MotoGP testing is about to kick off, and excitement hangs in the air among fans and paddock alike. As it should, of course: it’s been 10 weeks since MotoGP bikes were out on track in full public view. But the excitement isn’t just about the prospect of seeing what MotoGP’s five manufacturers have brought to test. That is being overshadowed by the sudden explosion of the MotoGP rider market. Rumor is rife, speculation is running amok.
Making things worse, ironically, is the fact that we have our first officially announced rider signing. (Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean this was the first contract signed, just the first contract announced. Contract announcements are complicated things, with any number of representatives and sponsors needing to be informed before the news can be made public.
