The 2021 MotoGP season has barely started when we are already preparing for 2022, both in terms of the places of certain riders and the motorcycles that will equip the satellite teams.
On the drivers side, if those from the factory are generally assured of a 2022 season with the manufacturer (which does not prevent the first negotiations for 2023…), we risk seeing notable changes within the satellite teams where, at the 'image for example of Valentino Rossi, Danilo Petrucci, Iker Lecuona or even Lorenzo Savadori, many holders are not guaranteed to be there next year.
But before even worrying about who will ride their motorcycles, the satellite teams must first ensure that they will have motorcycles! And there, negotiations are underway…
From 2022, six satellite teams will be present on the grid alongside the 6 factory teams (i.e. a total of 24 bikes on the grid): Petronas Yamaha SRT, Pramac Racing, Tech3 KTM Factory Racing, Gresini Racing, LCR Honda and VR46 “Aramco” in place of the current Esponsorama/Avintia team.
Tech3 KTM Factory Racing has already announced that it has signed its five-year renewal with the Austrian manufacturer and we hardly see the team Honda LCR ride anything other than Hondas. In the same order of ideas, Petronas Yamaha SRT has no reason not to continue in the same vein, even if the arrival of the VR46 in MotoGP may have led us to believe for a moment that the Italian team would apply to recover Iwata's motorcycles, in the name of the long collaboration between Valentino Rossi and Yamaha.
In the current panorama, and admitting that Suzuki has indeed given up on supplying satellite motorcycles in 2022 (but as long as there is life, there is hope!), Ducati certainly appears to be a major player in this “private” transfer window, not only because they already supply six motorcycles in the premier category, but also because the other manufacturers hardly seem interested in supplying more than four riders.
Asked on Sky Italia at the start of the Jerez weekend, the sporting director of Ducati Corse, Paolo ciabatti makes statements which could also suggest that Borgo Panigale's desire is not to field four factory motorcycles next year but rather six, and perhaps even eight Desmosedici in total!
“Unfortunately, Esponsorama did not have its contract renewed and will therefore no longer be in MotoGP from 2022. We have never hidden that we would like to be able to count on a second independent team, and we are therefore carrying out our evaluations. The names are the ones everyone mentions: We have been talking with Gresini Racing and VR46 for a few days, but it is still too early to say more. In the coming days, we will seek to delve deeper into the situation and explore the possibilities. »
As the privileged status of the Pramac Racing team is in no way called into question (the announcement is expected to be made at Mugello), discussions with Gresini Racing and VR46 do not necessarily imply that Ducati will supply either of its teams: Borgo Panigale does not in fact rule out supplying the two teams Gresini Racing and VR46 !
“Eight bikes on track is a lot, but we have already done it in the past when, in addition to Pramac, we had Avintia and Aspar. If the opportunity arises, we will therefore evaluate it. »
And besides, unless Suzuki or Aprilia decide to provide satellite teams, there is actually no other solution...
Ducati 8
Yamaha 4
KTM 4
Honda 4
Suzuki 2
Aprilia 2
Total 24
