Pilots revolution…
This year the MotoGP rider market has been spectacular. More than half the grid will change teams next year and there have been some striking announcements; from Bagnaia to Aprilia to Acosta to Ducati, passing through Martin to Yamaha, ‘new beginning’ seems to be the key concept for almost everyone. But in contemporary MotoGP and even more so with a regulatory revolution on the horizon, a role almost as central as that of the riders will be played by the various crew chiefs.
With so many team changes, in fact, those riders who manage to find harmony with their new team first could have a big advantage during the championship. None of the aforementioned names, however, will be able to bring their ‘guardian angel’ from the previous team.
But the crew chiefs don’t follow
Take Daniele Romagnoli: the historic crew chief of Jorge Martin at Pramac – who also followed him to Aprilia – this time will not move from Noale, where he is very happy. Martin at Yamaha will in fact be assisted by David Munoz while Romagnoli will continue to work with Aprilia, becoming the new crew chief of Francesco Bagnaia. This will be a very intriguing rider-crew chief combo since the two found themselves on opposite sides of the barricade in the 2023-2024 biennium, when Bagnaia fought for the World Championships until the last race precisely against Martin, winning the first time and losing the second.
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No team change either for those who over the years have faced joys and sorrows alongside Bagnaia at Ducati: Cristian Gabarrini, already alongside Casey Stoner in his triumphant years at Ducati and Honda, this time will remain dressed in red. Ducati wanted to lock him in and for Gabarrini there will certainly be a fascinating task: he will work with Pedro Acosta, highly anticipated in his first season with a title-contending team. A possible World Championship won by Romagnoli with Bagnaia at Aprilia could be the second with two riders and two different manufacturers; if Acosta were to prevail instead, for Gabarrini it would be the fifth World Championship won working with three different riders. In short, let the crew chiefs’ challenge begin.
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