The fact that most MotoGp seats are settled for next season (see table below) already did not stop the notoriously inane Italian media from trotting out the stupidest silly season rumour ever during last week. The rumour? That PRAMAC Ducati was holding back on confirming Jack Miller at the team for 2020 because Jorge Lorenzo was seeking release from his HRC contract so that he could return to Ducati. Anyone with a quarter of an ounce of intelligence realised that the whole thing was a wind-up but it didn’t stop the media and the pundits from getting their collective knickers in a twist about it.
The reasons why the rumour was too ridiculous for words are manifold but they mainly stem from the facts that a) Ducati don’t WANT Lorenzo back after he spurned them for the big bucks at HRC despite winning three MotoGp races for the Bologna factory. b) Lorenzo has proven himself to be a very fragile racer of late with injuries dogging his off-season and first half of 2019. c) JL is a spiky individual at the best of times and, while it’s probably too late, he should probably use his recuperation time to thoroughly read Dale Carnegie’s classic book, “How to win friends and Influence People.” d) Ducati already have a team of well-credentialled performers and don’t really need a rider who is on the downhill side of his career.
Regardless of this and many other reasons, Ducati compounded the error by publicly stating that they were, at least TALKING to Lorenzo’s representatives and would make a decision shortly. The damage that this has done to Ducati’s reputation is enormous and they have been rightfully pilloried by the motorcycle media for their appalling lack of loyalty to their rider – specifically, Jack Miller (above). The fact that they have now buried the rumour by confirming Miller’s signing for 2020 will not absolve them nor will it help them should Jack, at some time in the future, decide that he is going to consider a better offer. Should he do so I would not blame him one little bit; Ducati have acted appallingly.
So, with that little bit of stupidity out of the way, it is a good time to look at the make-up of the 2020 grid in the premier class, details courtesy of crash.net.
Repsol Honda:
Marc Marquez (End of 2020)
Jorge Lorenzo (End of 2020)
Monster Yamaha:
Maverick Vinales (End of 2020)
Valentino Rossi (End of 2020)
Ducati Team:
Andrea Dovizioso (End of 2020)
Danilo Petrucci (End of 2020)
Suzuki:
Alex Rins (End of 2020)
Joan Mir (End of 2020)
Red Bull KTM:
* Johann Zarco (End of 2020)
Pol Espargaro (End of 2020)
Aprilia Gresini:
Aleix Espargaro (End of 2020)
Andrea Iannone (End of 2020)
Tech3 KTM:
Miguel Oliveira (KTM contract, end of 2020)
Hafizh Syahrin (Tech3 contract, end of 2019)
Brad Binder (KTM contract, End of 2020)
LCR Honda:
Cal Crutchlow (HRC contract, end of 2020)
* Takaaki Nakagami (HRC contract, end of 2019)
Pramac Ducati:
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati contract, end of 2020)
Jack Miller (Ducati contract, end of 2020)
Avintia Racing
Karel Abraham (End of 2020)
Tito Rabat (End of 2021)
Petronas Yamaha Sepang Team:
Franco Morbidelli (End of 2020)
Fabio Quartararo (End of 2020)
* Contract expires at end of 2019, new deal/replacement yet to be announced.
As you can see, it’s pretty much done and dusted. The only undecided is Red Bull KTM who have announced that they are parting company with Johann Zarco. There is much speculation about his replacement with the suggestion that an “in house” deal could be made to promote the highly attractive Miguel Olivera from the Tech III team to the “works” team. While Olivera HAS a contract with Herve Poncheral’s outfit in place, I’m sure that KTM could make it worth his while to release the Portugese to higher duties.
In any event, there IS a gap in the KTM family and it does need to be filled. Hopefully KTM will resist the pressure from the British media to hire the ever under-performing Bradley Smith and hirea good up-and-coming performer instead. As always, watch this space.
Taka is off contract at the end of this year at LCR but he will stay for no other reason that Honda’s money will ensure that they have one Japanese rider in the premier class. I’ve never been impressed with him but I’m sure his place is safe.
However, all of this apparently settled situation has not stopped the mid-season press speculations from rampaging on. In the absence of real stories about which to write, the scribblers make up stories (witness the Lorenzo fiasco above). And the rumour mill concerning seats for 2021 when most of the above riders will be OUT of their present contracts is absolutely going off the scale. Rossi to retire and Quats to the “works” team. Lorenzo to retire, Mir to HRC to replace JL (he wanted to go there anyway), and so it goes.
As noted on numerous occasions before, it’s not called the Silly Season for nothing.