I think that was even a factor in the control tyre coming. As I understand it in the tyre wars days the factory teams got tyres free but Forna had to pay for the tyres of the satellite teams.
2025 Silly Season
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Crash.net has been pointing out that if Pramac stays with Ducati, then that means that there is a ride available for next year which is the current championship leading seat (team/bike). I would have thought that riders would be fighting for that seat, but perhaps the riders know something that I don't. E.g. I would think that Pramac would be a good destination for Bastianini, but all the talk is of him going to GasGas. No talk that I've seen of Vinales going there. While the possibility of Pramac going to Yamaha may well make them a less attractive offer, I would have expected more interest. Edit - it seems that I missed the news: Revealed: Enea Bastianini’s next destination after Ducati’s big decision In which case I'm still wondering why not Bastianini to Pramac.
Probably there is more interest in the Pramac rides, behind the scenes. But, I'm not seeing much of it.
Personally I think that Martin will continue to receive full support, and he's my current favourite for the championship.
Probably there is more interest in the Pramac rides, behind the scenes. But, I'm not seeing much of it.
Personally I think that Martin will continue to receive full support, and he's my current favourite for the championship.
“I think the priority is to understand what Maverick wants to do. And then if Maverick wants to stay, I'm the happiest person,” said Rivola.
This confirms what have been said here before... Seems Maverick is possibly looking for a golden contract before extend with Aprilia... Otherwise, why he wouldn't have done it before ? Aprilia is the best bike he can pretend in my opinion.
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This confirms what have been said here before... Seems Maverick is possibly looking for a golden contract before extend with Aprilia... Otherwise, why he wouldn't have done it before ? Aprilia is the best bike he can pretend in my opinion.
Aprilia boss delivers update on Maverick Vinales' future
Who will join Jorge Martin at Aprilia next season?
The IRTA/Dorna agreement for grid size might be the reason for the MV press release, though it's difficult to determine the exact strategy. It could be that KTM are pitching a "manufacturer" team to Dorna in hopes they will let go of the 2 reserve grid slots. If the public approve, they could pressure Dorna.
It could also be that BMW is not showing commitment to a MotoGP project in 2027, and the longer they remain noncommittal, the more difficult it will be for BMW to coordinate a new team. Maybe Dorna is trying to force them into an up-or-down-vote by releasing information about a potential alternative to BMW. If that's the strategy, it means BMW is the only viable manufacturer entrant, imo. No one else has pitched Dorna a serious plan.
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BMW is such a big player, that I can't imagine Dorna being keen to give those slots away to a badged KTM. Even if BMW is prevaricating. However, there may be other ways of achieving both MV Agusta and BMW.
The challenge that Paolo Campinoti and Pramac are facing is this.
Ducati:
- Pay your own riders (Ducati won’t foot the bill from next year on)
- Lease the bikes at USD 1 million each
- No guarantee the first choice relationship will continue if VR46 and Gresini keep performing at a high level
- Ducati has final say on staffing, especially crew chiefs
- But, bikes are instantly competitive, and while Martin leaving will leave a mark, results should still be enough to keep sponsors happy
Yamaha:
- Riders and bikes paid for by Yamaha (A rumored USD 12 million package for 2 years floating around)
- More autonomy on staffing
- First choice as a satellite team guaranteed, as Yamaha is not interested in expanding beyond 4 bikes
- Arguably higher level input into the M1’s development direction vs the Desmocedici’s
- Have to accept the fact that results will be middle of the road for a bit, and have to look at it as a long term project
Let’s see what they choose to do.
Ducati:
- Pay your own riders (Ducati won’t foot the bill from next year on)
- Lease the bikes at USD 1 million each
- No guarantee the first choice relationship will continue if VR46 and Gresini keep performing at a high level
- Ducati has final say on staffing, especially crew chiefs
- But, bikes are instantly competitive, and while Martin leaving will leave a mark, results should still be enough to keep sponsors happy
Yamaha:
- Riders and bikes paid for by Yamaha (A rumored USD 12 million package for 2 years floating around)
- More autonomy on staffing
- First choice as a satellite team guaranteed, as Yamaha is not interested in expanding beyond 4 bikes
- Arguably higher level input into the M1’s development direction vs the Desmocedici’s
- Have to accept the fact that results will be middle of the road for a bit, and have to look at it as a long term project
Let’s see what they choose to do.
