The transfer market in MotoGP is rarely dormant, but it became insomniac as soon as World Champion Fabio Quartararo's manager Eric Mahé opened the opportunity for negotiations by signaling that "everything was open" for 2023. Since , behind the scenes forgot about it until the winter break was declared, Honda joining the rumors of discussion to stir up this New Year's Eve period a little more. While 2021 is at its twilight and the dawn of 2022 is coming, let's take stock of a year 2023 which is already taking on the air of a big evening.
fabio quartararo won his first world title, which is also historic for a French driver masterfully behind the handlebars of a factory M1 Yamaha who must now return the favor, with a big technical boost. More or less, this is the situation at the negotiating table for 2023 between the man from Nice and the Iwata factory. Responses are awaited for the tests Sepang, in Malaysia, in early February. This does not prevent competitors, alerted by this situation which can lead to disappointments conducive to separations, from reacting...
It's from Honda what came from this reaction. The brand with golden wings is at a crossroads with a Marc Marquez whose contract ends in 2024 and who is not coming out of a series of injuries which are taking a toll on his almost thirty-year-old body. Meanwhile, the next generation is growing and not taking it into account would be a strategic error that would be damaging for the future. At HRC, we know this, so much so that we are working hard on a new, more docile RC213V. We also wonder about Pol Espargaro which, if it is not unworthy, does not fill the decision-makers in Tokyo with joy who are therefore eyeing fabio quartararo, But also Joan Mir.
Something to pay attention to Yamaha et Suzuki. Iwata's brand doesn't really have a plan B for the one who brought her a drivers' crown that had been missing since 2015. She is recovering from the stormy divorce with Maverick Vinales, Andrea Dovizioso must prove himself at age 35 and Franco Morbidelli regain use of his knee. The Hamamatsu manufacturer seems less in doubt since Joan mir has given a discharge on the first developments seen on the GSX-RR at the Jerez tests. alex rins seems able to provide cover in the event of a resounding defection and, internally, we have recognized its errors of evaluation, which should lead to the hiring of a team manager.
Transfer market: calm seas expected at Ducati
At KTM, we invited ourselves into the ball of rumors by pointing out that the choice of drivers for its four RC16s was also “ open » with a view to 2023. However, we are focusing more on internal changes than on sensational arrivals, these movements can also take the form of dazzling promotion in the case where Peter Acosta would continue to amaze. It remains that if Brad Binder seems to be immovable, the case of Miguel Oliveira is more vague. Seeing the Portuguese slip away under another awning is not science fiction.
For its part, Aprilia is satisfied with having a top pilot of the caliber of Maverick Vinales. And the latter is happy to have found this refuge after his complicated separation with Yamaha , so stormy in fact that the Spaniard no longer seduces, despite his real talent. The community of interests is such that the couple's relationship amounts to a marriage of convenience. On the other hand, we will have to think about the future Aleix Espargaró in Noale. The latter has already announced that he does not imagine doing more than two years. The choices to be made will depend on the level of the RS-GP, a machine which remains in progress.
We end with Ducati where there is not much left to say. And for good reason: the Desmosedici has reached such a level in terms of performance in MotoGP that it determines supply and demand. Gone are the days of hiring an established champion at great expense. On the other hand, internal mutations will be possible, and in particular between George Martin et Jack Miller on who will have the red suit after 2022. Otherwise, Pecco Bagnaia has the status of leader while the other pilots would be largely satisfied with keeping their place in their satellite structure.
