Liam Lawson comments on his disagreement with Fernando Alonso: “My goal wasn't to upset him”

“I wasn’t trying to upset him, but I simply raced him the way I usually do with others, and it ended up irritating him. So, I just aimed to handle the situation as best as I could.”

Liam Lawson has looked back on his conflict with Fernando Alonso after their heated competition at the 2024 United States Grand Prix. He admitted that it was not his intention to irritate Alonso.

Lawson is gearing up for an important year as he joins forces with Max Verstappen at Red Bull for the 2025 Formula 1 season.

With only 11 races under his belt, Lawson enters the new season facing intense observation, as Red Bull aims to compete for both championships.

The New Zealander has demonstrated his willingness to be assertive during races, engaging fiercely against Alonso and Sergio Perez several times.

After the sprint race at the Circuit of the Americas, Lawson and Alonso were spotted engaged in an intense conversation in parc ferme.

Looking back on his meeting with Alonso, Lawson shared with Stuff.co.nz: "I entered the situation in a distinct position. I had the chance to participate in six races, which was my opportunity to demonstrate that I deserved a spot in Formula 1, be it with VCARB or Red Bull. That was the only chance I got."

The individuals mentioned, particularly Fernando, have been competing for quite a while. I took advantage of each lap I had the opportunity to drive in the car.

"I didn't mean to upset him, but I simply raced him the way I usually do with others, and it ended up having that effect. I just aimed to get the best outcome from the situation."

Lawson is determined to maintain his aggressive style in Formula 1, a characteristic that has marked his journey in racing and one that he intends to keep.

His demeanor both during races and in other settings likely caught the attention of Christian Horner and Helmut Marko, who are optimistic that Lawson might provide a substantial improvement over Perez.

In 2024, Red Bull dropped to third place in the constructors' championship, coming in behind McLaren and Ferrari.

Lawson remarked, "To be truthful, I don’t believe I've changed in any way. Perhaps the issue was that I didn't have much television exposure before, or something similar, I'm not certain. Fundamentally, this is the way I've consistently approached racing. The journey to Formula 1 frequently feels unjust, and I've always needed to capitalize on every chance I get."

"I've been very fortunate with how things have lined up, so I approached the race just as I typically do. The added pressure, being aware of the stakes, might have triggered some of my less admirable moments. However, I'm continuously learning, and I take lessons from these experiences."

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Francesco Bagnaia reflects on 2024 MotoGP errors: ‘I pondered over them extensively during my honeymoon’

Two-time MotoGP world champion anticipates a “challenging” 2025 season

Ducati MotoGP racer Francesco Bagnaia reflected extensively on the mistakes that led to him losing the 2024 championship, even while he was on his honeymoon.

Last year, Bagnaia missed the chance to secure a third consecutive MotoGP championship, falling short to his Pramac Ducati competitor Jorge Martin by 10 points during the final race of the season in Barcelona.

Despite Bagnaia securing victory in 11 grand prix races, in contrast to Martin's three wins, he was ultimately kept from clinching another title due to eight instances where he failed to score points throughout the season.

Bagnaia has consistently admitted to his mistakes, and he mentioned to Sky Sports Italy that he even reflected on them while on his honeymoon.

"Bagnaia mentioned at Valentino Rossi's 100Km of Champions event that the 2025 season is expected to be both exciting and challenging due to the increasing number of races and the rising level of competition."

Aprilia, along with riders Martin and Marco Bezzecchi, has the potential to be quick, while KTM, even after a challenging winter, boasts some exceptionally strong competitors. Meanwhile, Yamaha and Honda are expected to improve, particularly Yamaha.

"We need to reflect on our mistakes from this year and work on improving them."

"Successes from the previous year can be repeated, but we should continually strive for improvement."

"I frequently reflect on my actions, and even during my honeymoon, it occupied my thoughts considerably."

In 2025, Bagnaia is set to encounter his toughest competition in MotoGP when he joins forces with eight-time world champion Marc Marquez at the factory team.

The pair is set to unveil Ducati's 2025 season during a public event scheduled for January 20th in Italy.

Last weekend, Bagnaia and Bezzecchi teamed up for Rossi's 100Km of Champions event and secured a sixth-place finish.

