The first pre-season test of the 2024 MotoGP season has sparked speculation about the upcoming grid. This includes not only where riders will go, but also the machinery each team will have in their garage. Several MotoGP manufacturers are working hard to expand their grid presence, especially as Ducati currently dominates the grid with eight out of 22 spots. This is a situation that MotoGP series promoter Dorna wants to change, as Ducati’s rivals are facing issues with bike development and talent progression due to their limited line-ups.
KTM is one of the manufacturers facing these challenges. In 2023, they went through a well-publicized drama trying to find a space for rising star Pedro Acosta. Eventually, they had to let go of Pol Epsargaro to make room for Acosta. This has put pressure on KTM to ensure they have more bikes in the field by 2025. Pit Beirer, KTM’s head of racing, stated that they are in the process of evaluating whether they need a third team or if two teams are sufficient. They are discussing contracts and looking for potential partnerships, but it’s not a simple decision as some teams are content with their current arrangements.
Yamaha’s challenge lies in getting extra data to help fix their troubled M1 bike since they lost the Petronas SRT team after 2022. Team boss Lin Jarvis openly expressed the team’s desire for a replacement. He mentioned that there are three satellite teams without contracts for 2025: Pramac, LCR, and VR46. Additionally, there are 18 or 19 riders without contracts for the following year. Yamaha and KTM are currently making public moves, while Ducati doesn’t require more customers, Honda seems to have resolved any threats to its LCR relationship, and Aprilia has recently partnered with American newcomer Trackhouse. However, any successful recruitment by Yamaha or KTM will have wider implications.
Now let’s take a look at the state of play for the satellite teams. Valentino Rossi’s squad, currently supplied by Ducati, has attracted attention from three manufacturers. Ducati has been vocal about being close to a deal, but Rossi’s history with Yamaha and the team’s previous connections to KTM have generated interest from others. Pramac Racing, closely associated with Ducati, could be a target for Yamaha if their other options don’t work out. However, Yamaha would need to provide top-level support to rival Ducati’s longstanding partnership with Pramac.
Marc Marquez’s team, Gresini, recently renewed its customer deal with Ducati until the end of 2025. While it may not want to switch even after that, given their familiarity with Ducati’s year-old bike, they could be the team to make way if one manufacturer misses out on their preferred number of bikes. Lucio Cecchinello, the boss of LCR, has been loyal to Honda for nearly two decades and has shown no intention of changing. Increased support from Honda this year should strengthen their partnership, making it unlikely for LCR to switch to another manufacturer.
Trackhouse Racing, a new entry in MotoGP, has found a perfect match in Aprilia and is keen to build a closer working relationship with them in the coming years. It’s highly unlikely that Trackhouse will change machinery anytime soon. The same applies to Tech3, which has a close relationship with KTM’s parent group, Pierer Mobility Group. Tech3, now running under KTM’s Spanish brand GasGas, has been a long-time Yamaha partner and is comfortable where they are. It would take something exceptional to tempt them away, although it is not entirely impossible.