2018 MotoGP Rider Line Up, Late August - Three Seats Left To Fill

With Taka Nakagami and Karel Abraham signing contracts for 2018 over the weekend, and another announcement due at Silverstone, we can update the 2018 MotoGP rider line up. Just three seats remain open: the second seat at Marc VDS Honda, and both seats at Avintia Ducati. A single question mark behind the name of a rider indicates a very strong rumor. An asterisk indicates an alternative rumor for a signed contract.

1. There were reports from Austria that KTM is losing patience with Bradley Smith, and that they may swap his role with Mika Kallio, promoting Kallio to the MotoGP team and making Smith the test rider.
2. Marc VDS are expected to make an announcement about a second rider at Silverstone. The official word from the team is that it will almost certainly be "a rider with MotoGP experience". Current favorites are Sam Lowes and Stefan Bradl.
3. Avintia will probably have one Ducati GP17 at their disposal, with the option of a second one, if they can sign a competitive enough rider. Both Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon are strongly rumored to be close to a deal at Avintia, both riders bringing substantial funding with them.