Rossi finished in second place alongside his teammate Luca Marini, as Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre emerged victorious in the competition.

During a winter interview with Crash.net, Honda's official racer Marini expressed his belief that Marquez and Bagnaia have the potential to "compete for a win in every race" in the 2025 season.

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Sergio Perez considers taking a six-month hiatus from racing but remains open to the idea of returning to Formula 1 if an appealing project arises.

Sergio Perez has revealed that a captivating opportunity might lure him back to Formula 1, although he intends to take a six-month hiatus from the sport.

Following a disappointing 2024 season, Red Bull opted to part ways with Sergio Perez. They have chosen to bring in Liam Lawson to join Max Verstappen for the next season.

In 2025, Perez will not participate in an F1 race for the first time in 14 years.

Perez made his first public appearance since leaving Red Bull last month, addressing students from schools in León, Mexico, where he is originally from.

In response to a question about his future plans and the possibility of returning to Formula 1, Perez said, "To be honest, I'm not sure. It's too early to make a decision. The events at the season's end unfolded rapidly, and I wasn't anticipating it."

Currently, I find myself in an amazing and almost surreal situation that I hadn't fully appreciated before. If you were to ask me about it now, I couldn't say for sure. I'm extremely content with my life and eagerly anticipating what the future holds.

Certainly, if an appealing and engaging project comes my way, I will absolutely take it into consideration and reflect on it. Everything will unfold when the time is right. At the moment, my main focus for the upcoming months is to enjoy myself, engage in activities I've missed out on, travel, and spend time with my family.

"Within the upcoming six months, I will decide on the direction I want to take for the next phase of my career."

Perez experiences a transformation after leaving F1

Perez, who is a parent to four children, is enjoying the opportunity to spend more quality time with his family now that he has more free time.

"It's amazing," he mentioned. "It's difficult to put into words, but I feel like a changed person. It's an experience I've never had before. I'm completely content."

"I would return to Formula 1 if it brings me the greatest joy. My only consideration is what will bring me more happiness in the future."

It is possible that the "interesting project" mentioned by Perez might be referring to Cadillac.

Considering his extensive experience, Perez emerges as a clear choice for the American team as they prepare to join Formula 1 in 2026.

The addition of their team to Formula 1 would create two extra spots in the grid lineup, making it the 11th team in the competition.

However, Perez would encounter strong competition, as Valtteri Bottas has also shown interest.

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Red Bull's reign in Formula 1 is nearing its conclusion, akin to climbing to the peak of Mount Everest. "When you are at such a high point, introducing new advancements becomes extremely challenging."

Former Formula 1 racer David Coulthard has expressed his view that Red Bull’s reign in the sport was bound to conclude after the 2023 season. He likened the situation to reaching the near peak of Mount Everest.

In 2023, Red Bull achieved a remarkable feat by securing victories in 21 out of the 22 races, marking a historic season for the team

In 2024, the team ended up in third place in the F1 constructors’ championship, managing to secure victory in only two of the final 14 races.

Although Max Verstappen secured his fourth straight championship, it marked the conclusion of Red Bull's period of supremacy.

Analyzing the challenges faced by his previous team last year, Coulthard admitted that following their historic season, Red Bull struggled significantly to come up with new innovations.

He expressed to Motorsport-Total.com that his experience has taught him that past victories don't guarantee future success. Reflecting on the previous year, he acknowledged it was exceptionally commanding.

"When you're near the peak of Everest, it becomes incredibly challenging to introduce new ideas or changes."

In the 2024 F1 season, Red Bull managed to secure victory in more races compared to McLaren and Ferrari, despite the latter two teams placing higher in the constructors' championship standings.

Coulthard mentioned that the team followed a specific strategy with the car, which allowed them to secure ten (nine) Grand Prix victories, surpassing any other competitor.

"The key focus is always on correlation. When it functions well, it proves effective, but if it doesn’t… If the process were straightforward, you could simply provide the guidelines to an AI system."

"If it were that easy, everyone would simply construct identical cars. However, that's not how it works."

Coulthard praises McLaren's transformation

McLaren has experienced an extraordinary two-year period.

