Marco Bezzecchi
Carmelo Ezpeleta has received a complaint from an unnamed MotoGP team manager who has lost one of his star riders before the 2026 season, according to a report.
The MotoGP rider market has proceeded at pace both before and during winter testing. Pedro Acosta is expected to join Ducati, with Francesco Bagnaia heading to Aprilia.
Bagnaia fills the spot vacated by the Yamaha-bound Jorge Martin, who is in turn replacing new Honda recruit Fabio Quartararo. Alex Marquez is also in line for a factory seat at KTM.
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According to El Periodico, none of these moves have been made official because the teams still haven’t renewed their commercial agreement with MotoGP Sports Entertainment, also known as Dorna, for the 2027-31 window.
Ezpeleta is apparently ‘fed up’ with receiving ‘endless demands’ from the manufacturers. There was a fresh meeting on Tuesday in Thailand but little progress was made.
MotoGP team manager unhappy about paying a departing rider
According to the same publication, one of the ‘top’ team managers in the paddock recently told Ezpeleta: “I’m going to pay my star rider three million euros, and throughout the season he’ll have his next bike on his mind, not mine.”
One can only guess which manager made the complaint, though the reputed £2.6m salary is most likely to be in the Martin or Acosta ballpark.
Does MotoGP need to introduce a transfer window?
In response, Ezpeleta reminded the team boss that he suggested an in-season transfer window ‘some time ago’, but manufacturers were resistant to the idea.
There is clearly a concern within MotoGP that some departing riders will be less committed in 2026. Indeed, Neil Hodgson predicted that Quartararo would be the biggest disappointment of the year as his relationship with Yamaha frays.
Marc Marquez already has a testing advantage for the 2027 season
As El Periodico point out, all of these riders who are on the move won’t be able to test next year’s bikes. Their current teams won’t want them passing on any secrets, and contracts will naturally prevent them testing for their 2027 squads.
Given the scale of the regulation changes, being absent from the in-season tests will be a considerable advantage.
However, given that Marc Marquez is set to renew his Ducati contract, he won’t have to face these restrictions. Already, that gives him an edge over his would-be rivals, as if he needed it.
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