EXCLUSIVE: MotoGP's Latest Team Aims to Distinguish Itself from Major Manufacturers

Lewis Duncan of Crash.net interviews Davide Brivio to explore Trackhouse Racing's ambitions and strategy.

The Trackhouse team, led by Justin Mark, aims for more than merely participating; it was already clinching victories in the NASCAR Cup Series by its second year in 2022.

In a historic motorsport moment destined to be replayed in highlight reels, Ross Chastain secured the last spot in the championship playoffs by executing a wallride maneuver that propelled him from 10th to 5th place at the finish line in Martinsville.

The squad, which has international music icon Pitbull as a partial owner, arrived at the 2023 Chicago street race featuring Supercars legend Shane Van Gisbergen, who emerged victorious in his first NASCAR appearance.

Several months down the line, Trackhouse made an unexpected decision by declaring its intention to join the MotoGP World Championship in 2024. Marks had been considering this step for some time. However, the disbandment of the RNF team, following the sale by its main sponsor CryptoDATA, which left both the team and MotoGP in a bind, presented Trackhouse with an irresistible opportunity.

The organization assumed control of RNF's operations, rebranded the entity, enhanced its relationship with Aprilia, and introduced a team owned by Americans to the MotoGP lineup.

During its debut season in the top-tier category, the team secured its first sprint race podium in Germany, thanks to Miguel Oliveira, who is set to join Pramac Yamaha in 2025. Raul Fernandez achieved a sixth-place finish at the Catalan Grand Prix, marking the team's best Sunday performance of the season, just a day after he fell while leading the sprint race.

In other aspects, Trackhouse managed to secure ninth place in the team standings, outperforming only the underperforming Honda teams. Oliveira's injury negatively impacted the latter part of the season, and Fernandez faced challenges after transitioning mid-season from the RS-GP23 to the evidently inferior RS-GP24, leaving him struggling throughout the remainder of the season.

Davide Brivio discusses Trackhouse's aspirations in MotoGP

Although Americans are often seen as bold and extravagant, Trackhouse's first appearance in MotoGP wasn't quite as attention-grabbing on the racetrack.

Away from the public eye, Trackhouse created quite a buzz. They recruited Davide Brivio, a former team manager for Yamaha and Suzuki, who had been with Alpine from 2021 to 2023. Additionally, they executed one of the most surprising signings during the silly season.

An American-owned racing team seemed poised to bring the first full-time American MotoGP rider since 2015 into the spotlight. However, Joe Roberts ended up without a position after the dust settled. Initially, there were speculations about Jack Miller and Sergio Garcia, but ultimately Ai Ogura was chosen, securing a two-year deal.

By this stage, the Japanese competitor was having an impressive season, securing two victories despite an injury that kept him out of the Austrian GP. His absence did not hinder his progress. He clinched a third victory at Misano, and his steady performance, combined with teammate Garcia's difficulties after being turned down for MotoGP, positioned him as a strong contender for the Moto2 championship. When he claimed the title at the Thai Grand Prix, the 2025 contract he had with Trackhouse proved to be a wise decision.

Looking back on his inaugural year leading Trackhouse, Brivio tells Crash, "We owe a big thank you to Ai for helping us make the right decision by winning the championship!"

The unexpected aspect of Ogura's contract with Trackhouse was not the team's decision to partner a Japanese rider with a Spaniard rather than selecting an American for one of the RS-GPs. It was surprising that Ogura was even available in the market to begin with.

Honda had been eagerly anticipating Ogura's interest in joining MotoGP, yet the team's lackluster performance in recent seasons made him hesitant. His decision to leave the Honda Team Asia project for the 2024 season in Moto2 indicated that Ogura was carefully considering his best path to advance to the premier class, rather than opting for the simplest one. Brivio noted this deliberation in Ogura's approach as memorable.

Brivio expressed that in Ai, they observed a true warrior, someone who is persistent and resilient. Even if he starts off poorly, he manages to persevere and bounce back.

His approach to riding might serve as a solid foundation for developing a MotoGP riding technique.