At the beginning of the 2023 season, their vehicle was the least competitive, with both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri struggling at the rear of the lineup.

A significant improvement in Austria changed their season dramatically, with Norris frequently securing podium finishes just behind Verstappen during the latter half of the year.

In 2024, improvements in Miami transformed the team from being the third fastest to strong challengers for the championship.

Coulthard commented on the consistent capability of leading teams to perform well from one season to another. He praised McLaren for their impressive improvement, saying, "Congratulations, McLaren! What a remarkable transformation."

"People often mention that it has been 26 years since their last victory in the constructors' championship. However, someone pointed out to me that they actually secured the title with Hamilton and Alonso, although the win was later annulled."

"I had also forgotten about that. Yet, setting that aside, it happened a very long time ago."

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Former Formula 1 driver supports Jack Doohan's potential despite Franco Colaptino joining

"Jack is talented and intelligent. He appears quick on the track. He has an opportunity to demonstrate his capabilities, and I am confident he will succeed."

Valtteri Bottas has expressed his support for Jack Doohan, believing that the newcomer has the potential to "demonstrate his abilities" at Alpine. Bottas referred to Doohan as "promising" and praised him as an "intelligent young man."

In 2025, Doohan will participate in his inaugural complete F1 season with Alpine, partnering with Pierre Gasly.

The Australian driver made his Formula 1 debut at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which concluded the season. He took the place of Esteban Ocon, who left the team before the event.

Even though Doohan has only participated in one Formula 1 race, he is already facing significant pressure to maintain his position.

Franco Colapinto has joined the team on a long-term contract as their new test and reserve driver.

There is a strong expectation that if Doohan does not perform well, Colapinto will be brought in during the middle of the season.

Valtteri Bottas, who will take on the role of reserve driver for Mercedes in the 2025 Formula 1 season, was questioned about his thoughts on the driver lineup at Alpine.

In a conversation with F1 photographer Kym Illman, Bottas expressed that it's premature to make a judgment, emphasizing that only time will ultimately reveal the outcome.

"Jack is a talented and intelligent young person. He appears to be quick. He now has an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, and I am confident he will succeed."

Unusual Season Awaits Bottas

Bottas is set to spend the upcoming season on the bench following Sauber's decision not to select him.

Sauber decided to team up Nico Hulkenberg with newcomer from Brazil, Gabriel Bortoleto.

As a result, Bottas found himself without a racing position, which led him back to Mercedes to take on the role of test and reserve driver.

Since 2013, the Finnish driver has consistently participated in every Formula 1 season, securing 10 victories along the way.

Bottas admitted that it will require a period of time for him to get used to his new position, which does not involve racing each weekend.

"When the lights turn off on Sunday, that's when you'll notice the most significant change," he mentioned.

"I'm not participating directly; instead, I'll be observing from the outside. It's definitely going to feel strange and will require some adjustment. However, I'll make an effort to stay occupied."

"There's a lot more involved. Simulator training plays a significant role and is becoming increasingly crucial each year, as there are no restrictions on the number of days or kilometers for this type of work."

"There are plans for tire testing, including sessions with Pirelli, particularly in preparation for the regulation changes set for 2026. Additionally, I will be involved in various events with sponsors."

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Valentino Rossi announces his racing plans for 2025. The MotoGP icon will compete in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship after initially being uncertain about his schedule for 2025.

The WRT BMW team revealed that MotoGP icon Valentino Rossi is set to participate once more in the LMGT3 category of the World Endurance Championship in 2025.

Last year, Rossi entered the World Endurance Championship (WEC) for the first time, following his transition from MotoGP to GT racing in 2022, specifically in the GT World Challenge Europe series.

The experienced Italian racer, behind the wheel of car number 46 in the championship, secured two podium finishes: a second place at the Imola circuit and a third place at the Fuji track. Additionally, the driver achieved top-five finishes in races held in Qatar and Brazil.

The vehicle failed to reach the end of the 24 Hours of Le Mans race.

Rossi had mentioned earlier that he was uncertain about his 2025 plans because, having recently become a father again, he intended to reduce his involvement in racing.

