The coronavirus crisis and its consequences, of which the confinement of the population was a major effect, have upended the rules and perspectives of an entire MotoGP paddock placed on technical unemployment. What was true before is no longer true today and the economic situation of the competing parties has been turned upside down. Relations between the teams and the drivers in the discussion of their agreements have taken a new trajectory marked by an uncertainty of the future which will push for rigor. Everyone will have to take a step towards each other in the new world that is being announced to us. Woe to those who have not yet signed. As for the others, Hervé Poncharal, the boss of IRTA and Tech3 has his idea…
Le coronavirus is a major health crisis whose economic and social effects will soon reverberate and will undoubtedly last for a while. For the Grand Prix paddock, the impact on the teams will be violent, which will make the transfer market collateral damage. The boss of Dorna, Carmelo Ezpeleta admitted it to the microphones of Radioestadio in Onda Cero: “ I think everyone will negotiate down, not just those who haven't renewed yet. Drivers may have a contract, but agreements are always signed in a normal situation. In case of force majeure it is different and I think it will not be a problem. Everyone understands that you earn legitimately when you do your job, but it's another thing when you're at home going through a situation that no one can escape. »
Carmelo Ezpeleta thus implies that even contracts already signed can therefore be reviewed in the light of this new situation. Maverick Vinales, fabio quartararo et Marc Márquez, for example, would not have the assurance of the conditions already validated. It will be recalled that Tito Rabat has his contract outstanding since last year whileAlex Rins just signed his with Suzuki, and therefore under the era of this crisis.
But what about the other three mentioned above? And more precisely, the position of the boss of Dorna does it add weight to the argument of Razlan Razali, at the head of the team Petronas Yamaha, who said that without a 2020 season, he could keep fabio quartararo home in 2021, the year the Frenchman is due to join the factory team Yamaha en lieu and in place of Valentino Rossi ?
An answer comes to us fromHervé Poncharal, who knows the environment well. The boss of IRTA and Tech3 thus specifies Speedweek. com through Simon Patterson: “ maybe there will be discussions between managers and manufacturers about the signed contracts. But they have agreements validated on both sides, which are binding and valid documents » begins the Frenchman.
Then he focuses on the case of his brilliant compatriot, now 21 years old: “ Fabio has signed a contract to join the factory team. It’s something he’s dreamed of and it’s a sealed deal. I haven't spoken to him, but I'm sure he wants to go. I can understand Razlan's frustration because he invested in a complete factory bike for 2020, and I'm sure he feels like he's set for an incredible season. Maybe win some races and maybe even the title. Everything was possible on paper. Now he risks losing those ingredients and facing uncertainty in 2021, as he may no longer have the budget for a factory bike and doesn't know which rider will sit on it ", added Poncharal.
« A contract is a contract and Fabio will be an official rider for Yamaha in 2021. However, I understand Razlan and recognize the incredible work he has done over the years to build the team and having an incredible 2019 season with Fabio and Franco. Unfortunately, it's part of life and no one in MotoGP is responsible for it, but everyone suffers from it »
Hervé Poncharal would prefer to regulate the transfer market later. Similar to what has already happened with the engine spec and aero package, he offers a solution: “ I would also like the driver market to be frozen. But of course my position is different from that of Razlan because my pilot has not yet signed for another one. I don't know if Ducati, Suzuki, Honda or any other team will approach my riders and try to sign them. For the moment, this is what I would like to do. But it's not urgent yet, we have other things we need to take care of first. » Including the essential one of having a 2020 season.
