The recent spate of official rider announcements means that the MotoGP rider line up for 2023 is nearly complete. The official confirmation by Aprilia that Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez would be racing in the RNF Aprilia squad brings the total of confirmed riders signed to 18. All of the factory seats are now occupied, and just four of the satellite seats remain open.
"Open" is probably not the correct description here, however. We are nearly certain of who will occupy those seats in 2023, the only question is when they will be announced.
The seats most likely to be announced first are the VR46 Mooney Ducati squad. That team will remain unchanged, with Luca Marini and Marco Bezzecchi continuing in the squad. The only question is whether both riders will have a Desmosedici GP23 at their disposal, or just Marini.
At LCR Honda Idemitsu, Takaaki Nakagami is almost certain to stay. Team Honda Asia Moto2 rider Ai Ogura had been widely tipped to take the seat, but the Japanese rider has elected to stay in Moto2 for another season, to try to win a Moto2 crown.
At the Tech3 GasGas squad, Augusto Fernandez is almost certain to join Pol Espargaro. 2021 Moto2 champion Remy Gardner has been told there is no place for him in MotoGP next year, and is looking outside of the grand prix paddock for his future. KTM's policy of dumping rookies quickly continues to mystify onlookers, with both Raul Fernandez and Remy Gardner being ousted after their rookie season, while Iker Lecuona got two years in Tech3 before he was forced out.
Of the ten factory seats, only one will fall vacant at the end of 2023. Franco Morbidelli has next season to secure an extension at the Monster Energy Yamaha team, though he will need some help from the 2023 MotoGP bike. Among satellite riders, both RNF Aprilia riders and LCR Honda's Alex Rins have two-year deals, the remaining seats falling open at the end of 2023.
The 2023 MotoGP rider line up as it stands appears below:
Confirmed:
| Rider | Bike | Contract until |
| Factory Teams | ||
| Monster Energy Yamaha | ||
| Franco Morbidelli | Yamaha M1 | 2023 |
| Fabio Quartararo | Yamaha M1 | 2024 |
| Repsol Honda | ||
| Marc Márquez | Honda RC213V | 2024 |
| Joan Mir | Honda RC213V | 2024 |
| Ducati Factory | ||
| Pecco Bagnaia | Ducati Desmosedici GP23 | 2024 |
| Enea Bastianini | Ducati Desmosedici GP23 | 2024 |
| Red Bull KTM | ||
| Brad Binder | KTM RC16 | 2024 |
| Jack Miller | KTM RC16 | 2024 |
| Aprilia | ||
| Aleix Espargaro | Aprilia RS-GP | 2024 |
| Maverick Viñales | Aprilia RS-GP | 2024 |
| Satellite Teams | ||
| Pramac Ducati | ||
| Johann Zarco | Ducati Desmosedici GP23 | 2023 |
| Jorge Martin | Ducati Desmosedici GP23 | 2023 |
| RNF Aprilia | ||
| Miguel Oliveira | Aprilia RS-GP | 2024 |
| Raul Fernandez | Aprilia RS-GP | 2024 |
| GasGas Tech 3 | ||
| Pol Espargaro | KTM RC16 | 2023 |
| LCR Honda | ||
| Alex Rins | Honda RC213V | 2024 |
| Gresini Ducati | ||
| Alex Marquez | Ducati Desmosedici GP22 | 2023 |
| Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati Desmosedici GP22 | 2023 |
| Unconfirmed | ||
| VR46 | ||
| Luca Marini | Ducati Desmosedici GP23 | |
| Marco Bezzecchi | Ducati Desmosedici GP22? | |
| LCR Honda Idemitsu | ||
| Takaaki Nakagami | Honda RC213V | |
| GasGas Tech 3 | ||
| Augusto Fernandez? | KTM RC16 |
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Comments
Re next yr's Ducatis, I
Re next yr's Ducatis, I cannot immediately remember where I got this from but - there will be one bike out there next yr. Updates come by Summer break to all bikes. The 2022 and 2023 are so similar that it doesn't really matter anymore.
Gone is the (unwise) current 3 bike specs out there. It will be just one.
Look out. Red is rising. I think NOW, and see Pecco and Quarty on even footing for the 2022 Silverware.
A.Marquez is a lucky duck indeed to have scored a Duc via his mediocre performance. As lucky as Raul the Tool. I bet Alex instantly gels w the bike and gets a boost to mid pack.
My big question mark is over the 2023 Honda bike. I don't think it is far from where it needs to getto compete. Marc is back, Mir is here, Rins bins the crap out of it (he will be a big crasher), Nakagami won't impress nor drop back. The bike? We know nothing of what is coming, don't we? Odd times there.
In reply to Re next yr's Ducatis, I by Motoshrink
I'm worried about your
I'm worried about your crystal ball...
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7c/ba/14/7cba14190a101e80a7fa311d13f0fdf…
As lucky as Raul the Tool
Come on, no need to hold back here, what do you really think? pmsl
In reply to As lucky as Raul the Tool by larryt4114
^ oddly perhaps Larry, I
^ oddly perhaps Larry, I think Raul is going to do well and Aprilia didn't do a bad thing signing.
But, it is just so...ick. My take on him as a person is well evidenced. At least I get to have an antagonist in MotoGP again.
KTM has been weird for a few yrs...their bike, but also this mistreatment of Remy Gardner. I was in agreement on letting Lecuona go. But this Gardner thing, it is more about the bike. They are lucky to have B.Binder!
I think the next front tire is going to help Honda and KTM. My mind is a bit stuck on it.
Interesting times, eh?
In reply to ^ oddly perhaps Larry, I by Motoshrink
I think Raul knew all he
I think Raul knew all he needed to know before time. Remy discovering. Maybe Raul discovered it last year. Remy is being accused of not being professional enough but 'Raul remained very professional and it was great working with him', that's Herve. At least this year one of the Tech3 riders is leaving the team with some semblance of a protocol being followed. Not Remy though, he's been shafted. Brad has another 2 seasons to go after this one. He'll be 29 when this contract is over. I hope they have paid him well. Top rider, a lot better rides have been on offer.
IMHO, Brad Binder ....
Brad Binder is a waste of talent on the KTM, cannot wait to see him on another manufacturers bike!
The KTM is a lemon🍋! Tying up BB33 to a 4 year contract, after his rookie year, has diminished KTMs' responsibility to provide him a championship winning bike!
BB33 would have certainly won a MotoGP championship if he had been with another manufacturer! KTM have '23 and '24' to convince BB33 that KTM is a worthwhile project!