"We also appreciate his demeanor; he appears to be someone who is highly dedicated and concentrated on his tasks—a diligent and earnest worker. These are just some of the qualities we admire."

Ogura's relaxed attitude towards racing was clear during his initial MotoGP test in Barcelona last November. Many newcomers usually discuss how carbon fiber brakes differ from the steel brakes used in Moto2.

For Ogura, it wasn't exactly a dramatic experience. The intense pace of MotoGP bikes also didn't catch him off guard as much as he had anticipated.

Is Ai Ogura the next big star like Maverick Vinales or Joan Mir? The rich legacy of Japanese riders in MotoGP is something Ogura will constantly encounter each time he races. Although Takaaki Nakagami has been representing Japan since 2018, Ogura is seen as the first Japanese talent in recent years with the promise to achieve something remarkable.

Trackhouse is aware of this, but it's reasonable that the expectations for his first year are kept modest.

Brivio, who has a history of supporting promising young individuals and recognizing what they require to succeed, will take care of that.

At Suzuki, he selected Maverick Vinales directly from Moto2 to join the team for its re-entry into MotoGP in 2015. By the following year, Vinales had begun winning races. However, the plan to develop him as a "Suzuki rider," as Brivio described, did not materialize as expected when Yamaha signed Vinales for the 2017 season. Nonetheless, Brivio successfully shaped Alex Rins into a rider capable of winning multiple races, and Joan Mir achieved Suzuki's first world championship in two decades in 2020.

According to Brivio, Suzuki's circumstances arose out of necessity. He openly acknowledges that, despite not being a brand-new manufacturer, they were essentially starting fresh with a new project. At that time, it was challenging to gain the trust of top riders. Therefore, for various reasons, they opted to focus on a project involving young riders.

However, Brivio takes pleasure in nurturing young racers. With Trackhouse, he is moving forward in this direction.

Brivio explains that Trackhouse reached a stage where they felt the need to take action, considering future prospects as well. He mentions that making a decision was challenging, particularly when it came to Miguel, about whom they have no complaints.

"His actions and conduct within the team were outstanding. The decision was purely based on the concept of a new project and had nothing to do with the individual riders personally."

Ogura is a newcomer, and Raul, despite his youth, is believed to possess considerable talent that remains untapped. He shows promise, being young and about to enter his fourth season in MotoGP.

“We decided to entrust him with leading the team, and now it’s up to him to prove himself. Time will tell if he succeeds.”

"It's a venture. Raul, despite his youth, has considerable experience; Ai, although new, shows promise, as they both aim to establish something lasting for Trackhouse in the upcoming years."

Could Trackhouse's strategy face challenges?

One clear risk of nurturing young talent is that these rising stars often become targets for competing teams. Brivio encountered this when Vinales was at Suzuki, and Joan Mir received proposals from Ducati, though he chose to remain with Suzuki. It's difficult to foresee what decision a rider will ultimately make.

Brivio is aware that by 2027, Ogura might receive enticing offers from manufacturers that could be difficult for him to turn down.

However, Trackhouse stands apart from many satellite organizations as it does not aim to serve as a development ground. Inspired by Pramac's success, which showcased exceptional talent in Jorge Martin and leveraged its partnership with Ducati to clinch the 2022 championship, Trackhouse aspires to become an equally appealing venue.

Brivio expresses that their objective isn’t to develop riders specifically for a factory team. However, he acknowledges the inherent risk, as all riders currently aspire to join a factory team. The wisdom of such a decision varies depending on the circumstances.

"One challenge we might want to tackle is attempting to improve an independent team to the point where a rider faces a tough decision about whether to stay or leave."

"We are fully conscious of the potential danger. We understand that if Ai performs well, there's a possibility that in 2027, someone might attempt to recruit him."

"The task at hand is to ensure he stays with us, to make him content, and to provide him with a competitive bike that delivers strong results, all in the hope of retaining him. The current situation with Pramac is quite intriguing, as they are in contention for the championship. I believe that if Pramac clinches the championship, it might encourage the riders to be more thoughtful."

