Joan Mir was the MotoGP world champion in 2020 with Suzuki, marking the highlight of David Brivio’s tenure as team director of the Japanese manufacturer. The Italian is now the team manager of Trackhouse Racing, a satellite team of Aprilia – a manufacturer that is clearly on the rise and has big ambitions just like the American team.
And what if, in 2025, the Mir/Brivio collaboration was revived? The rider from Palma de Mallorca is currently with Repsol Honda, but the truth is that the manufacturer is going through a very difficult period in terms of sporting performance and there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. His contract ends at the end of this year.
If he were to move to Trackhouse Racing, Mir would have the guarantee of a current and competitive bike immediately, in addition to being able to work with someone like Brivio – whom he already knows very well. It is also certain that he would have to switch bikes again and start the whole adaptation process over, which is not always easy and quick.
At Trackhouse Racing, Miguel Oliveira and Raúl Fernández are the current riders and both have contracts ending at the end of the year. Oliveira seems to finally be getting in tune with the RS-GP – he was the best Aprilia rider at the Spanish GP. Fernández, on the other hand, has not yet shown the desired results and consistency, but this year he has the mitigating factor of riding last year’s version of the bike unlike the other Aprilia riders.
There is no rumor or indication that Mir may choose to move to Trackhouse Racing or Aprilia – where Aleix Espargaró and Maverick Viñales are at the end of their contracts. And the American team may even keep some of its pilots and add Joe Roberts – it plans to have an American pilot in the future, and the Moto2 youngster is performing well at the start of the season.
On the other hand, Mir may have some options to decide from – Ducati also has an appealing vacancy, despite the many candidates, and it is not certain that Álex Rins will continue at Yamaha despite arriving this year. KTM, the other factory team, seems less likely, as Pedro Acosta is expected to be at the forefront of the succession to Jack Miller if the Australian does not continue.
