MotoGP: Bastianini, Vinales to Join Red Bull KTM Tech3 in 2025

KTM is shaking things up for the 2025 season with a brand new rider line-up for their Red Bull KTM Tech3 team. Italian rider Enea Bastianini and Spanish rider Maverick Vinales will be taking seats in the second KTM team. Both riders will be on factory KTM bikes under a long-term contract. This adds to the existing team of Brad Binder and Pedro Acosta, creating a strong group of four riders under the Red Bull KTM banner. Bastianini has a history with KTM, starting on a KTM RC4 and even winning races in their Rookies Cup. He's had a successful career so far with Moto3 and Moto2 wins, including a Moto2 championship title in 2020. Since moving to MotoGP in 2021, he's continued to impress with several wins and podium finishes.

KTM Motorsports Director Pit Beirer said: 'We’re very happy we could bring both Enea and Maverick into our MotoGP project and give them full factory backing and support to keep following their goals and to reach their maximum performance. It’s clear we are talking about two of the fastest riders in the world right now and it is a compliment that they trust us and the first-class operation we’ve created together with Red Bull KTM Tech3. The team’s label for 2025 says it all: it is time to strengthen the KTM name again and we couldn’t think of a better way to bring this kind of value to the company than for Enea and Maverick to go full Red Bull orange. Let’s push on for the rest of 2024 now and then look forward to this new start for next year.'

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Maverick Vinales to KTM

After a three-year stint with Aprilia Racing that yielded one Grand Prix victory (Austin 2024) and seven podium finishes, Maverick Vinales will be departing the team at the end of the 2024 season. He will be joining Tech3 and KTM's parent company (Pierer Mobility Group) for the 2025 season. This team currently competes under the GasGas banner. Vinales' departure creates a significant rider vacancy for Aprilia, as Aleix Espargaro previously announced his retirement from MotoGP at season's end. There are rumours that Espargaro will transition to a test rider role with Honda in 2025.

Initial indications suggested Vinales was open to extending his contract with Aprilia, who provided him with an opportunity in 2021 following a challenging split from Yamaha. However, Aprilia reportedly opted to wait on Espargaro's decision before initiating contract talks with Vinales. The landscape shifted dramatically following the Italian Grand Prix, where Aprilia secured a high-profile signing in Jorge Martin from Pramac Ducati. This move reportedly came at a substantial cost, as Ducati opted for Marc Marquez to partner with Francesco Bagnaia for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

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With all four KTM factory seats now filled, Jack Miller's most viable option to remain a factory rider in 2025 appears to be Repsol Honda, if Joan Mir decides to leave the Japanese team. The future remains less certain for Raul Fernandez, who faces challenges in his second MotoGP season.