The 2025 MotoGP season promises to be an exciting one, with a radically revised grid. No fewer than 13 transfers will upset the balance of power, promising a competition full of surprises. With just a few weeks to go before the season kicks off in Thailand at the beginning of March, let's take a look at some of the highlights.
MotoGP 2025: a major workforce review
The arrival of Marc Márquez in the official Ducati team, alongside reigning champion Francesco Bagnaia, promises an explosive duo. For its part, Pertamina Enduro VR46, still backed by the Bologna-based manufacturer, will be counting on Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli to strengthen its squad. These strategic adjustments add a new dimension to the upcoming MotoGP season, Liberty Media or not.
Factory team riders :
- Ducati: Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) is committed until the end of 2026 and is joined by Marc Marquez (ESP), transferring from Ducati-Gresini to replace Enea Bastianini (ITA).
- Honda : Joan Mir (ESP) is committed until 2026, Luca Marini (ITA) until the end of 2025.
- Yamaha: Fabio Quartararo (FRA) has signed up until 2026, as has Alex Rins (ESP).
- Aprilia: Jorge Martin (ESP), currently with Ducati-Pramac, and Marco Bezzecchi (ITA), currently with Ducati-VR46, replace Aleix Espargaró (ESP) and Maverick Vinales (ESP) in the Italian team's ranks.
- KTM: Brad Binder (RSA) has signed up until the end of 2026, and has been joined by Pedro Acosta (ESP), who joins from KTM-GasGas/Tech3 to replace Jack Miller (KTM).
Satellite teams :
- Ducati-Gresini: Alex Marquez (ESP) remains with the Italian team and is joined by Fermin Aldeguer (ESP), who will have to shrug off the weight of succeeding Marc Marquez in his first MotoGP season.
- Ducati-VR46: Franco Morbidelli (ITA), who joins from Ducati-Pramac, replaces Marco Bezzecchi and will team up with Fabio Di Giannantonio (ITA) in the team created by Italian legend Valentino Rossi.
- Yamaha-Pramac: Miguel Oliveira (POR) and Jack Miller (AUS) will form the duo of Yamaha's new satellite team.
- Honda-LCR: Johann Zarco (FRA) will team up with Somkiat Chantra (THA), promoted from the Moto2 championship.
- KTM-GasGas-Tech3: Maverick Vinales (ESP), from the official Aprilia team, and Enea Bastianini (ITA), from the official Ducati team, will form the French team's new duo.
- Aprilia-Trackhouse: Ai Ogura (JPN), also from Moto2, will join Raul Fernandez (ESP) in the ranks of the American team.
The 2025 grid is now complete!
CANAL+ MotoGP (@CanalplusMotoGP) September 24, 2024
Who do you think made the best mercato? #MotoGP pic.twitter.com/OC5mOJrtwj
As you can see, there's no Espargaró on the horizon. We've become accustomed to their presence, but this time, neither Pol - who had already given up his place at Tech3 to Acosta at the end of the 2023 season - nor Aleix, will be taking part...
Aleix Espargaró, a notable absentee from the 2025 MotoGP grid
At 35, and after a 5ᵉ place achieved at the end of the final GP of the season in Barcelona, Aleix Espargaró (main photo) is embarking on a new sporting adventure. The 35-year-old Spaniard has officially joined the World Tour-level cycling team, Lidl-Trek, as an ambassador.
From MotoGP to road cycling, a passionate reconversion
Originally from Granollers, Espargaró has been living in Andorra, one of the world's leading cycling destinations, for several years now. It was in this environment that he honed his physical condition alongside such iconic figures as Julian Alaphilippe and Marc Soler. Following a back injury that forced him to give up running, he turned to cycling as a means of rehabilitation. What began as a recuperative activity soon became a real passion.
Former MotoGP driver Aleix Espargaró explains his transition to cycling:
Living in Andorra, I rubbed shoulders with many professional cyclists, which motivated me to train at a higher level.
With over 10,000 kilometers covered per year, as evidenced by his Strava account (a popular application for runners and cyclists), his training volume is on a par with that of professionals. Many sportsmen wait until the end of their career to take full advantage of their motorized 2-wheeled experience, but Aleix Espargaró doesn't take the same route... or else, the engine is so small that you can't see it from the side of the road.
Aleix Espargaró: a key role at Lidl-Trek (Tour de France?)
"He will join the team at some of the most prestigious events on the calendar to promote cycling to a wide audience," announces Lidl-Trek on its social networks, hinting at a presence at iconic races such as the Tour de France.
As ambassador, Espargaró will not only be promoting the team: he will also be putting his experience as a top-level sportsman, acquired over two decades, at the service of young riders. Although he won't be wearing a race number, he could still accompany the team in the executive cars. "I've decided to leave motorcycling earlier than planned to join a project that fully corresponds to my passion," confides Espargaró.
Much more than a sport, it's a lifestyle that has become a natural part of his daily life. Abandoning his leather suit for a lighter outfit, he embraced this unexpected reconversion, but one that was totally in line with his personal aspirations. Where Alex Pons has decided to make a complete break with the world of competition, illustrating the richness of the paths taken by these exceptional athletes.
