MotoGP looks into the changes that certain manufacturers have made on the organisation side to help themselves in building a better bike.
The 2024 rider market has experienced significant shifts, marked by several riders switching teams and three new rookies joining the class for next year. While all seats for 2025 are now filled, considerable activity continues behind the scenes.
Yamaha’s Changes
Yamaha has recently appointed Max Bartolini as Technical Director and Paolo Pavesio as Managing Director, taking over from Lin Jarvis. Under their leadership, Yamaha aims to develop a bike capable of winning races again, with Bartolini previously saying 2026 is the target to develop a race winning M1.
Speaking to MotoGP Pitlane Reporter Jack Appleyard, Pavesio emphasized the importance of his new role: “It’s a great job, it’s very important. Lin has been very important for the sport and for the company, and for me he is an inspiration. I want him to give me tips during these months of transition. I know Yamaha, but I have a lot to learn from MotoGP, and I hope my contribution will be positive. Everyone in the company wants the bike to be competitive, and the satellite team will help us to consolidate our position.”
Honda’s Bold Move
On the other hand, Honda has made a significant move by hiring Romano Albesiano from Aprilia for the upcoming season. This decision marks a major shift in HRC’s philosophy, as Albesiano becomes the first non-Japanese Technical Director in the company’s history, with Honda committed to restoring the RC213V to its former glory.
Repsol Honda Team Manager Alberto Puig believes Albesiano is a perfect fit for the company’s direction: “We were looking for this possibility; we believe Romano has great experience that matches with Honda’s philosophy. It will be a new era, and we are very pleased and happy. I think that it will be a new time, a new programme, but we are all really happy inside the company. It will be a great, great support for our technicians; we can do a really good job. We are very excited.”
Puig emphasised the significance of this transition: “It is not easy to explain how important this is and what we can achieve. There was a very good understanding with Aprilia. We were looking for this option, and fortunately, it was possible to do it.”
He further explained the collaborative nature of the changes: “It’s about his type of personality, character and approach. He will get on board. He will need time to understand our system. Together then they will create a different system or an improved system. It’s not about who has more or less power; it’s about unifying forces. It’s going to be really interesting to understand a different point of view. This is one of the main reasons we wanted to do all this.”
Aprilia’s Transition
At the Noale factory, Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola wished Albesiano well while praising his replacement, Fabiano Sterlacchini: “We are very happy. We’ve had a very good time with Romano. With him, Aprilia got their first success—the double in Barcelona, the amazing victory with Maverick this year—and now we are very pleased to welcome Fabiano. He has huge experience with Ducati and KTM. The new Aprilia project focuses on two new young riders, and we are looking forward to it.”
Sterlacchini arrives with a wealth of experience, having spent considerable time with both Ducati and KTM’s growing MotoGP projects, and the Noale factory will be hopeful he can bring some of that knowledge to help turn them into regular contenders. Indeed, Aprilia are set for a dramatic change in 2025, with Sterlacchini leading the challenge alongside two new factory riders, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi.
Rivola stated: “It’s true that next year there will be many changes at once, but we must believe in ourselves, in our company, and in our people; personnel changes will not alter the company’s philosophy. The most important thing is the company. With so many changes, it’s a matter of working together, making things clear.
“We are making these moves to bring in new knowledge and information. Aprilia wants to move forward every year, not backwards, and these three major changes in particular—the Technical Director and new riders—are part of that mission.”
KTM’s New Direction
KTM has also seen significant changes, opting to replace Francesco Guidotti with Aki Ajo, a seasoned champion in the Moto3 and Moto2 categories. Guidotti reflected on his departure, stating: “It’s not sad news, it’s the right move in the right moment. KTM is a great company.
“In the last three years, we did a great job in terms of development. To finalise the job, Aki is the right person, he knows very well the riders he will manage next year. About me, I don’t see any drama, I did my job, and I am happy for what I have done.”
[Note: The story is as per press release]