Ducati teams Angel Nieto and Avintia eye Tech3's MotoGP Yamahas
Two of Ducati's satellite MotoGP teams, Angel Nieto and Avintia, have expressed interest in taking over Yamaha's supply of customer bikes from Tech3 for the 2019 season
On Thursday, it was announced that the 18-year relationship between Yamaha and its sole satellite team, Tech3, will end after the 2018 campaign as Tech3 has found a so-far-unnamed new partner.
It leaves Yamaha needing to find an alternative partner to ensure it maintains a four-bike presence on the 2019 grid, while opening up an opportunity for other satellite teams to bid for the opportunity to lease a pair of year-old M1s.
Both Nieto (formerly Aspar, pictured above) and Avintia, which currently run a 2017 and a '16-spec Ducati each, have indicated to Autosport they would be interested in taking over Tech3's supply of Yamahas.
Marc VDS could also enter the bidding, having made it clear in the past that it is unhappy with the state of its relationship with Honda following Jack Miller's defection to the Ducati camp last year.
But a Marc VDS spokesperson emphasised to Autosport that "what we want is to link ourselves to a manufacturer which offers us a long-term project".
This could be a veiled reference to the fact that the two satellite Yamahas could ultimately end up with Valentino Rossi and his VR46 operation when the seven-time MotoGP champion decides to retire from racing.
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta told Autosport last year that Rossi's team would be guaranteed a grid slot if it wanted to step up to MotoGP, despite the current cap of 24 entries.
Should Rossi make the transition from rider to team boss, it seems unlikely he would collaborate with anyone but Yamaha, especially given his past relationships with rival marques Honda and Ducati.
Equally, both Honda and Ducati now have clearly established secondary teams in the form of LCR and Pramac respectively, which both run riders that are contracted directly to their factories.
Previous article
Tech3 to split with Yamaha after 2018 MotoGP season
Next article
Aprilia delays introducing new MotoGP engine until Qatar season opener
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Teams | Ducati Team , AB Motoracing , Tech 3 , Avintia Racing , Angel Nieto Team |
| Author | Oriol Puigdemont |
MotoGP Starting Grid: Doha Grand Prix
Marc Márquez's first ride after his injury
Marc Marquez continues his recovery
The hurdles Marquez faces next in his Portugal MotoGP return
Even by Marc Marquez’s own high standards, his MotoGP comeback on Friday at the Portuguese Grand Prix will be considered a success even if he didn’t top the times. But having shown competitive pace on his first day back, both Marquez and his rivals know plenty more challenges are to come
Where does Honda's new MotoGP signing sit ahead of its king's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Has Yamaha banished its demons with its 2021 MotoGP bike?
Against the expected run of play at Qatar's Losail circuit, both Yamaha riders Maverick Vinales and Fabio Quartararo carved through a resolute Ducati defence to secure back-to-back MotoGP wins for the Japanese marque. After a difficult 2020, it appears that Yamaha has swaggered back into championship contention
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
Did the Qatar GP hint at Ducati’s true MotoGP leader?
OPINION: Johann Zarco talked a big game pre-season, and is so far vindicating himself as a factory rider at Pramac after finishing the Qatar GP as top Ducati in second. And contrasting his and Jack Miller's weekends and their approaches, is Zarco emerging as Ducati's true MotoGP leader?
