Despite a flurry of activity at the start of the 2024 season, the MotoGP silly season has now settled down. However, the calm is expected to be short-lived as the future of one of the sport’s biggest stars, Fabio Quartararo, remains uncertain. The 2021 world champion faces a dilemma: stay with Yamaha and hope for improvements, or take a leap of faith and join Aprilia for potentially less money. These are the only viable options for the Frenchman, as Ducati and KTM already have their factory teams set, and the Repsol Honda is not a desirable choice. Quartararo may find hope in Aprilia’s improving bike, but it would require adapting to a V4 engine after riding Yamaha’s inline four throughout his MotoGP career. Furthermore, the financial aspect may not be a significant factor for the well-paid 24-year-old, who is primarily focused on returning to winning form. Yamaha’s financial resources play a larger role in the long run, as the series plans to rewrite the rulebook for 2027, necessitating the development of new MotoGP machines. This step will benefit teams with ample resources, and Yamaha’s potential with Quartararo could surpass that of Aprilia and its less-funded racing program. However, the delay in making a decision is not necessarily detrimental to either Yamaha or Aprilia. Yamaha can continue improving its current bike, taking advantage of new concessions by implementing updates and scheduling tests for Quartararo and his teammate. Meanwhile, Aprilia has time to assess Quartararo’s situation and consider potential candidates for the next season. Both of their current riders have shown strong performances in the first two races of the 2024 season. Additionally, Aprilia is awaiting the outcome of the second seat at Ducati’s factory team, as this will impact their target list. As a result, the battle for 2025 rides is expected to remain on hold until the series returns to Europe in a month’s time.
Ferrari has announced that Charles Leclerc will have a new race engineer for the upcoming Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Xavi Marcos, who has been Leclerc's engineer since 2019,...
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