For several years, MotoGP has lacked an American rider, despite the significant potential the market represents. This year, the American team Trackhouse Racing debuted in the championship, and rumors suggest that Joe Roberts – the current leader of the Moto2 World Championship – could be one of their riders for 2025. This puts at least one of this year’s riders – Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández – at risk.
Randy Mamola mentioned to GPOne.com that Roberts is performing well this year. Despite spending a long time in the intermediate category without significant results, he pointed out an example that shows it doesn’t necessarily indicate an inability to succeed in MotoGP:
– He is doing very well this season. Looking at his overall career, he competed in the championship for seven years, an opportunity that not many riders get. However, anything can happen. Think about [Fabio] Quartararo, who, in the year he signed with Yamaha, had won one race and not many others. Two years later, he was the world champion in MotoGP. Joe Roberts has the talent; he managed to beat his competitors at Mugello, always staying ahead, and that’s positive.
The former rider highlighted Roberts’ quick adaptation to the new tyres introduced this year and, regarding the possible move to MotoGP with Trackhouse, acknowledged that it’s not an easy decision: ‘The new Pirellis have divided the riders; some have progressed faster and adapted better, and that’s what happened with Joe Roberts. The question is, can Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández fight for the top five? One of them is expected to make way for Roberts. Of course, it’s not an easy decision. For Aprilia, he could be an added value thanks to the US market’.