WRT has announced that he will stay in the World Endurance Championship, teaming up once more with Ahmad Al Harthy. Additionally, Kelvin van der Linde, who has won the Nurburgring 24 Hours twice, is joining the team.

Rossi expressed his excitement about extending his journey in the FIA WEC, noting that his first season had been impressive.

"We had successful races with two podium finishes and aim to improve our strength and speed."

"We will collaborate closely with BMW to enhance our capabilities and become more competitive in each race."

"Undoubtedly, Le Mans holds the utmost significance for us. Although we faced some bad luck last year, we are determined to compete for a podium finish in 2025."

Van der Linde commended Rossi for being a versatile GT driver and expressed confidence in the potential of the #46 team.

He expressed his enthusiasm about becoming a part of the #46 team alongside Vale and Ahmad, two drivers he closely followed in the FIA WEC the previous year.

"Vale has developed into a versatile GT driver. Having collaborated with him previously, I am familiar with his dedication and his analytical approach to his work."

Ahmad is among the top Bronze drivers in the group, and we can feel proud to have him with us.

"We could form an excellent team together."

Each of us has gone through our inaugural LMGT3 season in the WEC, and we can combine what we've learned to aim for significant achievements, particularly at Le Mans, where we are all eager to excel. I'm thrilled and eager to get started.

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The CEO of Ducati announced that Marc Marquez set a record lap time on the new Panigale V2 at the Aspar Circuit. The eight-time world champion tested the motorcycle at Aspar Circuit the previous week.

Claudio Domenicali, the head of Ducati, stated that Marc Marquez, a six-time MotoGP world champion, equaled the "unofficial lap record" at the Aspar Circuit using the new Panigale V2 in its standard form.

Last week, Marquez participated in a winter training session at the Aspar circuit in Spain. He rode a 2024 race-version Panigale V2. The event was also attended by Jorge Martin, the 2024 MotoGP world champion.

In a LinkedIn post, Domenicali mentioned that he reached out to some contacts to arrange for Marquez to test the 2025-spec V2, which had previously been used for promotional purposes.

According to reports, Marquez completed a lap of the track in 1 minute and 12.2 seconds using the 2025 model, and it seems he matched this time with the 2024 race-specific V2 as well.

In a conversation with Marc right before Christmas, while exchanging the customary holiday greetings, Domenicali learned that Marc had scheduled a training session at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia.

The idea was to conduct a session using a 2024 Panigale V2 because he was informed that the completely new 2025 model wasn't ready for racing yet.

Eager to know his thoughts on our latest baby track bike, I couldn't resist reaching out. While on my skiing vacation in the mountains, I took the opportunity to make some calls to ensure he could take it for a spin. This was the same bike featured in our official launch video and photos.

At the end of the day, I was unexpectedly contacted by Marc.

He expressed to me that he was impressed with the bike's responsive steering, exceptionally comfortable seating arrangement, and its energetic power output. Additionally, he mentioned that he completed a lap in 1 minute and 12.2 seconds.

My team told me that this equals the unconfirmed fastest lap time for the Supersport category.

Marc took the 2024 Panigale V2, equipped for racing, around the track and matched his lap time. In contrast, the 2025 Panigale V2 was a street-legal model, featuring a catalytic exhaust, along with a headlight, taillight, and kickstand.

"We're eager to put the 2025 Panigale through its paces in full racing configuration with Marc and Pecco Bagnaia. This model will boast 126 horsepower, up from the current 120 horsepower, and will be almost 10 kilograms lighter by eliminating all the components needed for street legality."

I am extremely satisfied with how the bike performs, as it is built to balance achieving fast lap times on the track and providing enjoyment on winding mountain roads.

Thank you, Marc, and kudos to the Ducati engineering team for crafting this motorcycle. We're excited to introduce the new Panigale V2 to our lineup. As always, prioritizing a lightweight design has shown to be a successful strategy.

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Current F1 Driver Contracts for 2026: An Overview

Here is an update on the contract status for each Formula 1 driver as we approach the 2026 season.

The 2025 Formula 1 season hasn't started yet, but discussions about driver placements for the 2026 lineup are already on the horizon.

Below is a summary of the current contract status for all Formula 1 drivers and teams, along with details about an additional 11th team entry.

