Since its arrival in MotoGP a few months ago, American team Trackhouse has been clear that it wants to sign homegrown talent and bring a US rider back to the premier class grid. However, they want this to happen naturally and not by promoting someone who isn’t ready for MotoGP. This has been a long-term project due to the lack of obvious American stars in the pipeline. But Joe Roberts, a native of California, has recently shown great form in Moto2, achieving back-to-back podiums at Portimao and his home track in Austin. This could be the perfect time for Roberts to prove himself as the MotoGP rider market for 2025 becomes more competitive.
Trackhouse, as Aprilia’s new satellite team, wants to tap into its American roots, but team boss Justin Marks has made it clear that they won’t rush into promoting riders prematurely. Marks stated that the team is far from achieving its goal and that they need to understand the current status of American talent and the development ladder in the United States. Trackhouse is considering making investments to strengthen the talent pool and provide more opportunities for young riders. The team wants to be advocates for American talent and hopes that in the future, there will be multiple American riders in Moto2 and Moto3 who can make it to MotoGP based on their own skills and merit.
Until now, Roberts hasn’t been part of the conversation due to his lackluster career in Moto2 since 2018. He has only achieved one win and six podiums in 115 starts. However, his performance has improved significantly this year after joining American Racing. He currently sits just two points behind the championship leader, Sergio Garcia, with two consecutive second-place finishes. This unexpected opportunity could be Roberts’ second chance to enter the premier class on an RS-GP, four years after turning down an offer from Aprilia’s factory MotoGP team.
Trackhouse’s plans for 2025 will depend on what happens with Aprilia’s factory roster. Finalizing the roster has been delayed as Aprilia attempted to secure Fabio Quartararo, who ultimately chose to stay at Yamaha. Aprilia is likely to try to keep Fernandez in some capacity, whether it be with Trackhouse or as a number two rider in the factory team. Oliveira’s future with Trackhouse is less certain, considering his struggles in the opening races of 2024. While he currently has more points than Fernandez, Oliveira has been slower on pace. With many factory spots still up for grabs, Roberts will need to maintain his current form if he wants to secure a MotoGP seat.
Time will be Roberts’ biggest challenge in his quest to steal a seat from an established MotoGP race winner like Oliveira. He will need to consistently perform well until at least the summer break to have a chance of moving up to MotoGP next year. At 26 years old, Roberts is already reaching the later stages of his career, and MotoGP typically works on two-year contract cycles. If he can’t make it happen this time, Trackhouse may have to wait a long time to find another American rider who can end the drought in the premier class.
Since Nicky Hayden’s final appearance in late 2016, there has been a lack of full-time American riders in MotoGP, with Garrett Gerloff’s one-off appearance in 2021 being an exception due to COVID-related circumstances.