"Consider whether it's preferable to be part of an independent team with a reliable bike or to join a factory team that may not have a clear future. I'm pleased with Pramac's performance."

I told Paolo Campinoti, "You're carrying the aspirations of all the independent teams on your shoulders, as we see you as a benchmark for what such a team can achieve." I am optimistic that going forward, the gap between factory and independent teams will narrow, particularly since we are entering a phase where manufacturers are starting to treat independent teams on par with the factory ones.

"Aprilia is set to have four factory motorcycles, and the same goes for KTM. Honda already has four factory bikes, while Yamaha will also feature four. Essentially, aside from possibly Ducati, there will be no outdated bikes on the grid. This change is likely to reduce the gap between factory and independent teams, and it will be interesting to observe this shift in balance moving forward."

Trackhouse introduces new team members with the phrase 'Welcome to the House.' This reflects its goals, inspired by Pramac, to create a setting where its riders feel comfortable and eager to remain for the long term.

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Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions unveils thrilling rider combinations

Complete lineup of rider teams announced for Saturday's Tavullia event

Below is a list of all the rider duos participating in the 100km of Champions event at Valentino Rossi's ranch in Tavullia this Saturday.

Michael Dunlop and Pedro Acosta have been teamed up for the 100km of Champions race organized by Valentino Rossi. What an amazing duo! 📸 Michael Dunlop pic.twitter.com/brkVo2YGta— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) January 10, 2025

Michael Dunlop and Pedro Acosta have been teamed up for the 100km of Champions race organized by Valentino Rossi. What an amazing duo! 📸 Michael Dunlop pic.twitter.com/brkVo2YGta

On Friday night, Luca Marini emerged victorious in the Americana race, which consisted of three laps.

The highlight takes place on Saturday, featuring pairs of cyclists competing in the 100km of Champions race.

Rossi will collaborate with his sibling Marini.

MotoGP stars and VR46 academy alumni Pecco Bagnaia and Marco Bezzecchi are set to team up.

Certainly, the pairing that captures the most attention is the record-setting Isle of Man TT racer Michael Dunlop teamed up with Pedro Acosta!

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Valentino Rossi takes a tumble but still secures a podium spot in the 2025 100km of Champions Americana event. The race captivated the audience in Tavullia on Friday night.

On Friday night, Luca Marini emerged victorious in the Americana race during Valentino Rossi's yearly event in Tavullia.

A gathering of top motorcycle racing stars has arrived at Rossi's ranch for two days of competition on his dirt track.

Marini secured the win in the initial race, known as the Americana, which consisted of a quick three-lap sprint around the circuit.

According to journalist Ricard Jove, Marini achieved a fastest lap time of 46.032 seconds.

After progressing through several elimination rounds, today's American race finale was ultimately won by @Luca_Marini_97. He was followed by @FrankyMorbido12 in second place, and the indomitable @ValeYellow46 secured third. The podium was dominated by riders from the @VRRidersAcademy. Tomorrow, the long 100km race awaits. pic.twitter.com/qszclzrfsW— Ricard Jové (@RicardJove) January 10, 2025

After progressing through several elimination rounds, today's American race finale was ultimately won by @Luca_Marini_97. He was followed by @FrankyMorbido12 in second place, and the indomitable @ValeYellow46 secured third. The podium was dominated by riders from the @VRRidersAcademy. Tomorrow, the long 100km race awaits. pic.twitter.com/qszclzrfsW

Franco Morbidelli secured a second-place finish, achieving a top lap time of 46.774 seconds.

Rossi secured the third-place position on the podium with his top performance time being 46.453.

Lorenzo Baldassarri secured the fourth position, achieving his fastest lap time of 47.156 seconds.

According to GPOne, Rossi was set to secure a second-place finish but ended up crashing at the last corner, which dropped him to third place.

Honda's MotoGP standout, Marini, set the quickest time during Thursday's practice and then secured pole position for the race on Friday.

