This year, the MotoGP rider market had unexpected twists in the last two months of the season – which scrambled the contracts for 2024. Marc Márquez’s move from Repsol Honda to Gresini in mid-October was the main culprit, almost leaving Fabio Di Giannantonio with no alternatives to find a place in the grid.
Luca Marini, who had previously renewed with VR46, ended up moving to Repsol Honda, leaving the Italian team in urgent need of finding a replacement – which turned out to be Di Giannantonio. This is a different scenario from what is seen in football, where there are transfer periods outside of which it is only possible to sign free agents.
Di Giannantonio’s businessman, Diego Tavano, argued that a similar system could exist in MotoGP, stating to MOW Mag: ‘Of course they are not similar worlds, but I think they could also have a transfer window in MotoGP like there is in football. This total openness with signed contracts and things that can change at any moment – even as it happened to us – is a bit paradoxical‘.
Tavano also said: ‘I would create windows where negotiations can be made: would it help a little, wouldn’t it? Also making contracts and sponsorships, many have set budgets that maybe they would have invested in a different way‘.
