MotoGP: Trackhouse Racing Enters 2024 Championship Grid, Replaces RNF Team

Trackhouse Racing, an entity based in the United States, will compete in MotoGP in 2024 as a satellite team for Aprilia. This is a replacement for the RNF squad, which has since disbanded. Dorna Sports made it plain after the 2023 MotoGP season ended that RNF would not be allowed to continue competing in the series after 2023. Based on "repeated infractions and breaches of the Participation Agreement affecting the public image of MotoGP," the decision was announced officially. The problems began when CryptoDATA, the largest stakeholder and title partner of RNF, failed to meet its sponsorship commitments for the Austrian Grand Prix, which caused a number of team suppliers' debts to be unpaid.

MotoGP: About Trackhouse Racing

Notable accomplishments in North American NASCAR include six Cup Series victories for Trackhouse Racing, which is co-owned by Justin Marks and the musician Pitbull. The team was forced to speed up its entrance into the international motorcycle racing scene, even though it had planned to join MotoGP in 2025 and had previously explored this prospect by visiting the MotoGP paddock earlier this year.

???????? @TrackhouseMoto is ready to switch gears and land in #MotoGP! @_moliveira88 and @25RaulFernandez will be lining up on the grid for the American outfit running Aprilia machinery #HSIN pic.twitter.com/C8TDYa6x14

— MotoGP (@MotoGP) December 5, 2023

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Trackhouse Racing accelerated its transfer to MotoGP in response to the unexpected difficulties brought forth by CryptoDATA's actions, which made RNF's position untenable. 

By inheriting the previous RNF squad's personnel and resources, Trackhouse Racing will essentially take over its operations. Notably, Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez, who are currently contractual riders for Aprilia, will remain with the team under the Trackhouse label, further establishing their position in the MotoGP championship.

MotoGP: What did the Respected Parties have to Say?

Trackhouse Racing founder and owner Justin Marks said: “Joining the MotoGP World Championship is a very exciting moment for our young company. Trackhouse has worked from day one to recognize unique and compelling motorsport opportunities and being able to expand to a global series like MotoGP is a massive step in scaling the company. We believe deeply in the mission of Dorna and are committed to bringing something new and exciting to the championship while working hard to help grow and amplify this amazing sport to millions of new fans in North America and beyond.”

Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola said: “We are happy and proud to welcome Trackhouse into the Aprilia Racing family. What they have been able to build in a very short time in NASCAR is an extraordinary presentation card, which anticipates the potential of this partnership. This is thanks to Justin Marks and his team, whom I got to know through my long-time friend PJ Rashidi, and with whom we were immediately in sync both in terms of technical ambitions and marketing and communication developments in such an important market as the US. Our commitment will increase significantly, a responsibility we gladly take on because, I am sure, it will allow us to grow even more.”

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Dorna Sports Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta said: “We’re super happy to welcome Trackhouse to MotoGP. We know this new team is a perfect fit for our sport: they’ve already shown they know how to win and arrive with a great personality. In the most competitive era the sport has ever seen, it’s even more vital than ever to have strong Independent Teams on the grid with solid projects. Trackhouse working with Aprilia, who will offer extensive support, is a really exciting prospect too. The RS-GP is a winning motorcycle and the combination of the bike, factory and Trackhouse’s approach with this team is something super exciting for MotoGP fans everywhere. We can’t wait to see Trackhouse come racing with us.”

Miguel Oliveira (#88) and Raul Fernandez (#25), two riders with potential futures, will be riding Aprilia RS-GPs for Trackhouse Racing in the forthcoming season. Oliveira has won many MotoGP races. The entire 2024 livery will be shown at the beginning of the next season, but the squad celebrated its inauguration with the unveiling of a symbolic bike crafted after the American flag. This design honours the legendary history of American motorcycle racing by paying respect to the testing colours that Nicky Hayden formerly wore.