lenovo Team

There is no doubt that the reigning MotoGP champion, who currently leads this year’s MotoGP standings, will remain a Ducati factory rider next season.

Last season’s heroics with Gresini earned Bastianini promotion, but a shoulder blade injury sustained in the first sprint race meant his season has yet to begin. He will compete in Mugello next week but will not be fully fit.

Ducati boss Paolo Ciabati was asked if he would be willing to drop Bastianini in 2024, such is the competition for a factory seat.

“No changes are planned,” was his answer.

But it does remind Bastianini, even before his first Grand Prix as a factory Ducati rider, of the intense scrutiny he will face at the iconic Italian manufacturer.

Aprilia Racing

The network’s oldest rider is under contract through 2024 and has confirmed he will remain active for at least that long.

The intrigue surrounds how long Espargaro can fight, and therefore when Aprilia should replace him.

“If next year, at the beginning of the year, I fight with the best, then I will continue in 2025, if April wants,” he said.

Also under contract until the end of next year, there will be no movement for Vinales.

“From a contractual point of view, we are fixed for the next two years and hopefully more,” said Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola.

“I really believe we have maybe the best line-up of four riders in the paddock.”

Repsol Honda Team

Where to even begin? The six-time MotoGP champion has signed the sport’s most lucrative contract at the moment, which runs until the end of next year.

His fame has been synonymous with Honda, the team he has represented throughout his MotoGP career, but he enters 2023 demanding he be given a competitive bike or else he may find somewhere else.

But everything has changed since then. Marquez was injured, another physical blow to his growing prey. Honda have a genius rider on their books, but also one who has missed big times over the past four seasons. Now in her 30s, she’s not getting any younger either.

Jorge Lorenzo believes Ducati will make an offer to Marquez in 2025, but for a lower fee than he is used to. Choose the Honda money or the Ducati bike, argues Lorenzo.

Ducati has denied it wants a rider of Marquez’s age.

But with the sport’s most respected and successful rider entering the final year of his deal next year, with a bike that may not give him a chance at a seventh championship, there will certainly be a fight to lure him.

KTM has the same connection to Red Bull power as Marquez…

  • Joan Mir (contract until end of 2024) #36

With Suzuki the 2020 champion, things are going very badly for Honda.

But Mir is protected by another year on his contract and there is no suggestion that Honda would be keen to let go.

However, the pressure could come from Alex Rins, their satellite rider, who has so far outplayed his former Suzuki team-mate Mir.

LCR Honda Team Principal Lucio Cecchinello said of the Mir-Rins swap news: “Such a team change is excluded. I can vouch for that.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

Things are going pretty sweet for KTM at the moment. Miller was brought in from Ducati and is under contract for another year.

The only concern may be in 2025, when Marc Marquez could become a free agent and KTM may be inclined to make a move for him. But that’s an issue much, much later.

Binder is also under contract until 2024 with KTM, the team he has been attached to since 2015.

Gresini Racing MotoGP (Ducati)

Swapping Honda for Ducati has worked out well so far.

No significant ties to other bikes or teams. Marquez has a one-year contract, but Ducati has the option to extend it, meaning the Spaniard’s future rests in his team’s hands.

There is a lot of pressure on the young Italian and he is one of the favorites to lose his place in MotoGP altogether.

Toni Arbolino, who currently leads Moto2, is a name that has been heavily linked with replacing Di Gianantonio.

“Let’s see, it’s still a bit early, we need a few more races before we discuss next year,” said Ducati boss Paolo Ciabati.

But it sounds like a ‘now or never’ warning to Di Gianantonio, who is out of contract at the end of this season…

Prima Pramac Racing (Ducati)

The grid’s second-oldest rider could be a sacrificial lamb to enable Ducati to retain its prized assets.

Marco Bezecchi’s desire for a better bike and payday has sparked Yamaha’s interest, meaning Ducati will have to consider how to maintain this year’s breakthrough start. Moving to Pramak is an option.

If that happens, Zarco could drop out of MotoGP and get a WorldSBK spot.

For a long time it seemed a formality that Yamaha would give Martin the factory bike he wanted after ditching the Ducati Lenovo seat.

Martin is under contract through 2024, but has a clause in his contract that allows him to opt out early if he receives a factory offer.

He is reportedly the “first candidate” Yamaha wants for 2024.

But he is concerned that Yamaha “continues to not fulfill its promises to the engineers”, says Gazzetta dello Sport.

Clearly, the saga of Martin’s future is still to come. He may be the first domino to fall before the rider market avalanche moves.

Mooney VR46 Racing Team (Ducati)

His contract expires at the end of this season, but everyone knows Marini’s connections to VR46. And besides, his performances clearly warrant an extension, which he’s likely to get.

His stunning start to 2023, a championship-leading briefing, winning his and the Mooney VR46’s first-ever Grand Prix and now sitting one point off the championship leader, has made Betseki hot property.

Ducati now clearly has a good problem on its hands: how to keep an emerging prized asset happy?

“Marco now has a salary and technical package that matches the satellite team. It’s not fair for him to continue like this,” said VR46 head Uchio Salucci.

Bezzecchi added: “Being in a factory [team]? It’s a really nice thing.”

Yamaha are eyeing Bezeki with envy and may offer him a factory seat, so Ducati know they have to entice him to stay.

Switching to Pramac or a better package to stay in VR46 are options. The Ducati factory seat for 2024 is not an option.

In the background is VR46’s final decision whether to stay with Ducati or go to Yamaha.

Bezzecchi, like Martin, is a crucial cog in the 2024 MotoGP rider market, whose future will dictate many of his peers.

RNF MotoGP Team (Aprilia)

Aprilia have announced that they will keep faith with the current four riders, all of whom are under contract for next year as well.

The knock-on effect is Pedro Acosta, a brilliant teenage Moto2 talent that many manufacturers would love to have.

“When you have a super talent like Pedro, his name can be associated with all the manufacturers and I’m happy that his name is also with us,” said Massimo Rivola.

“It means we’re competitive and we have a good bike because you usually put good talent on top bikes. It’s good to hear, but it’s not true.”

Tech3 GASGAS Factory Racing (KTM)

Espargaro is under contract until the end of next season and KTM intends to keep faith with the experienced rider if he is unable to return to his best after his crash in Portimao earlier this year.

  • Augusto Fernandes (KTM contract ends 2023, option for 2024) #37

The lurking shadow of Pedro Acosta, who is already linked to KTM, is putting constant pressure on Fernandez.

KTM’s preference is for 19-year-old Acosta to stay in Moto2 for 2024. But he’s ambitious and talented, and they won’t want to let him go.

Acosta joked. “If I can’t wear orange, maybe red…”

But with no obvious vacancy at Ducati, Acosta said of KTM: “They have the experience to really plan what’s best for my career and me [first] season in MotoGP.”

Therefore, it is expected that Fernandez will stay next year.

LCR Honda Castrol/Idemitsu

He became the first Honda rider other than Marc Marquez to win a Grand Prix in Texas this year since 2018.

It was a reminder of his qualities, but Reigns has a deal that runs until 2024.

Something to watch out for might be his relationship with his own team. His public criticism that Honda did not use him enough for development did not sit well with his employers, Informa.es in Spain reported.

The only Honda rider whose contract expires at the end of this year.

Ai Ogura, his fellow Japanese rider, is tipped as next year’s replacement.

But Ogura has so far been unable to really stake a claim due to a botched Moto2 season.

However, Nakagami had to look over his shoulder.

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