Last year, he was the recipient of the Americana award.

He aims to begin 2025 on a high note to rejuvenate his second year as an official Honda rider, following a lackluster debut season.

On Saturday, the final day of the two-day event, the 100km of Champions will occur at the VR46 ranch in Tavullia.

Pedro Acosta, Miguel Oliveira, Pecco Bagnaia, and Enea Bastianini are set to join Marini and Morbidelli in competing in MotoGP events.

Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd, both victors of the Isle of Man TT race, are participating in the competition this year as well.

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Aprilia encourages its MotoGP racers to engage in dialogue: ‘Occasionally, you might just need to tell each other to get lost’

Aprilia's CEO shares a "formula" for overcoming challenging times

The CEO of Aprilia, Massimo Rivola, has cautioned that MotoGP 2025 will present challenging times. Despite these difficulties, he has emphasized the importance of communication among the riders, even if it means expressing disagreement bluntly.

The Italian team has overhauled its factory roster for the next season, introducing reigning world champion Jorge Martin to join forces with Marco Bezzecchi.

In 2024, Aprilia managed to secure a grand prix victory, but as the season progressed, its RS-GP faced challenges, causing the team to fall to third place in the rankings, following behind KTM and the championship-winning brand, Ducati.

Martin has taken steps to manage expectations about keeping his title in 2025 during his initial year with Aprilia.

In a recent behind-the-scenes video featured on MotoGP's official website, which showcases Martin and Bezzecchi's initial test with Aprilia last November, Rivola also cautioned about "challenging times" in the future.

He started his address to the whole Aprilia team by acknowledging that there would be challenging times ahead, specifically mentioning Martin and Bezzecchi.

"The key to getting through these situations is surprisingly straightforward: discuss everything openly."

"What's happening? At times, you'll have to communicate with one another in different ways."

"Occasionally, you might even tell each other to 'go away' in a more colorful manner."

"That's alright. The rush of adrenaline will make it simpler for you."

"Our strategy is to provide the most favorable circumstances for both of you, to the fullest extent we can, without resorting to any deception or manipulation."

"You need to understand that you are the key individuals supporting numerous families who rely on you for their livelihoods. This is a responsibility you carry."

In addition to introducing fresh riders, Aprilia kicks off 2025 by appointing Fabiano Sterlacchini as their new technical director, who has prior experience with KTM and Ducati.

Romano Albesiano has been succeeded by another individual, as Albesiano has assumed the position of technical director at Honda. He made this move after Aleix Espargaro, who transitioned from Aprilia to Honda, joining the company as a test rider.

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Enea Bastianini ends partnership with his MotoGP manager of many years due to KTM difficulties

Tech3 KTM racer signs with London-based MSM Group

Enea Bastianini, who has secured seven MotoGP race victories, has ended his professional relationship with his long-standing manager, Carlo Pernat, and has now partnered with the MSM agency located in London.

Bastianini is among the limited number of Italian riders in the top racing category who isn't backed by the VR46 Academy, as his career management has been overseen by Pernat.

In addition to managing Bastianini, Pernat has also worked as a manager for riders such as Andrea Iannone and Loris Capirossi throughout his career.

On Friday, MSM, which is located in London, revealed that it had reached an agreement for Bastianini to join them as his management team.

The cause behind Bastianini parting ways with Pernat remains unclear, although Pernat is now 76 years old.

This development coincides with Bastianini's uncertain future in MotoGP, as KTM faces a financial turmoil that might lead to its departure from the series in 2026. The company began a self-administration process at the end of last year as part of its efforts to restructure.

Bastianini has entered into a contract with KTM to compete for the Tech3 team beginning in 2025. Prior to this, he spent two years as a factory rider for Ducati.

The Italian individual will be managed by Enrico Zanarini, the CEO of MSM. Zanarini has a background in motorsport, having previously managed Formula 1 drivers such as Eddie Irvine and Giancarlo Fisichella.

"Enea's drive to perform at the top tier matches our goals seamlessly," stated Zanarini.

