Tensions are rising in the MotoGP paddock. While Dorna had been uncompromising in blocking Jorge Martin's departure from Aprilia this summer, the championship organizer is now conspicuous by its silence in the face of a blatant injustice: Marcos Ramirez has just been fired by the American Racing team, despite a contract running until 2026.
The Andalusian pilot of 27 years will no longer participate in the Moto2 championship next season. The American team announced the unilateral termination of its contract in order to offer its place to Filip Salac, Czech rider without a ride for 2026.
RamirezDespite being under contract until 2026, he was forced to accept financial compensation to settle the matter. His future now likely lies in the World Championship. Supersport, probably in a factory structure.
At first glance, the affair might seem trivial. But behind the scenes in the paddock, this decision is causing resentment — and not just because of the forced departure of the Spanish driver.
Just a few months ago, Dorna had opposed the transfer of George Martin, then eager to leave Aprilia to join HondaThe organization had imposed a firm line: as long as his contract with the Noale brand was running, he could not be hired by another manufacturer.
« Either Martin would stay with Aprilia for another year, or he simply wouldn't be entered in the 2026 world championship. " he had then decided DornaA firm position — but one now perceived as profoundly inconsistent.
The pilots' anger over the Ramirez case:The manufacturers are protected, we are not"
Because in the case of Marcos RamirezDorna has taken no action to defend the rider's rights, despite him being in a similar contractual situation. Even worse, several paddock sources claim that the organization isn't even opposed to it, and that the Spanish rider's departure would be met "with a certain relief" behind the scenes.
This unequal treatment has caused a real shockwave among Moto2 and MotoGP riders. Many are denouncing a two-tiered system where manufacturers and teams are systematically protected at the expense of the riders.
« When a pilot wants to leave, they brandish the contracts. When a team fires a driver, everyone stays silent. ", a Moto2 rider blurted out, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Similar precedents exist: Bo Bendsneyder, Karel Abraham or, Miguel Oliveira all experienced unilateral terminations without any real intervention from Dorna.
This case highlights the structural imbalance between riders and teams in the world of MotoGP. In theory, contracts protect both parties; in practice, riders remain the most vulnerable, particularly in Moto2 and Moto3, where economic pressure often takes precedence over sporting stability.
While Dorna proclaims itself the guarantor of "contractual consistency" when it comes to George Martin, Marcos Ramirez pays the price for a policy with variable geometry.
And this time, the paddock does not intend to remain silent: several drivers are already planning to raise the issue with the International Racing Teams Association (IRTA) during the final in Valencia.
The contrast is striking: George Martin was prevented from fleeing a contract to join Honda, While Marcos RamirezHe, on the other hand, is simply thrown out.
The lesson, for many, is bitter: in the MotoGP In modern times, brands have rights, and drivers have options. Dorna, which is supposed to defend fairness, now seems to be playing a dangerous game — that of politics rather than that of sport.