McLaren has confirmed their roster of drivers for the upcoming year, having secured Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri with contracts that extend through the 2026 season.

Ferrari, similar to McLaren, has already secured agreements with both of their drivers for the 2026 season.

In early 2024, Charles Leclerc entered into a renewed long-term agreement, reportedly extending for an additional five years, which will last through the conclusion of the 2029 season.

In the meantime, Lewis Hamilton, the newly signed superstar, has agreed to a contract that reportedly extends through the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Max Verstappen, who has won the world championship four times, agreed to a lengthy contract extension with Red Bull in March 2022, ensuring he remains with the team through the conclusion of 2028.

The future of the Dutch driver is expected to stay a prominent subject of discussion as Mercedes persist in their efforts to lure him away from their competitors.

The question of who will join Verstappen as his teammate in 2026 is open for speculation. Liam Lawson has signed a contract for just one year, but it is uncertain if he will prove to be an adequate substitute for Sergio Perez.

Mercedes is the first team that does not have any drivers signed for the 2026 season.

At the close of the year, both George Russell and Andrea Kimi Antonelli will no longer have active contracts.

It is likely that both individuals will be kept on unless something goes terribly wrong during the year. Antonelli is seen as Mercedes' equivalent to Verstappen.

Mercedes might remain flexible as long as there's a chance to attract Verstappen to their team.

Aston Martin will maintain the same roster of vehicles through 2026.

Fernando Alonso has a contract that lasts through the 2026 season. Meanwhile, Lance Stroll is essentially guaranteed a spot on the team for as long as he wants to race, due to the fact that his father owns the team.

Alpine has confirmed that Pierre Gasly will occupy one of their seats in 2026, following the signing of a new multi-year contract extension last season.

Jack Doohan is already feeling the heat to keep his spot for the 2025 season even before the campaign kicks off, as the team has recently brought on Franco Colapinto as a reserve driver, ready to step in if needed.

At this point, it is unclear who will join Gasly on the French team in 2026.

Haas has announced that Esteban Ocon and Oliver Bearman will be part of their refreshed team for the 2025 season, with contracts extending into 2026.

Racing Bulls, the team affiliated with Red Bull, currently does not have any drivers contracted for the year 2026.

Red Bull has acknowledged that Yuki Tsunoda may be let go once his current contract concludes, especially after being overlooked by the main team. Meanwhile, Isack Hadjar is gearing up for his first season in Formula 1.

Williams Racing has secured Carlos Sainz for a multi-year contract, and he is set to race alongside Alex Albon in the 2026 season, unless a speculated release clause is invoked earlier.

Sauber is set to transform into Audi's official Formula 1 team by 2026, with Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortotelo expected to continue with the team.

Hulkenberg agreed to a contract lasting three years when he joined from Haas in 2024. Meanwhile, Sauber’s announcement about Bortoleto mentioned the current Formula 2 champion as a "future Audi driver," indicating that his contract extends beyond just one season.

Cadillac

Cadillac is the last of three teams that have not announced any drivers for the 2026 season.

The U.S.-based team is poised to join Formula 1 as the 11th competitor next year, creating two additional positions on the starting lineup.

There is likely to be significant interest from various parties in Cadillac, as Valtteri Bottas has expressed his eagerness to become part of the initiative following the loss of his regular F1 position.

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Exclusive Interview with Max Bartolini: A Mere Half-Second in MotoGP Can Be Catastrophic!

"A gap of just half a second over 15 turns might seem insignificant, but the competition is incredibly fierce."

Fabio Quartararo, racing for Monster Yamaha, kicked off the 2024 MotoGP season by securing the eleventh spot in Qatar. He ended the race 17.701 seconds behind Francesco Bagnaia, with each lap seeing him fall behind by an average of 0.84 seconds.

At the conclusion of the season, the French racer secured the eleventh position once again during the Barcelona Grand Prix held in November. He was trailing Bagnaia by 10.756 seconds across 24 laps, which breaks down to an average deficit of 0.45 seconds per lap.

The figures generally indicate that Yamaha has made advancements over the course of the 20 rounds, even though they didn't secure a podium finish for the first time in the MotoGP era. They also highlight the intense level of competition.

