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MotoGP | 2026 | Silly Season

Discussion in 'General' started by LukeLucky, Apr 15, 2025 at 7:24 PM.

  1. LukeLucky

    LukeLucky Well-Known Member

    It's only April, but why not...

    2026 MotoGP rider line-up <contracted through end of 2026>:
    • Marc Marquez - Ducati
    • Francesco Bagnaia - Ducati
    • Pedro Acosta - KTM
    • Brad Binder - KTM
    • Jorge Martin - Aprilia
    • Marco Bezzecchi - Aprilia
    • Fabio Quartararo - Yamaha
    • Alex Rins - Yamaha
    • Joan Mir - Honda
    • Fabio di Giannantonio - VR46 (contract w/ Ducati)
    • Alex Marquez - Gresini
    • Fermin Aldeguer - Gresini (contract w/ Ducati + option for 2 more years)
    • Miguel Oliveira - Pramac (contract w/ Yamaha)
    • Raul Fernandez - Trackhouse
    • Ai Ogura - Trackhouse
    • Maverick Vinales - Tech3
    • Enea Bastianini - Tech3

    Riders with an option for 2026:

    • Somkiat Chantra - LCR (w/ Honda)

    Rider's whose contracts expire at the end of this year (2025):
    • Luca Marini - Honda
    • Jack Miller - Pramac (contract w/ Yamaha)
    • Johann Zarco - LCR (contract w/ Honda)
    • Franco Morbidelli - VR46

    So, barring any contract buy-outs (although those seem to be semi-normal now); "available" seats for 2026 are as follows:
    • 1x Factory Honda
    • 1x VR46
    • 1x Pramac
    • 1x LCR <assuming Chantra stays on the option / otherwise 2x seats>


    *Ref: https://www.crash.net/motogp/feature/1062005/1/2026-motogp-rider-line-grid-so-far
     
  2. superdino

    superdino Naturally aspirated twin-turbo

    Toprak to HRC, Marini excommunicated to WSBK
     
    Circacee likes this.
  3. Circacee

    Circacee Well-Known Member

    Toprak to BMW in 2027, new rules.Z

    Zarco to HRC next year.
     
  4. prospected

    prospected Well-Known Member

    Some of you guys need to step away from the Turkish pipe. Toprak will be 30 years old, has a larger build, and is jumping onto a completely new platform. Ben had significantly better testing performances when he was in SBK than Toprak did when he got a go on the GP bike. If Bulega's bike isn't breaking down and Bautista hadn't finally run down the age hill, Raz is riding around in 3rd, let alone if a bunch of other guys had ACTUAL equal machinery. Keenan's used car salesman skills are hard at work at this point.
     
    CRA_Fizzer, stk0308, wac and 2 others like this.
  5. Quicktoy

    Quicktoy Is it Winter yet?

    I think Toprak will get a HRC ride. I don’t think he’ll be more than a top 10 guy.
    I think Zarco will be in HRC colors next year unless he wants to keep the testing gig. I bet we also see Acosta on a VR46 bike. It doesn’t matter. Barring injuries, the next two titles are locked up imho.
     
    Phl218, Boman Forklift and jonathanp like this.
  6. Quicktoy

    Quicktoy Is it Winter yet?

    Just heard Yamahas new V4 on track on Facebook. It sounds good.
     
    Bruce likes this.
  7. scottn

    scottn Well-Known Member

  8. Used2befast

    Used2befast Well-Known Member

    It's obvious that the learning curve is very steep in MotoGP...the Texas Tornado was a race winning fool in WSBK but wins eluded him in MotoGP. Best finish was 4th on the year with yammy sprinkled with an occasional podium.
    Even Bayliss was able to win a MotoGP race but elected to stay in the WSBK paddock.
    Be careful what ya wish for Stoprak...you may NOT get it o_O
     
  9. LukeLucky

    LukeLucky Well-Known Member

    Just a reminder that both HRC riders are contracted through the end of 2026, so most likely, they'll stay there and "if" Toprak signs for Honda it would either be on LCR or the more long-term strategy of WSBK Honda + developing the '27 rules MotoGP bike. I do like that long-term plan and I think Toprak has shown that he can be both a fast racer and a good bike developer.
     
  10. Dave K

    Dave K DaveK über alles!

    A Honda contract is worth what Honda determines it's worth. They sign Toprak and they want him in the factory seat, one of (or both) are going where Honda tells them to go.
     
    Quicktoy likes this.
  11. Bruce

    Bruce Tuck & Roll

    In your own post don't you have Marini out of contract at the end of this season?
     
  12. LukeLucky

    LukeLucky Well-Known Member

    :crackup:....oopsie
     
  13. Spang308

    Spang308 Well-Known Member

    Chantra is pretty useless it appears. If Toprak ends up at Honda, Chantra will be the one hitting the bricks.
     
  14. stk0308

    stk0308 Well-Known Member

    Bayliss only won a MotoGP as a wild card, after he washed out of MotoGP and returned to the WSBK paddock.
     

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