"We are thrilled to back him as he strives for greatness."

Bastianini stated, "Joining forces with MSM signifies a fresh and hopeful chapter in my professional journey."

"With the specialized knowledge and committed assistance from MSM, I am certain we will accomplish remarkable outcomes, both in our performance and beyond."

"As the 2025 MotoGP season approaches, my resolve to compete at the top level is stronger than ever."

MSM boasts a wide range of motorsport professionals, including ex-Formula 1 racers such as Jean Alesi, Daniil Kvyat, Jacques Villeneuve, and Antonio Giovinazzi.

The company also represents former MotoGP and World Superbike star Max Biaggi, along with F1 Academy driver Hamda Al Qubaisi and her sister Amna.

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Enea Bastianini parts ways with his long-term MotoGP manager during KTM turmoil

Tech3 KTM racer aligns with London-headquartered MSM Group

Enea Bastianini, who has achieved victory in seven MotoGP races, has ended his partnership with his long-time manager Carlo Pernat and has now signed with the London-based agency MSM.

Bastianini stands out as one of the rare Italian riders in the top-tier racing category who is not affiliated with the VR46 Academy, as his career management has been overseen by Pernat up to this point.

In addition to managing Bastianini, Pernat has also acted as the manager for Andrea Iannone and Loris Capirossi in the past.

On Friday, MSM, a company located in London, revealed that it has secured a deal to manage Bastianini as his new management team.

The cause behind Bastianini's separation from Pernat is unclear, although the experienced manager is currently 76 years old.

Bastianini's future in MotoGP is now uncertain due to KTM's current financial troubles. The company, having entered self-administration at the end of last year, might leave the series as part of its restructuring plans by 2026.

Bastianini inked a contract for several years with KTM, committing to compete for Tech3 in 2025, after spending the last two years as a factory rider for Ducati.

The Italian will be managed by MSM CEO Enrico Zanarini, who has a background in motorsport, having previously managed Formula 1 drivers such as Eddie Irvine and Giancarlo Fisichella.

"Enea's commitment to reaching the top tier of competition fits seamlessly with our goals," stated Zanarini.

"We are thrilled to back him as he strives for greatness."

Bastianini mentioned that teaming up with MSM represents a fresh and hopeful chapter in his professional journey.

With the specialized knowledge and unwavering assistance of MSM, I am certain that we will attain outstanding outcomes both in our performance and in other areas.

"As we approach the 2025 MotoGP season, my resolve to perform at the top of my game is stronger than ever."

MSM boasts a wide range of motorsport talents, including ex-Formula 1 drivers such as Jean Alesi, Daniil Kvyat, Jacques Villeneuve, and Antonio Giovinazzi.

The company also acts as representatives for Max Biaggi, who is a former star in both MotoGP and World Superbike, in addition to F1 Academy competitor Hamda Al Qubaisi and her sister Amna.

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Luca Marini leads the pack, with Valentino Rossi in 6th place and Michael Dunlop in 45th at the Tavullia event. These are the standings from the free practice session of Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions.

On Thursday, Luca Marini led the field during the practice session at Valentino Rossi's 100km of Champions event.

Rossi's yearly event is set for Friday and Saturday, but competitors from different racing series gathered a day in advance to train on the dirt course.

Honda MotoGP standout Marini took the lead in the initial stages.

GPOne has announced the sequence of events

Davey Todd and Michael Dunlop, both victors of the Isle of Man TT races, found themselves at the end of the lineup following their initial laps in Tavullia.

Pedro Acosta failed to log any time.

The Americana race is scheduled to happen on Friday evening.

In the previous year, Marini emerged as the winner in the Americana, which suggests a promising outlook for him once more.

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The Day of Champions won't take place at the 2025 British MotoGP, as it will be substituted with a "new format". After 34 years, the Day of Champions has been discontinued because of changes to the British MotoGP weekend schedule.

For 34 years, the Day of Champions event has been held before the British Grand Prix, but it will not occur in 2025.

