MotoGP is in a season of contract endings for several riders, leaving the field with many question marks. There are factory teams with open slots despite the confirmations that have already emerged so far. Here’s a summary of how the field stands for 2025 at this moment.
- Aprilia Racing: No confirmed riders
Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales are both out of contract. Espargaró, the elder statesman of the pack at 35, seems motivated and capable of continuing in MotoGP. Throughout 2023, Espargaró changed his mind about this being his last contract and now doesn’t exclude renewing. Viñales, on the other hand, seems to be finally getting the most out of the RS-GP and could justify his continuity.
In the Trackhouse Racing satellite team, Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández are not delivering performances and results that could justify a move to Aprilia at the moment. However, in other manufacturers, there are rumors about potential candidates for a spot, such as Enea Bastianini (whose contract with Ducati expires at the end of 2024).
- Ducati Lenovo Team
- Confirmed: Francesco Bagnaia, renewed in March for two years until 2026.
- Another rider to be determined: Currently, the seat belongs to Enea Bastianini, but his continuity is uncertain. The 2023 runner-up and current championship leader, Jorge Martín (Prima Pramac/Ducati), is a strong candidate for the seat and has already stated his desire to be in a factory team in 2025, whether with Ducati or not. If things continue this way, the results will hardly justify his loss by Borgo Panigale. However, Marc Márquez (Gresini/Ducati) could also enter the equation as a strong candidate.
- Gresini Racing/Ducati: No confirmed riders
Brothers Álex and Marc Márquez are out of contract with Gresini, while the team will remain a Ducati customer for at least one more season. Regarding Álex, little has been said about the future, but he seems capable of justifying his continuity. Marc, on the other hand, is trying to demonstrate that he still has the potential to fight at the top, and he’s succeeding. He may not want to continue in a satellite team, especially if opportunities with other manufacturers, starting with Ducati, arise.
If either of the Márquez brothers (or both) were to leave Gresini, there would be no shortage of options. Potential replacements could include Fabio Di Giannantonio, Franco Morbidelli, or Marco Bezzecchi if they don’t stay with their current teams, as they are in the final year of their contracts. Alternatively, a solution could come from Moto2, where riders like Manuel González – who is currently competing in the category with Gresini – Arón Canet, or Tony Arbolino are eager to make the leap to MotoGP.
- LCR Honda Team
- Confirmed: Johann Zarco, signed for two years (2024 and 2025) upon returning to the team.
- Another rider to be determined: Takaaki Nakagami is the second rider at LCR Honda since joining MotoGP in 2018. Although the results have not been particularly convincing, he now has the excuse of the bike’s poor competitiveness. Additionally, the seat seems reserved for an Asian rider due to the Honda connection, and at the moment, there are no significantly better alternatives. Ai Ogura was once linked to LCR for 2023 after finishing as the runner-up in Moto2 in 2022, but his performance didn’t match expectations last year. However, Ogura has started the new season strong, with two top-five finishes, and if he continues this way, he could become a contender… although he has already parted ways with the Honda Team Asia structure.
- Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team
- Confirmed: Fabio Quartararo, who renewed until 2026 after being speculated as an option for Aprilia.
- Another rider to be determined: Álex Rins joined Yamaha in 2024, but the agreement is only for one year. The talent of the Spaniard justifies Yamaha’s effort, as the constructor is currently far from being one of the most competitive in the field. However, others may apply for this saddle. Martín, if he doesn’t secure a place at Ducati, could be one of them, but since the YZR-M1 is one of the least competitive bikes currently, it also doesn’t seem like one of the most coveted spots at the moment.
- Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team: No confirmed riders
Both Fabio Di Giannantonio and Marco Bezzecchi are out of contract with VR46, as is the team with Ducati. With KTM and Yamaha eyeing satellite teams, a change in manufacturer is not out of the question, which could cost VR46 Bezzecchi’s services. Di Giannantonio needs to prove throughout this season that he deserves the second chance he was given by being «saved» from leaving MotoGP last year with this 2024 contract. If there are vacancies at VR46, there will be no shortage of options, especially in Moto2 with Italian riders who could be ready to make the leap and fit into the project. Examples include Arbolino and Celestino Vietti.
- Prima Pramac Racing: No confirmed riders
Franco Morbidelli joined Prima Pramac this year, where Jorge Martín has been since 2021. The Spaniard will move to a factory team; the Italian still needs to justify his place after a troubled start marked by a serious injury that prevented him from participating in pre-season. Before confirming the riders, Pramac needs to finalize the new contract with Ducati. If that happens, and it seems more a matter of «when» than «if», Fermín Aldeguer should be one of Paolo Campinoti’s team riders: he has already been announced by Ducati, it remains to be seen which team he will be on.
- Red Bull GasGas Tech3/KTM: No confirmed riders
In addition to remaining a KTM satellite team, GasGas Tech3 faces a lot of uncertainty in terms of riders. Augusto Fernández has had some difficulties and needs to show more to keep his place, especially if another young KTM talent proves ready to move up to MotoGP. As for Acosta, if he continues to achieve the results and performances he had at the beginning of the season, the question will be about his likely promotion to Red Bull KTM.
If the Austrian manufacturer wants to promote any of its young talents, there are plenty of options, although there isn’t a candidate as strong as in the past based on Moto2 results. Vietti would be the best placed at KTM Ajo, but he hasn’t shown strong results in the intermediate class yet. And the pairings from the other teams linked to the Pierer Mobility group also don’t seem ready to make the leap. Jake Dixon has experience and abilities, but at 28 years old, age might work against him.
- Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
- Confirmed: Brad Binder, after renewal until 2026 in August last year.
- Another rider to be determined: Jack Miller joined Red Bull KTM last year, but his future is now uncertain. The Australian has yet to show consistency in good performances with the RC16, and there is speculation that Pedro Acosta may become available on the market for 2025 if he is not promoted from GasGas Tech3 to Red Bull KTM. Will the Austrian manufacturer risk losing a gem that is already «proving its worth» to keep Miller, who will turn 30 in 2025?
- Repsol Honda Team
- Confirmed: Luca Marini, who signed for two years until the end of 2025.
- Another rider to be determined: Joan Mir has been with Repsol Honda since 2023, and in a context of sporting difficulties for the constructor, the results are still far from the potential he demonstrated that led him to the 2020 title. Both Mir and Honda want more, and the alternatives may not be attractive for either party. Mir’s stay would be logical, but it’s not guaranteed. If he were to leave, an experienced Johann Zarco, already familiar with the bike, could be an attractive option, but he is expected to compete at LCR until the end of 2025. Similarly, like at Yamaha, it’s not a position that generates the highest demand, considering that the bike is currently one of the least competitive.
- Trackhouse Racing/Aprilia: No confirmed riders
Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández are in the last year of their contracts with Trackhouse Racing. Neither of them is showing performances that make them clearly indispensable, and it’s not excluded that at least one of them will leave to make room for Joe Roberts, as it’s the team and MotoGP’s desire to have an American rider in the field. However, for that, Roberts will have to «prove himself» in Moto2. On the other hand, it’s not excluded the scenario of Oliveira or Fernández being promoted to the factory Aprilia team if their performances improve considerably from now on.