2025 Silly Season

mikesbytes said:

At 18 he's got a long MotoGP career in front of him

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or a very short one.

Probably the same as it ever was, just not enough motorcycles for all the talent that is coming down the pipeline.

Only aliens need apply.

#22 said:

Aldeguer confirmed to move to MotoGP for 2025. Doesn't state which Ducati team, but it must be Pramac.

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Guess that puts an end to the idea they don't like Spanish guys. So Pramac going back to being the Ducati junior team, I like it, hopefully room for another young guy on the team too next year.

MdubSTYLIE said:

or a very short one.

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True, all it takes is one wrong move. Look at Bezzechi now. He could be riding a factory supported GP24 and now he's at the tail end of the points being whipped by someone many consider a 'pay rider'.

#22 said:

True, all it takes is one wrong move. Look at Bezzechi now. He could be riding a factory supported GP24 and now he's at the tail end of the points being whipped by someone many consider a 'pay rider'.

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His expectations will be high because he will be on the best bike in a seat a lot of riders would like.

This is a bold move this early in the season but with 8 bikes on the grid Ducati can afford it.
Before the season started many seemed to take Aldeguer winning the championship for granted but I'm absolutely not sure how he'll perform over the course of the season. Moto2 is unpredictable at times.

JFM01 said:

This is a bold move this early in the season but with 8 bikes on the grid Ducati can afford it.
Before the season started many seemed to take Aldeguer winning the championship for granted but I'm absolutely not sure how he'll perform over the course of the season. Moto2 is unpredictable at times.

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It seems he doesn't like the Pirellis as much as he liked the Dunlops. This year will be a testament of how faces this adversity and comes out of it. Having the ducati contract in the bag already should ease up the pressure on him.

MdubSTYLIE said:

His expectations will be high because he will be on the best bike in a seat a lot of riders would like.

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If Ducati starts applying the Helmut Marko train of thought to rider development, he's got a year to produce or get sacked.

Perhaps Ducati's early signings have 2 strategies;
1. Lock in those who have a early signing
2. The reduced availability forces the other riders into negotiations that favours Ducati

Interesting link here:

Ducati hace oficial el fichaje de Aldeguer

The Portugal GP week starts with the official announcement by Ducati of the signing of Fermín Aldeguer for MotoGP. The rider from Murcia will move up from Moto2 to the premier class in 2025 as an official rider of the Italian factory, which will still have to decide which team to place him in and signed him to a 2+2 contract, with the bike of the previous year in the first year and the bike of the corresponding year in the following years.

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I read that as Aldeguer getting a GP24 next season, then a GP26 in 2026. Interestingly, on the-race podcast where they discussed this topic, they said that the contracts with Pramac and VR46 expire at the end of this yr. The question was raised about where would Aldeguer be on a year old bike because Pramac currently use factory bikes. It has been mooted that a new contract could allocate 1 factory bike to Pramac, with the second going to another team.

Of course, it could be that they plan to continue as is, and are waiting to see what GP24's will be free next yr to place him on. For example, if say The Beast and Bezzechi go to Pramac, Martin or Marc Marquez goes to the factory Ducati, then in theory Aldeguer could be on a VR46 or Gresini bike

#22 said:

Interesting link here:

Ducati hace oficial el fichaje de Aldeguer



I read that as Aldeguer getting a GP24 next season, then a GP26 in 2026. Interestingly, on the-race podcast where they discussed this topic, they said that the contracts with Pramac and VR46 expire at the end of this yr. The question was raised about where would Aldeguer be on a year old bike because Pramac currently use factory bikes. It has been mooted that a new contract could allocate 1 factory bike to Pramac, with the second going to another team.

Of course, it could be that they plan to continue as is, and are waiting to see what GP24's will be free next yr to place him on. For example, if say The Beast and Bezzechi go to Pramac, Martin or Marc Marquez goes to the factory Ducati, then in theory Aldeguer could be on a VR46 or Gresini bike

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Assuming accuracy of the press release it could also mean that Pramac will have one current bike and one previous bike

mikesbytes said:

Assuming accuracy of the press release it could also mean that Pramac will have one current bike and one previous bike

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Perhaps leaves it open for Gresini (or VR 46) to have one current/factory bike next year as well. I imagine had it been up to Ducati Morbidelli wouldn’t have been chosen to be the recipient of a GP 24 ride.