Two Wheels for Life, the organization behind the Day of Champions since its inception at Brands Hatch in 1989, has revealed that the event will not be held during this year's MotoGP British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The organization responsible for raising funds, partnering with the charity Riders for Health to provide motorcycles for healthcare professionals in remote African regions, has announced that the "Day of Champions," once filled with a "full day of activities," has been discontinued because of a "new schedule" implemented by Silverstone.

The statement indicates that events will occur over the weekend, aiming to present "the best of Day of Champions" in a new way. Details of this format will be revealed in the weeks ahead.

Andrea Coleman, who co-founded and serves as CEO of Two Wheels for Life, stated that the inaugural Day of Champions event occurred in 1989 at Brands Hatch.

"Throughout the years, we have created something unique in the motorcycle community, with the help of our amazing employees and volunteers, the competitors and their teams, and our dedicated fans, some of whom have been attending for all 34 years."

"We are thrilled to have secured significant funds to aid in providing healthcare services throughout Africa."

"Although we're disappointed to bid farewell to Day of Champions, we understand that change is a part of life. We're eager to embark on new initiatives that provide MotoGP enthusiasts with unparalleled experiences and opportunities to contribute to life-saving motorcycle projects."

The concept of Day of Champions was initially thought up by ex-Grand Prix racers Randy Mamola and Kenny Roberts. The goal was to allow fans to interact closely with their favorite riders while also raising funds for a charitable cause, specifically, the organization Riders for Health.

Following the conclusion of the Day of Champions event, Two Wheels for Life has announced that it is in discussions with Dorna, the MotoGP rights holder, to broaden its initiatives at different circuits in 2025. They are considering organizing new events, and details about these plans are expected to be released in the near future.

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Marc Marquez started the year 2025 by taking on laps with a brand-new Ducati, marking the beginning of a full day of riding.

As 2025 kicks off, it marks the start of new contract periods. For Marc Marquez, this signifies his official role as a factory Ducati rider, allowing him to enjoy the perks associated with this position beyond the MotoGP paddock.

At the start of the year, Marquez took to the racetrack riding the brand-new 2025 Ducati Panigale V2. Although this model has less power than its predecessor, it compensates with reduced weight due to its new twin-cylinder engine, which is the lightest V-twin engine Ducati has ever made.

Marquez was seen on the circuit at the Aspar Circuit in Valencia, which had its inauguration last year, alongside several other Grand Prix competitors.

Motorcycle racing star Marc Márquez took the new Ducati Panigale V2 for a spin at the Aspar Circuit. 🔴😮‍💨📸 Photo of Marc Márquez pic.twitter.com/fpaLLLqOuj— Crash MotoGP (@crash_motogp) January 9, 2025

On this event, the eight-time World Champion was joined by several fellow riders. Among them was current Moto3 World Champion David Alonso, who was on an older version of the Yamaha R6. Additionally, Dani Holgado, Izan Guevara, Tony Arbolino, Alex Marquez, and Sergio Garcia were all riding 2017 model R6s. Meanwhile, Marquez's apprentice, Max Quiles, along with Angel Piqueras, were aboard Honda CBR600RRs.

Certainly, throughout the history of track days, there have been groups with less talent.

In addition to a full day of motorcycle training, Marc Marquez experienced his initial laps at the Aspar Circuit on a Ducati road bike for practice, after previously using unbranded Honda bikes last year. His teammate, Francesco Bagnaia, frequently uses the Panigale V4 R superbike for his training sessions. However, Marquez has yet to be spotted riding that particular model, except during the previous year's Race of Champions at World Ducati Week, where all participants competed on the new Panigale V4 model slated for release in 2025.

The Spanish rider continues to use Honda CRF motocross bikes, but there might be a shift soon. Ducati's Desmo450 MX dirt bike is expected to start production later this year.

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EXCLUSIVE: Marc Marquez and Pecco Bagnaia poised to “contest every race win”

“Undoubtedly, the greatest motorcycle ever…”

Emerging victorious in 19 of the previous year's 20 MotoGP competitions, securing all three top podium positions 14 times, achieving an unprecedented top-eight finish in the Buriram Sprint, and claiming their fifth constructors' championship along with their third consecutive riders' title.

