MotoGP’s silly season had been set to erupt and rumbl✤e on throughout 2020 but with the campaign postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic all plans have been put on hold.

While speculation around Valentino Rossi’s future call and Ducati’s factory line-up would dominate the major talking points in the rider market, a handful of up-and-coming riders were also looking to break into MotoGP following the three rookies who made the step up over the winter – including the 11^th-hour promotion for Alex Marquez at Repsol Honda.

It remains to be seen if the anticipated fresh blood will still make it into the premier class by 2021, along with effectively all other key decisions to be made this season, but facingꦕ a truncated Grand Prix campaign – or even an entire cancellation as the last resort – it could push both MotoGP riders and teams to look for safer bets amid t♛he uncertainty. That would mean a serious drop in the likelihood of new faces on the MotoGP grid next year.

Old guard staying put

With Valentino Rossi weighing up his MotoGP futur🎶e, Cal Crutchlow has been open about assessing his time in the sport beyo🐭nd 2020. But since the delays to the start of this season the 34-year-old sounds like he would prefer to stay put for another 12 months meaning no positions would open up inside the Honda ranks.

Rumours are also pointing towards Rossi sticking around for another year and with🌳 a place at the Petronas Yamaha squad on a factory-specification bike already on the table it gives an easy solution to his short term situation, while also closing off opportunities at Yamaha.

The two Italian manufac🍌turers in Aprilia and Duca𝐆ti potentially hold the biggest question marks, while Suzuki appear content with their young duo of Alex Rins and Joan Mir.

Ducati’s rider line-up across its full ranks (excluding Tito Rabat at Avintia) remains unconfirmed beyond✅ this season which could produce openings for a rook𝔍ie if the right situation falls into place.

But with a full ros﷽ter of riders to pick from Ducati may choose to stick with its current pack or at least only shuffle its existing deck depending on how the 2ꦫ020 season unfolds.

Aprilia already faces uncertainty with its rider line-up with Andrea Iannone currently serving a🌱n 18-month ban from his FIM anti-doping hearing. The team is backing Iannone’s appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport which could see his ban overturned.

Regardless, it still꧋ creates questions over its line-up in the future, but Aprilia also ෴has test rider and experienced hand Bradley Smith waiting in the wings as its preferred back-up option.

The KTM connection

An obvious pathway between Moto2 and MotoGP comes from the KTM team ladder, with both Qatar Moto2 race-winner Tetsuta Nagashima along with team-mate Jorge Martin the likely candidates for a place at either KTM’s MotoGP factory or satellite outfits if a spot became🎃 available.

But given two rookies already m💞ake up half of KTM’s line-up in Brad Binder and Iker Lecuona, a truncated season could lead to the Austrian brand giving them more time to adapt and prove themselves in the premier class which would effectively block any further promotions in the𒁃 short-term.

Over recent seasons KTM has also suffered through chopping and changing riders, either due to injury or splits, which has stalled bike development so holding on to a stable line-up strengthens the case to retain its current quartet of riders aided by test ri♚ders Dani Pedrosa and Mika Kalꦺlio.

Riders climbing the racing ranks

Along with riders already affiliated with manufacturers or acade𒆙my setups, the natural progression of aꦜ riders’ career will remain a factor, with those putting in strong performances in Moto2 waiting for their chance in the premier class.

Sky Racing Team VR46’s Luca Marini looks well set for a move up to MotoGP but his future is likely to be closely linked t🐈o his nine-time world champion and half-brother Rossi.

Consistent Moto2 performers like Lorenz🃏o Baldassarri, Jorge Navarro and Xavi Vierge will also be knocking on MotoGP team manager’s doors offering their services for 2021.

168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历ꦬ史:Vierge is highly thought of at the Petronas sq𝕴uad and with its link to the Yamaha satellite team in MotoGP, team priꦇncipal Razlan Razali is keeping a close eye on the Spaniard’s progress with a view to promoting him the future.

Regardless of෴ the ifs and buts, ultimately any considerable movement in the rider market w⛦ill be dictated by the ongoing coronavirus situation.

When, and if, racing can resume safely then riders will have opportunities to state their case for a future deal by performing on track and when it matters most. For now, speculation remains the most likely outcome in these uncertain time🥀s.