The transfer market is taking its course in a MotoGP paddock which is focusing its attention on the next squads of its satellite teams. A team LCR which is studying the case of a second pilot, Jack Miller whose prevarications worry at least the two Englishmen who are Redding and Lowes, that’s the hot news. But there is also a stable waiting patiently in the shadows before deciding on its next residents. This is the Avintia team.
And the Spanish team has something to look forward to: its two Ducatis are insured for 2018. So, no need to beg for a paid driver. Better, the troops of Raul romero can still decide on two GP17s or a GP17 and a GP16. A situation that arouses interest, obviously. Moreover, no less than six drivers are in the running for the two positions currently held by Hector Barbera et Loris Baz. They will therefore have to have an exemplary second half of the season to keep their jobs.
From this point of view, the sporting balance tilts towards Loris Baz. With his GP15, he is fifteenth overall and claims ninth and eighth places won at Le Mans and Assen. His teammate is eighteenth in the provisional standings with ten points less than the Frenchman, who does not have his GP16.
The team manager Agustin Escobar explains the situation crash.net : “ for the moment, our choice is not set in stone. We have a list of five or six names to consider and our current drivers are on that list. We are not in a hurry. The most important thing was to reach the agreement with Ducati for next year. Now, we will see how Loris and Hector will behave during the second part of the season, then we will decide. We will also see what the other teams will do before showing our cards ».
It is therefore urgent to wait. Concerning the Frenchman, who is recovering from forearm surgery, Escobar comments: “ we are happy with Loris because with the bike he has, he is performing well. But we also expect more from him in the second half of the season ».
The fact remains that it is the position of Barbera which seems the most fragile at Avintia. Especially since a certain Tito Rabat presented himself as a candidate of choice. And the Spaniard is known to the boss Rosemary for having been within the walls of what was then the BQR team in Moto2: “ Tito Rabat was the rider who scored the most points in Moto2, he is undeniably fast, but currently he is lost. He has changed chief mechanic three times, he is looking for a wheel to do lap times. It would be better if he had a Ducati because he would understand the bike better ».
We see it, the esteem for Rabat is intact. But this is not a guarantee: “ It is not obligatory that we take Spaniards and we are in consultation with Ducati even if the decision will ultimately be up to us. It is also possible that the rider comes from Moto2 ". Spoiled for choice...
