With the announcement of Lucio Cecchinello's team, only ten spots remain open on next year's grid. Some of them, however, already have almost certain owners
The 2023 MotoGP grid continues to take shape. On Tuesday (19), it fell to LCR Honda to fit another piece of the puzzle, confirming the agreement with Álex Rins, who signed a direct contract with HRC - Honda's racing division - to wear the team's colors for two years.
With the announcement, which was expected, since the Spaniard himself had anticipated the information, there are now 11 vacancies officially defined: Aprilia has already confirmed the permanence of Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales until 2024; Ducati has already secured Francesco Bagnaia also for two more years; at Honda, Marc Márquez's contract is also valid until 2024; At KTM, Brad Binder and Jack Miller are also assured for two seasons; at Gresini, Álex Márquez and Fabio Di Giannantonio have signed for next year; and at Yamaha, Fabio Quartararo has signed until 2024, while Franco Morbidelli has a contract until 2023.
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▶️How does the MotoGP grid look for the 2023 season?
Johann Zarco, on the other hand, lives an intermediate situation. The Ducati dome has already publicly declared that the Frenchman will be kept at Pramac in 2023, but an official announcement has not yet been made. Still, this is no longer an open seat, as the two-time Moto2 champion is third in the World Riders' Championship and has been pleasing the Italians of Borgo Panigale.
Speaking of the home of Bologna, the second spot in the factory team has an almost definite owner. The dispute is between Enea Bastianini and Jorge Martín. Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali opted to give more time to both, since he believes they did not have the same chances in 2022 - because of the initial difficulties of the GP22 and the physical condition of the Spaniard.Therefore, the definition will only be made after the Austrian GP, the second race after the return from vacation.
Whoever loses the race will take the Pramac seat alongside Zarco. Even so, the promise from Ducati is that both will have a contract, salary, and factory bike in 2023.
At Honda, Joan Mir appears to be the most likely to take the seat next to Marc Márquez, occupying a position that currently belongs to Pol Espargaró. The 2020 champion's agent has already declared that this is the only alternative for the #36.
In the satellite LCR, Takaaki Nakagami's position is anything but secure. The Japanese rider has not been able to perform as Honda had hoped and his position is being threatened by Ai Ogura, who is still in contention for the Moto2 title.
The RNF, which in 2023 will become an Aprilia satellite, has the two spots undefined. Andrea Dovizioso has opted to retire at the end of the year, and Darryn Binder's position is not secure. Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández are the riders pointed out as candidates for these places.
In Tech3, the expectation is for a return of Pol Espargaró to the KTM family, still with the possibility of Remy Gardner to be kept in the position, despite the bad relationship between the house of Mattighofen and the Australian's manager.
At VR46, Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi remain without a contract, but the expectation is that both will remain with Valentino Rossi's team in 2023.
MotoGP 2023, Provisional grid:
MotoGP is now on vacation and will be back in action on August 7, with the British GP at Silverstone.GRANDE PRÊMIO is following all the activities of the 2022 MotoGP World Championship.