Along with the Moto3 and Moto2 entry lists, the FIM announced the provisional entry list for MotoGP for the 2015 season. The list contains no surprises, all the signings already announced.
It does, however, contain two question marks, one large, one small. The large one is whether Marco Melandri will be joining Alvaro Bautista in the Gresini Aprilia squad next season, or whether he will stay on in World Superbikes for another year. Melandri is believed to be wary of the Aprilia MotoGP project, given the lack of competitiveness of the bike. For 2016, a new and greatly revised bike is expected, built specifically for MotoGP, rather than the modified RSV4 which they are currently racing. Melandri may be holding out for a year to assess the competitiveness of a new bike. However, if Aprilia do not back any teams in WSBK next year, then Melandri may find that his hand is being forced. No doubt that situation will finally be resolved next week, at the last round of World Superbikes at Qatar.
The other question is whether the IODA team will actually take part in MotoGP next year. They have struggled for funds in 2014, unable to field the two bikes originally planned. For next year, they have neither a bike nor a rider signed, and without finding a generous sponsor, it is hard to imagine how they will continue. More will become apparent at Valencia, no doubt, when (or indeed, if) the team tests on the three days following the race.
The provisional 2015 MotoGP line up:
No | Rider | Nationality | Team | Machine | Factory Option? |
4 | Andrea Dovizioso | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati GP15 | * |
6 | Stefan Bradl | GER | NGM Forward Racing | Forward Yamaha | |
8 | Hector Barbera | SPA | Avintia Racing | Ducati GP14.2 | |
9 | Danilo Petrucci | ITA | Pramac Racing | Ducati GP14.2 | * |
17 | Karel Abraham | CZE | Cardion AB Motoracing | Honda RC213V-RS | |
19 | Alvaro Bautista | SPA | Factory Aprilia Gresini | Aprilia | * |
25 | Maverick Vinales | SPA | Team Suzuki MotoGP | Suzuki GSX-RR | * |
26 | Dani Pedrosa | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda RC213V | * |
29 | Andrea Iannone | ITA | Ducati Team | Ducati GP15 | * |
35 | Cal Crutchlow | GBR | CMW LCR Honda | Honda RC213V | * |
38 | Bradley Smith | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech3 | Yamaha M1 | * |
41 | Aleix Espargaro | SPA | Team Suzuki MotoGP | Suzuki GSX-RR | * |
43 | Jack Miller | AUS | CMW LCR Honda | Honda RC213V-RS | |
44 | Pol Espargaro | SPA | Monster Yamaha Tech3 | Yamaha M1 | * |
45 | Scott Redding | GBR | Marc VDS Racing Team | Honda RC213V | * |
46 | Valentino Rossi | ITA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha M1 | * |
50 | Eugene Laverty | IRL | Drive M7 Aspar | Honda RC213V-RS | |
63 | Mike Di Meglio | FRA | Avintia Racing | Ducati GP14.2 | |
68 | Yonny Hernandez | COL | Pramac Racing | Ducati GP14.2 | * |
69 | Nicky Hayden | USA | Drive M7 Aspar | Honda RC213V-RS | |
76 | Loris Baz | FRA | NGM Forward Racing | Forward Yamaha | |
93 | Marc Marquez | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda RC213V | * |
99 | Jorge Lorenzo | SPA | Movistar Yamaha MotoGP | Yamaha M1 | * |
To Be Confirmed | Factory Aprilia Gresini | Aprilia | * | ||
To Be Confirmed | OCTO Iodaracing Team | TBC |
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Comments
Do we know
Aoyama's situation?
Aoyama
Aoyama is being linked to IODA, but he would be paid by Dorna to keep a Japanese rider in the class.
Spanish representatives?
Am I reading this right? Just had a look at the numbers of Spanish riders in the field across all classes and suprisingly, there isn't as many as I would have expected in Moto3:
Moto3 - 5
Moto2 - 7
MotoGP - 8
Having a look at some of the other nationalities; 9 Italians in Moto3, 5 Swiss in Moto2 and a mix of all others across all classes.
Kind of interesting to see the mix. David, any reason to see so many Italians in Moto3 and not that many Spanish?
Cheers.
In reply to Spanish representatives? by Mick_w
Some options
Spanish kids staying in the CEV Moto3 and then jumping straight to Moto2 perhaps. Also the Italian Federation's efforts to match the Spanish academy system could be starting to pay dividends as well.
2015 MotoGP Constructors' Championship
Hi David,
From the official entry list, we will have 6 Constructors in the premier class as the following
1 Honda
2 Yamaha
3 Ducati
4 Suzuki
5 Aprilia
6 Forward Yamaha
Is it right?
I might be wrong but I have read that next year bike of the Forward team will be 2014 YZR-M1 with Unitfied software(Replaced Yamaha Official Software) minus the suspension and brake.
Why Forward Yamaha does not include in the list under Yamaha constructor? because of the difference of the bike? Yamaha does not want it? Forward team intends to go with this direction? or for other reason?
In reply to 2015 MotoGP Constructors' Championship by btoy
Forward Yamaha
I do not know the official reason, but at the presentation for next year, Yamaha said that Forward would have complete freedom to develop their bike (outside of the engine). Forward will use the Yamaha engine and chassis, but they are free to continue to use and develop the Forward chassis they are currently using.
This is probably why they are on the list as Forward Yamaha, not Yamaha, because they have much more freedom than the Yamaha satellite teams do.
In reply to Forward Yamaha by David Emmett
Thank you so much
Thank you so much