Yamaha's technical director, Max Bartolini, mentioned to Crash.net that the current skill level among all MotoGP riders is exceptionally high.

"Each weekend brings new lap records, and the competition is so close that being 4-5 tenths of a second slower is seen as a catastrophe."

"Covering half a second across 15 turns is a very small margin. Everyone is performing at an exceptionally high standard."

Top performers in the 2024 MotoGP season included Jorge Martin and Francesco Bagnaia, both of whom are familiar to Bartolini after his twenty years with Ducati.

How do the current Yamaha factory team riders, 2021 world champion Fabio Quartararo and six-time race victor Alex Rins, stack up against their competitors, Bagnaia and Martin, when it comes to data?

"It's challenging to make a comparison due to the distinct setup, as the Yamaha motorcycle demands a unique riding approach," Bartolini responded.

"Certainly, both Fabio and Alex possess immense talent as they have both won races in MotoGP, with Fabio even securing a world championship title."

Fabio typically excels at braking and maintaining speed through the corners, while Alex is particularly skilled at handling the exit of corners. However, both riders demonstrate exceptional abilities.

"Currently, we are experiencing an overall performance issue with the bike, which forces us to push beyond its limits to compensate, and this is often challenging."

"That's one of the toughest challenges: avoiding the temptation to take control. However, they are handling it well."

Prior to Bagnaia's crucial error during the Sepang sprint, which gave Martin the advantage to clinch his inaugural MotoGP championship, Bartolini commented on the championship race:

"To be frank, both of them are worthy of victory. Over the last couple of years, they've shown remarkable speed. Ultimately, the winner will be the one who minimizes errors."

"It's an evenly matched competition between two highly skilled riders. Both have the potential to secure victories for years to come. It's an exciting contest, but I truly can't predict who will come out on top!"

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"I hope to find myself in that scenario so I can share the experience with you!"

Throughout the dramatic developments of the 2024 world championship, television frequently focused on the Ducati factory team's garage. There, the composed demeanor of Gigi Dall’Igna was notably different from the expressive nature of team manager Davide Tardozzi.

When Bartolini tunes into a MotoGP race, does he resemble more of a Tardozzi or a Dall'Igna?

He stated, "I'm typically very composed, unless perhaps during the final 2-3 laps when there's something significant at stake."

Overall, the focus at Yamaha is currently more on development. When observing a race, the analysis often leads to conclusions like, 'We've made some progress in that area…'. This makes it simpler to remain composed.

Bartolini chuckled and remarked, “Davide [Tardozzi] is on the opposite side, and he’s always been that way!”

"I spent two decades working alongside Davide, so he is more than just a friend to me. Meanwhile, Gigi has a very serene demeanor, or at least he appears that way!"

"I believe Davide demonstrates to everyone what goes through a person's mind during those final two laps when competing for something significant."

"I hope that within the upcoming years, I'll find myself in that position and be able to inform you!"

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For two decades, Peter has been present in the paddock, witnessing the arrival and departure of Valentino Rossi. He is closely involved with the developments surrounding Suzuki's departure and Marc Marquez's struggles with injuries.

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2026 MotoGP Rider Roster: A Look at the Current Line-up

Here's an update on the contractual status of each MotoGP rider for the 2026 season, which marks the final year of the 1000cc engine era.

A minimum of four riders in MotoGP have agreements that will end in 2025…

Ducati has officially announced that its factory Lenovo team will feature Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez for the MotoGP seasons in 2025 and 2026, forming what many are calling a "dream team."

Similarly, the Gresini Ducati team, featuring riders Alex Marquez and newcomer Fermin Aldeguer in 2025, is scheduled to compete for two seasons.

Starting in 2025, Fabio di Giannantonio from VR46 will begin a fresh two-year factory contract. However, looking ahead to 2026, there might be an opening for a Desmosedici, as his teammate Franco Morbidelli is presently signed for just a single year.

KTM

Despite the recent financial instability, the four RC16 riders, who include Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta from the official KTM team, as well as the newly contracted Maverick Vinales and Enea Bastianini from Tech3, are expected to remain with their current teams until the conclusion of 2026.

