MotoGP entry down to 22 bikes for 2016 as Forward and AB leave
The MotoGP field will reduce from 25 to 22 bikes for 2016 with the departure of the Forward Racing and AB teams
Their exits were confirmed with the publication of the official entry lists for next season by governing body the FIM on Saturday.
Both teams have endured troubled 2015 seasons. Czech Honda team AB's regular rider Karel Abraham has missed much of the second half of the campaign due to a foot injury sustained at Barcelona, while Forward's future was in doubt when owner Giovanni Cuzari faced corruption and bribery charges during the summer.
Forward rider Loris Baz is still a close second behind Hector Barbera in the Open class championship going into Sunday's season finale at Valencia, but has already agreed a deal to join Barbera in the Avintia Ducati team next year.
Publication of the entry list also confirmed that the Ioda team will stay in the field, with Alex de Angelis again listed as its rider.
De Angelis returned to the paddock at Valencia this weekend, three weeks after a Motegi practice crash that left him in a critical condition in hospital.
Already announced changes to the MotoGP line-up for 2016 include a reallocation of customer Hondas, with Marc VDS Racing expanding to a second bike as LCR slims down to one, and Aspar returning to Ducati after previously running Hondas.
The leading works riders are all remaining with the same teams this winter, but more changes are anticipated at the end of next year when most of MotoGP's biggest names are out of contract.
The FIM also announced 34-bike fields for both Moto3 and Moto2 next year.
2016 MOTOGP ENTRY LIST
#4 Andrea Dovizioso - Ducati
#6 Stefan Bradl - Gresini Aprilia
#8 Hector Barbera - Avintia Ducati
#9 Danilo Petrucci - Pramac Ducati
#15 Alex de Angelis - Ioda ART (Aprilia)
#19 Alvaro Bautista - Gresini Aprilia
#25 Maverick Vinales - Suzuki
#26 Dani Pedrosa - Honda
#29 Andrea Iannone - Ducati
#35 Cal Crutchlow - LCR Honda
#38 Bradley Smith - Tech 3 Yamaha
#41 Aleix Espargaro - Suzuki
#43 Jack Miller - Marc VDS Honda
#44 Pol Espargaro - Tech 3 Yamaha
#45 Scott Redding - Pramac Ducati
#46 Valentino Rossi - Yamaha
#50 Eugene Laverty - Aspar Ducati
#53 Tito Rabat - Marc VDS Honda
#68 Yonny Hernandez - Aspar Ducati
#76 Loris Baz - Avintia Ducati
#93 Marc Marquez - Honda
#99 Jorge Lorenzo - Yamaha
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