Badge engineering is not enough to qualify as a new manufacturer. The GasGas bikes are homologated as KTMs.
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Yes, I agree with all of these. Particularly the first choice as a satellite team guaranteed. Particularly since there are noises of Ducati reducing the number of satellite teams - may be best to move first in case there are later opportunities later.
Another factor, as discussed above, is that riders will find Pramac a more attractive option given Ducati bikes, but on the other hand, with Yamaha Pramac can pay more and attract riders that way.
I think he had considerable bad luck, including Martin performing so well while he was having difficulties last year, and a guy who had won 6 titles wanting to be on a Ducati and showing some form on a 1 year old Ducati, rather than being treated badly, they did give him the factory ride in the first place. I can understand him not wanting to go back to a satellite Ducati though, the factory Ducati rides are tied up for years anyway, while he quite likely has good long term prospects at KTM, and having him with Acosta would be a very strong line up for KTM, he is a top class rider.
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To clarify, by 'treating him badly' I mean the generally disrespectful way he has been pushed out this season given he was until recently, ahead of Bagnaia in the championship.
I agree that he is better off prospect-wise elsewhere though.
I agree that he is better off prospect-wise elsewhere though.
Agreed. The article mentions that MV Agusta may have their own bodywork and chassis. That may or may not be enough for the GPC to recognize MV as a manufacturer.
There has been very little information leaking about Pramac's potential switch to Yamaha, but we are so late in the silly season, and Ducati's change in rider salary policy is so expensive, that Pramac may not have a choice. Mav is the only race-winning rider who is currently unsigned (IIRC), but he's probably not going to work for cheap.
Yamaha are struggling at the moment, but when RHD disappears in 2027, the Japanese will surely close the gap to the front.
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To be honest, it was always very difficult to find the best two seats for the four top riders of the current season.It’s the Ducati way.
Doesn’t matter if they have 2 bikes or 8, they manage to piss someone off with each contract cycle
It's not that they are pressing squares into round holes.
More the abundance of riches.
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Very good overview
If I'd be Campinoti, I'd switch to Yamaha.
The risk of becoming yet another satellite to Ducati Corse, versus being the only one for Yamaha, plus the financial side of the deal, would seal it for me.
Add also how aggressively Yamaha have poached know how from outside, namely Ducati, and how good testing team they are planning, then you can start to believe that come 27 and they'll be competitive again.
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Does their own chassis and bodywork make MV Augusta a different manufacturer? Dorna might say yes so they don't have to pay them for being a satellite team.
If Pramac stays with a GP25 on offer, which rider who isn't already contracted is best deserving of the ride?
If Pramac stays with a GP25 on offer, which rider who isn't already contracted is best deserving of the ride?
If you go by the current MotoGP standings, subtract those already signed for 2025, then you have either Vinales or Fabio G. at the top.
Fabio G. has shown that when his ... is on the line he can twist the throttle a lot harder !
Sure, I understand both his attitude and Ducati’s, and an abundance of riches is indeed the problem. There was no possibility that no Ducati rider would be unhappy, given Martin had demanded Bastianini’s seat or he would look to another manufacturer.
They have managed to have 2 pissed off high quality riders though, having picked MM perhaps partially for commercial reasons but also because they saw him as a threat on an Aprilia or KTM. I consider it a good thing to have what appears to be the top talent on the grid more dispersed among manufacturers, and we will get to see how much the quality of their bike vs the quality of their talent identification is involved in Ducati’s recent success. On a personal fan level I probably warm to Bastianini more than I do to Martin or Bagnaia, and he and Acosta imo give KTM a pairing to match any other manufacturer, with Binder no slouch either.
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