Here are a few highlights from Ducati's historic 2024 season, marked by shattered records.

"Definitely the greatest bicycle ever created. They did an outstanding job," Luca Marini, who rode a Ducati at VR46 for his first three seasons in MotoGP, shared with Crash.net.

Despite reducing their lineup from eight to six motorcycles in 2025 and the departure of current champion Jorge Martin to Aprilia, Marini cautioned that Ducati's revised factory team, featuring Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, might result in increased dominance by Ducati.

When questioned about whether he believed 2024 would represent the height of Ducati's dominance in MotoGP, Honda's team rider Marini responded:

"I believe not. Having Pecco and Marc as teammates will likely motivate them to enhance their own skills through mutual competition.

"Honda acknowledges that competing with [Ducati] in the upcoming year is beyond our reach. We must bide our time. Therefore, our aim is to outperform the remaining manufacturers."

"However, should Aprilia and KTM fail to match Ducati's performance, it might just boil down to a duel between Bagnaia and Marquez for the win in each race.

"Thus, it's possible that the climax is still to come…"

In 2024, Ducati outperformed Honda's 2003 record in the MotoGP, surpassing the year when Honda's RC211V secured victories in 15 out of 16 races, with nine of those wins credited to Valentino Rossi, Marini's sibling.

That year, the sole additional victor was Loris Capirossi, who secured Ducati's inaugural MotoGP win at Catalunya.

Honda achieves total victory in 1997

Delving into the history of the 500cc class, Honda achieved an unparalleled feat by winning every one of the 15 grand prix races in the year 1997.

Could racers such as Bagnaia, Marquez, and the supported Fabio di Giannantonio potentially equal that unmatched achievement in 2025?

At the COTA Grand Prix, the only race where the Desmosedicis didn't come out on top last season, Aprilia's Maverick Vinales emerged victorious in Texas, followed by KTM's Pedro Acosta.

Enea Bastianini secured a third-place finish for Ducati, while Marc Marquez experienced a fall shortly after moving into the lead, attributed to a problem with his brakes.

During the previous year's Sprint races, Aprilia surpassed Ducati on three occasions, securing two victories on Saturdays with Vinales and another win credited to Aleix Espargaro.

Vinales has transitioned to Tech3 KTM following Espargaro's departure from regular racing to take on a role as a test rider for HRC.

Former teammate of Marini at VR46 and a victor in three MotoGP races, Marco Bezzecchi, is set to team up with Martin at Aprilia's refreshed roster, while Acosta will advance to join Brad Binder in the official KTM squad.

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For two decades, Peter has been a constant presence in the racing paddock, witnessing the rise and retirement of Valentino Rossi. He is leading the coverage on Suzuki's departure and the ongoing health challenges faced by Marc Marquez.

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MotoGP in America – "I anticipated challenges, but we're progressing"

Dorna's Chief Commercial Officer Rossomondo discusses the expansion of MotoGP in the US

Dan Rossomondo, the chief commercial officer of Dorna Sports, stated that MotoGP is making significant progress in increasing its visibility in the United States.

In 2022, Rossomondo, who previously led global marketing and media for the NBA, became the Chief Commercial Officer at Dorna. This move was widely viewed as a strategic effort to expand MotoGP’s presence in the United States.

There was a time when MotoGP visited the United States twice annually, and in 2013, it increased those visits to three times a year.

During that period, Formula 1 had recently made a comeback in the United States following a break between 2008 and 2011. Since last year, the country has hosted three races.

Currently, MotoGP holds just one race each year in the United States at the Circuit of the Americas located in Texas. However, discussions are underway to potentially add a second race in the country.

Liberty Media, the owner of Formula 1, is in the process of acquiring Dorna, but the deal is currently paused as the European Union investigates the transaction. This acquisition is expected to increase efforts to boost visibility in the United States.