Jorge Martin, the world champion, and his new teammate Marco Bezzecchi have signed contracts with the official Aprilia team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Raul Fernandez from Trackhouse, along with Ai Ogura, who will be a newcomer in 2025, are both beginning contracts that will last

Yamaha has announced that its factory Monster Yamaha team will continue featuring Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins as its riders, with no changes expected until at least 2027.

A seat on the M1 might become available in 2026, as Jack Miller is set to join the newly established Prima Pramac Yamaha team under a one-year contract. Meanwhile, his teammate, Miguel Oliveira, has secured a two-year agreement with the Yamaha factory.

Honda might experience the highest number of rider changes in 2026. This comes as LCR's Johann Zarco, who will be Honda's top rider in 2024, along with Luca Marini and possibly newcomer Somkiat Chantra, are set to become free agents by the end of 2025.

This means that Joan Mir, who won the world championship with Suzuki in 2020, is the sole Honda rider formally announced for the 2026 MotoGP lineup.

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For two decades, Peter has been involved in the racing paddock, witnessing the career of Valentino Rossi from start to finish. He is currently a key figure in covering the news about Suzuki's departure and the injury challenges faced by Marc Marquez.

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Valentino Rossi shares his initial forecast for 2025, mentioning Marc Marquez.

The MotoGP icons turn their attention to the upcoming season.

Valentino Rossi has shared his thoughts on Marc Marquez's performance prospects for this season.

Marquez is joining the official Ducati team alongside VR46's protégé, Pecco Bagnaia.

In 2022 and 2023, Bagnaia secured the championship title with Ducati. However, last season, he was unseated by Jorge Martin, his fellow manufacturer teammate, who has moved to the official Aprilia team this year.

Although Bagnaia claimed 11 grand prix wins compared to Martin's three throughout the season, Bagnaia's eight races without any points caused him to lose the championship by a margin of 10 points in the final event.

Bagnaia will continue with Ducati's factory team through 2025, but he is set to encounter his most difficult test to date with the arrival of eight-time world champion Marquez to the team.

During the recent 100Km of Champions event held in Tavullia and organized by Rossi, he spoke to Sky Sports Italy about Bagnaia, whom he mentors, as well as his competitor Marquez.

Rossi stated that the riders from the Ducati factory team are the top contenders for the championship.

"Bagnaia is thrilled as he aims to make up for his loss from the previous year."

"We're optimistic that he can provide an additional 5% effort."

Rossi and his teammate Luca Marini secured second place in the 100km of Champions event held last weekend, finishing behind Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre, who took the top spot.

Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassarri finished in the podium positions.

Bagnaia teamed up with Marco Bezzecchi and secured a sixth-place finish, whereas Pedro Acosta and renowned Isle of Man TT racer Michael Dunlop ended up in the last position.

In 2025, Rossi will remain a factory driver for BMW, although the specifics of his car racing schedule for the next season have not been finalized.

In the previous year, Rossi participated in the World Endurance Championship for the first time and also raced in the GT World Challenge Europe, teaming up with the WRT team, which is supported by BMW.

He plans to reduce his racing activities in 2025 and attend more MotoGP events.

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Surprise victors overshadow Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini at the 100km of Champions event

Outcomes from Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions race

Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini missed out on winning the 100km of Champions due to an unexpected victory by other competitors.

Diogo Moreira and Thomas Chareyre emerged victorious in Tavullia during Rossi's yearly celebration event.

The victorious pair completed the circuit in 1 minute, 43 seconds, and 59.623 milliseconds.

Rossi and Marini secured second place, with Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassarri finishing off the top three.

Pecco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi notably secured the sixth position.

JD Beach and Sammy Halbert, both from the United States, secured the

The British duo of Davey Todd and Ryan Vickers finished in the 17th position.

Pedro Acosta and Michael Dunlop, undeniably the most striking duo, ended up at the bottom of the rankings.

The unexpected victory of Moreira and Chareyre concluded Rossi's annual event in his native town. On Friday evening, Marini clinched the victory in the three-lap Americana race.

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For ten years, James worked as a sports reporter for Sky Sports, providing coverage on a variety of sports including American sports, soccer, and Formula 1.

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