2023 MotoGP Schedule

SoCal250 · August 10, 2023, 01:47:46 PM

The "new and improved" MotoGP app/site is horrible! What a step backwards.

Why can't they just leave things alone?

The videopass section is a PITA to navigate now, and the "No-spoilers" option doesn't really work any more. Videos for race weekends are now broken down in categories of: Races / Qualifying /Practice which leads one to have to jump back and forth between categories and figure out what event is next in chronological sequence. It was so much better before when everything was in order of how they took place and the categories were by day (e.g. Fri / Sat / Sun).

SoCal250 · August 30, 2023, 12:31:58 PM

Zarco moving from Pramac Ducati to LCR Honda for the next 2 seasons. That leaves an open seat at Pramac.
Bezzecchi is staying at Mooney VR46 for one more year.
Binder agreed to an extension at Red Bull KTM so he's on contract through 2026.

Marini, Nakagami, and DiGiannantonio all have contracts ending this November.
And KTM needs to find a spot for Pedro Acosta who will be moving up from Moto2 next year, but they only have four bikes and already have four riders on contract through 2024.

SoCal250 · September 01, 2023, 11:05:05 AM

Moto2 news: Joe Roberts returning to American Racing after 3 years at Italtrans.

With his return hopefully he can get back the speed he showed in the past.

SoCal250 · September 18, 2023, 02:27:51 PM

Morbidelli has signed with Pramac for the 2o24 season and will be riding a Ducati GP24. Being kicked to the curb by Yamaha may turn out to be something really positive for Frankie. He's getting the best bike on the grid and factory support. Once he figures out the riding style adjustments for the V4, I think he's going to give Bagnaia and Bezzecchi a run for their money at the front.

Yamaha continue to have issues. They seem to be going nowhere fast. The news from the latest test in Misano doesn't sound good. The 2024 bike performance sounds like more of the same. I'm guessing that Quartararo may soon be a little jealous of Morbidelli for getting out of Yamaha and securing a Ducati for next season. 2024 is going to be another long season for Yamaha and Honda.

SoCal250 · September 19, 2023, 03:38:35 PM

The India GP sounds like a real cluster!

Seizer · October 02, 2023, 01:12:45 AM

If MM93 goes to Gresini, do you think Zarco will go to the Repsol team? I think he'd be great for development. Hell, he's ridden pretty much everything but the Aprilia at this point and I'm not sure how good Mir is at development. I'm pretty sure Rins took the Suzuki to where it was after Ianone fucked it all up lol. Nice to see Joan Mir being fairly competitive again recently. I feel like he's one of the good guys in the paddock.

achemen · October 02, 2023, 03:40:32 AM

Zarco might go to Repsol , he is a great in the making

SoCal250 · October 02, 2023, 12:52:45 PM

If MM bails on Honda, shifting Zarco from LCR to HRC makes sense. Without Marquez Honda will be even more lost than they are now. They'll need someone to help with development and Johann is by far the best candidate, and fortunately he's already under the Honda umbrella for 2024.

SoCal250 · October 04, 2023, 01:20:53 PM

The worst kept secret in the paddock is finally official news. After 11 years at Honda Marc Marquez is leaving to ride with Gresini Ducati after this season.
"Both parties agreed it was in their best interests to each pursue other avenues in the future to best achieve their respective goals and targets," Honda said in a statement.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/67007312
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2023/10/04/marquez-breaks-silence-on-honda-departure/479555

I think once he figures out how to ride the Duc the rest of the paddock is in trouble. One of the best riders in history matched with the best bike on the grid is going to be tough to beat.

85RZwade · October 04, 2023, 03:38:13 PM

Wow

SoCal250 · October 06, 2023, 11:19:00 AM

Today's KTM/GasGas news has been brewing for a few days but it's now official. Pedro Acosta will be moving up from Moto2 to take the other seat alongside Augusto Fernandez. Pol Espargaro will be moved into a test rider/back-up role. Since Dorna wouldn't approve a 5th bike on the grid for KTM it sucks to be #44.

So the only seat in question now is who will take the Repsol Honda vacancy alongside Mir?
It hasn't been officially announced but Marc Marquez is expected to go to Gresini Ducati, joining his brother and leaving DiGiannantonio without a 2024 ride.

SoCal250 · October 12, 2023, 11:38:20 AM

Quote from: SoCal250 on October 04, 2023, 01:20:53 PMThe worst kept secret in the paddock is finally official news. After 11 years at Honda Marc Marquez is leaving to ride with Gresini Ducati after this season.
"Both parties agreed it was in their best interests to each pursue other avenues in the future to best achieve their respective goals and targets," Honda said in a statement.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/motorsport/67007312
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2023/10/04/marquez-breaks-silence-on-honda-departure/479555

I think once he figures out how to ride the Duc the rest of the paddock is in trouble. One of the best riders in history matched with the best bike on the grid is going to be tough to beat.

It's now official. MM93 will ride for Gresini in 2024 alongside his younger brother.
https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2023/10/12/its-official-marc-marquez-to-join-gresini-racing-motogp/479743

Crutchlow's thoughts on the move during the Motegi round: "I've always said if Marc goes on a Ducati, the rest may as well not turn up."
Quartararo quote from Mandalika: "Marc is the reference of the last 10 years and he will be on a really competitive bike. So yeah, I think he will make our life super difficult next year."

The next big question is who will get moved into Marc's old seat at Honda? Zarco? Also rumors about Oliveiera or Vinales, but I don't see that happening.

SoCal250 · November 07, 2023, 12:15:29 PM

The Honda seat is still empty and no clear candidates right now. Zarco, Oliveiera, and Vinales are all out as possible Mir teammates. Each has stated publicly that they are not moving to Respol.

The other underperforming Japanese team, Yamaha is still a huge cluster. Quartararo has said in the media that if there's not a huge step in performance over the winter that he is done and seeking a ride elsewhere. No more 2nd chances.
Since that news, Yamaha announced that it didn't have the finances to afford to pay Fabio's salary in the 2025 season, which would be the first year of a potential new contract. This has to be some kind of negotiating ploy because it certainly doesn't sound good when you publicly announce you don't have enough money to afford top caliber riders. Who's going to want to move a team that doesn't want to pay you and has a second rate machine?

And the latest huge series news to come out is that there may be an engine displacement change coming for the 2027 season. We could see a shift to 850cc engines.

I seem to recall the last time this was done with the 800cc bikes that it didn't go very well.

SoCal250 · November 12, 2023, 01:09:27 AM

Quote from: SoCal250 on November 07, 2023, 12:15:29 PMThe Honda seat is still empty and no clear candidates right now. Zarco, Oliveiera, and Vinales are all out as possible Mir teammates. Each has stated publicly that they are not moving to Respol.

The rumor mill churns on...
Pol Espargaro has said he's not going anywhere despite news that Honda had reached out to him. He will be staying in GasGas Tech3. So he is now officially out of the running.
The vacant Honda seat now seems to be linked with Luca Marini and a 2-year deal to fill the empty Repsol seat. I would think it would take a big paycheck to get a rider off the best bike on the grid and onto the lowly Honda, even if it was for a factory seat.
And then Fermin Aldeguer could be promoted up from Moto2 to fill the open spot in VR46. However this seems a little odd for a Spaniard and non-Academy rider to assume a position in Rossi's VR46 team. I guess we'll see.

News:

2023 MotoGP Schedule