Due to Morbidelli’s pre season injury we won’t know his performance on the Ducati until a bit more into the season by which time it will be too late for the silly season

mikesbytes said:

Due to Morbidelli’s pre season injury we won’t know his performance on the Ducati until a bit more into the season by which time it will be too late for the silly season

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Sure, but I don’t think Ducati would have chosen to have him on a GP24 before the season started, and I could see Ducati wanting to give Gresini a current bike going forward. Even apart from MM but possibly still related to him Gresini’s contract with Ducati is I believe up at the end of the season and KTM reputedly would like another KTM team.

#22 said:

Interesting link here:

Ducati hace oficial el fichaje de Aldeguer



I read that as Aldeguer getting a GP24 next season, then a GP26 in 2026. Interestingly, on the-race podcast where they discussed this topic, they said that the contracts with Pramac and VR46 expire at the end of this yr. The question was raised about where would Aldeguer be on a year old bike because Pramac currently use factory bikes. It has been mooted that a new contract could allocate 1 factory bike to Pramac, with the second going to another team.

Of course, it could be that they plan to continue as is, and are waiting to see what GP24's will be free next yr to place him on. For example, if say The Beast and Bezzechi go to Pramac, Martin or Marc Marquez goes to the factory Ducati, then in theory Aldeguer could be on a VR46 or Gresini bike

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That is quite interesting. It makes sense if the plan is to go back to Pramac being a junior/development team. Then one factory bike to Gresini or VR46.

mikesbytes said:

Due to Morbidelli’s pre season injury we won’t know his performance on the Ducati until a bit more into the season by which time it will be too late for the silly season

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Frankie won't be riding in GP next season imo. He's had enough time to produce. Granted he had that one season on the M1 where he looked outstanding. I know injuries haven't helped, but realistically, Ducati isn't going to sit around waiting to see if he does something or not. I'd guess he's got a couple of months to show something before they start looking for another rider. WSBK is his future.

Mauro Grassili confirmed in an interview on MotoGP.com that Aldeguer will be at Pramac.

So, if the above is true. Pramac will have 1 factory seat for next yr, and 1 yr old bike.

JPSLotus said:

Frankie won't be riding in GP next season imo. He's had enough time to produce. Granted he had that one season on the M1 where he looked outstanding. I know injuries haven't helped, but realistically, Ducati isn't going to sit around waiting to see if he does something or not. I'd guess he's got a couple of months to show something before they start looking for another rider. WSBK is his future.

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I personally think the only reason he is still in GP is because of his VR46 connection.

Talking about pressure. Morbidelli has less than 6 race weekends time to produce a miracle race win or several podiums to even have a fighting chance to stay at Ducati/MotoGP

To state the obvious all manufacturers want to win the riders world championship so they want to sign a rider who is capable of winning the world championship while the Satellite teams know they are unlikely to win the world championship so they want riders who can get the bike on the podium.

Honda - The situation with Honda this year is they were unable to attract a rider who could win the world championship so they have focused on getting riders who can give them the feedback on what they need to do to their bike, hence Marani and Zarco to get the Ducati experience input and to do that they have had to partially knock themselves out of the 2025 silly season

Yamaha - There problem with riders is they are on the verge of loosing a rider of choice. Will they end up picking up a refugee such as Mir?. With only 2 bikes on the grid picking up an external rider such as from Moto2 isn't perhaps the best option

KTM - I'm assuming that they think they have the rider(s) to win the world championship so its a case of giving that rider the bike they need to win on. Having said that there's noise in the press about how KTM would love to have Marquez

Aprilia - Less info, looking like keep 1 rider and ditch the other to bring in a former world champion which also means that their satellite rider misses out. Not a lot of development gain from importing a rider

Ducati - Too many good riders to choose from and everyone wants a Ducati. They don't have the problems of the other Manufacturers