Marco Bezzecchi
Carmelo Ezpeleta is pushing for more nationalities to join the MotoGP grid, which could spell the end of Maverick Vinales and Joan Mir’s time in the sport.
Spain and Italy’s dominance in MotoGP has sparked debate in recent months. 15 of the 22 riders on the grid hail from these countries, and Ezpeleta is looking to change that.
Are there too many Spanish riders on the MotoGP grid?
The Dorna chief, now MotoGP SEG is looking to bring more nationalities to the premier class, saying that it cannot be filled with just Spaniards. While he claims it has nothing to do with new owners Liberty Media, it is something that the American company have explored in Formula 1.
They have looked to branch out to all corners of the globe to expand the sport’s audience. Liberty Media already have that influence in MotoGP, with Toprak Razgatlioglu and Diogo Moreira joining the grid in 2026, adding Turkey and Brazil as new countries represented.
MotoGP teams are now looking at non-Spanish riders
As aforementioned, Ezpeleta says Liberty Media ‘absolutely’ have nothing to do with his claim that there should be fewer Spanish riders on the grid, according to a report from Autosport.
However, the report states that ‘the message has taken hold’ among MotoGP teams, and they are taking a new direction when it comes to rider signings.
Teams are now ‘beginning to look for riders who are not Spanish’ and even Italian, but ‘to a lesser extent’. It explains why riders such as Brad Binder, who is South African, and Jack Miller from Australia are ‘highly sought after’ because of their passports.
Miller is ‘guaranteed’ to keep his seat at Pramac next year as MotoGP needs an Aussie on the grid, especially for the upcoming Adelaide Grand Prix. Teams are now looking for riders who are ‘highly valued’ because of their nationality.
Signings such as Colombian Moto2 star David Alonso, who is joining Honda in 2027, are a prime example of this shift. Teams are now less focused on Spanish talent, which could be bad news for veterans such as Vinales and Mir.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Joan Mir from net worth to career stats
Maverick Vinales and Joan Mir are under pressure to stay in MotoGP
With this new mentality from MotoGP teams, Vinales and Mir, who are out of contract in 2026, could be set to drop off the grid in favour of an upcoming rider with a different passport.
Vinales’ factory KTM contract is ‘suspended’ due to his injury setbacks. He was set to join Alex Marquez in 2027, but with his physical struggles, and now this issue of his passport, his deal could fall through and be handed to someone like Binder, who is also fighting to stay in MotoGP.
Mir looks set to leave Honda in 2027, with Fabio Quartararo and Alonso joining the factory team. Rumours are suggesting that Trackhouse are keen on signing Mir, but again, his passport could get in the way.
It is the same situation for Alex Rins, who is being replaced by Ai Ogura at Yamaha in 2027. Scott Redding believes Rins is only at Yamaha for his passport, but with his pending exit, it proves this shift from Ezpeleta for new countries is very real.
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