MotoGP Rider Market: With Alex Rins to LCR Honda confirmed, will Joan Mir be the next domino to fall?
After signing a two-year deal with LCR Honda, Alex Rins has become the la🐻test MotoGP rider to secure his Grand Prix future.
Before the🙈 summer breꦑak, moves involving Jack Miller to Red Bull KTM, Alex Marquez to Gresini Ducati in place of Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio staying at Gresini were all confirmed.
Aprilia alsoཧ locked up its factory riders Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vin♏ales for another two seasons, a no-brainer especially when it comes to Espargaro who is a firm title contender.
For Marquez and Di Giannantonio, both riders will be racing year-old GP22 machines next season, while Rins will be on full factory mac🍷hinery at Honda.
But what does Rins joining Honda mean for𓄧 those who are still without a contract?
Well, it rules out the already small possibility that Rins could have joined the new RNF🎃 Aprilia project, thus making it even 𒐪more likely that Miguel Oliveira will be the team’s first signing for 2023.
The Portuguese rider had been linked to Gresini Ducati before Marquez j▨oined the team, and although LCR Honda was rumoured as another potential option for the KTM rider, Oliveira to RNF Aprilia is a deal we eꦍxpect to be announced soon.
Who will ride alongside Oliveira i♑s the big question. Several Moto2 riders have been l♒inked to that seat, although the favourite appears to be Raul Fernandez who would finally get his wish of leaving Tech 3 KTM should that happen.
What’s the latest at Ducati?
As was the case before the summer break, the battle to be Francesco Bagnaia’s team-mate is and🅘 will remain a two-way fight between Jorge Ma🎀rtin and Bastianini. Whoever loses out will partner Johann Zarco at Pramac.
Although there’s been little in the way of updates surrounding ꦅValentino Rossi’s Mooney VR46 team, both Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi are expected to stay.
Mir to Repsol Honda the next big MotoGP move to happen
With most of the factory seats confirmed - only Ducati and Honda ﷽have openings left - a decisioไn on who will partner Marc Marquez should come relatively quickly.
Ha✃ving signed Rins to its LCR team, Mir to Repsol Honda looks set to be the next announcement to take place from the Japanese manufacturer, with the Spaniard also set to sign a two-year deal.
It’s clear that Pol Espargaro’s MotoGP future lies away fro🏅m Honda - a return to KTM with Tech 3 has been discussed - and with no other riders thought to be in contention, Mir to Repsol is the expected move.
Alongside Rins at LCR, Ai Ogura and Takaaki N☂akagami remain the two riders in content🎉ion.