In discussing MotoGP's attempts to expand its presence in the United States, Rossomondo shared with the Sports Business Journal: "I'm not sure if it's been more challenging than expected, but I anticipated it would be difficult."

"My team and I need to begin deciding which areas we want to focus on and which direction we should move towards."

"However, the reality is that we can't swiftly increase from one race to three due to the unique safety measures our tracks demand. We'll need to explore various other approaches to achieve that goal."

The speaker expressed strong confidence in their progress, stating they are certainly moving forward. They noted that many individuals who were unfamiliar with their sport just a year ago are now viewers. Additionally, they have discovered numerous people who were secretly fans of MotoGP, indicating significant advancement.

"I'm confident that the results of our efforts will be evident this year."

Last season, Trackhouse Racing, a team owned by Americans, joined the series. This came about when Justin Marks' organization assumed control from RNF after it went under at the close of 2023.

For the 2025 season, MotoGP has revamped its branding by unveiling a new logo late last year, aiming to enhance its brand recognition.

A season launch event is set to take place in Thailand on February 9. The 2025 campaign will then commence in the country at Buriram towards the end of the month.

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Vinales Urged Yamaha to Leave the Motorcycle Unchanged During Unsuccessful Championship Season

"Leave the motorcycle as it is, I instructed them."

Maverick Vinales implied that he could have clinched the MotoGP world title in 2017 riding for Yamaha, had they left the 2016 M1 model he first tested unchanged.

Having spent slightly more than a season at Suzuki, Vinales secured a two-year agreement to become part of the Yamaha factory team, marking his third season in the top tier of racing in 2017.

Vinales led the 2016 Valencia test with that year's M1 model and secured victories in the initial two races of 2017, followed by another win at the French Grand Prix, overcoming his teammate Valentino Rossi.

The Spanish racer was ahead in the rankings by 17 points following the event, yet Vinales wouldn't secure another victory until the 2018 Australian Grand Prix, eventually dropping to third place in the 2017 rankings.

Vinales continued as a Yamaha rider until the middle of 2021, at which point his bond with the manufacturer deteriorated beyond repair, leading to his prompt dismissal following an incident where he intentionally pushed his M1's engine to excessive revs during the Styrian GP.

In a DAZN documentary focusing on his career, Vinales expressed his conviction that he had the potential to clinch the championship with the M1 he tried out at the close of 2016, urging Yamaha to leave the bike unchanged during the offseason.

He remarked, "Upon starting my journey with Yamaha, I entered with explosive energy."

"I came with a definite concept and goal in mind, and there was only one thing I requested from Yamaha: 'I aim to become the world champion."

"I have no desire to become anything different; please don't force me into being something I'm not, as my only interest lies in being who I am right now."

Upon riding the Yamaha during the Valencia trial, I was immediately smitten by it. I urged them to leave it as is. My choice was this specific one, the motorcycle previously used by Jorge [Lorenzo].

"I informed Yamaha, 'Deliver this motorcycle to me in Qatar, because with it, I'm poised to secure the world championship title. However, upon arriving at Sepang for the pre-season test, I questioned, 'where is that motorcycle?'"

"I secured victory in the initial race, clinched the second, and triumphed at Le Mans, marking it as one of the greatest days of my existence. I emerged victorious in a duel with my hero, Valentino Rossi."

"In Barcelona, a series of transformations occurred. I was completely at a loss."

"I instructed them to leave the bicycle alone."

Vinales teamed up with Aprilia during the concluding races of 2021 and continued with them until the close of 2024, securing a single grand prix victory during this period.

He becomes part of the KTM team within the Tech3 group for the 2025 season, expressing his perspective on the transition by saying, "I've ultimately realized you're faced with a choice: to be the challenger or to choose what he refers to as the dark side."

"You have a choice between KTM and Ducati."

"Winning at Ducati presents a significant challenge. How do you plan on outperforming the factory team?"

"The situation is quite complex. Even though I had the same motorcycle, my equipment wasn't on par. Therefore, my only choice was to join KTM and take on the role of the contender."

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