Are you excited for the motogp world championship next year? We have the line-up for you!
Next year’s line-up for the MotoGP World Championship has been finalized and we’ve created a list for you with brief introductory information so you can familiarize yourself with the racers.
- Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
Valentino Rossi, 38, is an Italian professional motorcycle road racer who has won multiple MotoGP World Championships and nine Grand Prix World Championships, seven of which are premium class. He also owns the Sky Racing Team by VR46.
Maverick Viñales, 22, is a Spanish motorcycle racer and former Moto3 champion who also won the Best Rookie Award in the MotoGP class.
These two racers signed a two-year deal with Yamaha which secures their schedules until 2018. Rossi and Viñales are two strong contenders in the race.
- Repsol Honda Team
Marc Márquez, 24, is nicknamed “Ant of Cervera” and is a four-time MotoGP world champion, coming in at 1st place this year. In the same team is Dani Pedrosa, 32, who is also the youngest world champion in 250cc Grand Prix.
Just like the Yamaha team, these two racers have contracts until the end of 2018.
- Ducati Team
Andrea Dovizioso, 31, won the 125cc World Championship in 2004 and has been active as a professional motorcycle racer since 2008.
Alongside him is Jorge Lorenzo, 30, the winner of the two-time consecutive winner of the 2006 and 2007 250cc World Championship. He was born in Palma, Majorca, Spain, and came in as 7th for this year’s championship.
Similarly, they have a contract until 2018 and are looking forward to a great season.
- Team Suzuki Ecstar
Andrea Iannone, 28, has been racing professionally for 4 years now. Despite the rumours that Iannone was going to be replaced by Jonathan Rea for his “incompetent performance”, Rea completely denied the rumour and is continuing with Kawasaki in WBSK.
Meanwhile, Álex Rins, 21, who made his debut in the Moto3 World Championship in 2012 will be his teammate.
These two racers also have contracts valid until 2018 as well.
- Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
Spanish Aleix Espargaró, 28, is Bike No. 41 riding alongside British Scott Redding, 24, who arrived from Octo Pramac to ride for the Italian marquee after Aprilia ended their ties with Sam Lowes.
- RedBull KTM Factory Racing
Pol Espargaró, 26, is the younger brother of Aprilia team’s Aleix. Beside him would be Bradley Smith, 38, is a British motorcycle racer and a regular frontrunner in the 125cc class. With RedBull KTM Factory riders having contracts to the end of 2018, they are also determined to continue developing the RC16 machine.
It would be interesting to find out if there was any sibling rivalry going on between the Espargaró brothers. It would definitely spice up the championship next year.
- LCR Honda
Cal Crutchlow, 32, was previously with Yamaha (2011-2013) and Ducati (2014) and is now riding alongside current factory Honda test rider, Taka Nakagami.
- Monster Yamaha Tech3
Johann Zarco, 27, is a French motorcycle racer with 16 Grand Prix victories under his belt, far from the number on his bike, 5. No wonder he is deemed the “most successful French rider in Grand Prix racing.”
His teammate would be German Jonas Folger, 24, who received his Rookie of the Year award in 2009.
- Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS Honda
The Marc VDS team had a complete system overhaul and brought in two incredible talents from Moto2. Franco Morbidelli, 22, was a student of from VR46 Rider’s academy – another exciting feat in next year’s competition to see the Master and his pupil racing alongside each other. Alongside Morbidelli would be Swiss racer Thomas Lüthi, 31.
- Octo Pramac Racing
Danilo Petrucci, 27, will be remaining with the Pramac Racing team as a new addition comes in from down under – Jack Miller, 22, will be riding with Ducati for the first time.
- Pull & Bear Aspar Ducati Team
Álvaro Bautista, 33, is the former 125cc World Champion and will be racing alongside Karel Abraham, 27, from Czechoslovakia until 2018.
- Realle Avintia Racing
Tito Rabat, 28, and Xavier Siméon, 28, will be replacing Hector Barbera and Loris Baz for the 2018 championship.
Images: (Motogp)