There are only four seats officially available on the MotoGP grid for 2025, and with the promotions of Ai Ogura and Fermín Aldeguer to the premier class already confirmed, at least one current rider will be left without a bike. This number could rise to two if the rumors of Somkiat Chantra joining LCR Honda prove true.
For two rookies to enter, two existing riders must exit the grid. One confirmed departure is Aleix Espargaró, who will retire at the end of 2024 to become a test rider for Honda. The other rider to leave could be one among Augusto Fernández, Jack Miller, Miguel Oliveira, or Takaaki Nakagami. Or the others.
Nakagami’s contract with LCR Honda is set to expire, and if Chantra is indeed promoted to his seat, Nakagami will find himself in a tough position to secure a bike for 2025. Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira, on the other hand, seem to be in a more secure situation, as they are both widely expected to join Prima Pramac Racing, Yamaha’s new satellite team.
Augusto Fernández’s future appears more uncertain. He is rumored to become a test rider for Yamaha, which would make it difficult for him to continue on the grid – especially since his results since debuting in 2023 have been underwhelming.
Aldeguer’s promotion to MotoGP in 2025 under a Ducati contract has been announced, with expectations that he will fill the seat alongside Álex Márquez at Gresini. However, his current Moto2 season has fallen short of expectations, leading to speculation that Ducati might reconsider and pay the necessary compensation to cancel their plans.
If all contracts hold, only two bikes at Pramac and one at LCR Honda remain available. In the coming weeks, the lineup for the 2025 MotoGP grid should become clearer.