‘Maverick Vinales and Aprilia boss Massimo Rivola contacted by Honda' for major revamp
Massimo Rivola has also been contacted by Honda, DAZN’s rꦗeports.
“HRC is not only testing the market for engineers or directors, it is also sounding🅷 out some MotoGP riders,” he reported.
“Yes, just as I say,🅠 which indicates that they are also looking for plan B.
“Maverick Vinales has been surveyed by HRC to🐟 cover Mar🍸quez's place in case of departure!
“And be careful, he is not the only an Apr🐼ilia element contacted by 𒊎Honda. Rivola could also go in the package!
“There can only be real🀅 movements if Marquez leaves Honda.
“And if this happens, be careful there could be a domino effect with that Aprilia seat! ꦯFabio [Quartar𒀰aro]?
“Let no one go crazy, yet! No one is going, at the moment, anywhere,🔯 until they say otherwise.
“That is to say, there are contacts and surveying at all hours in the paddock! Of course, what is very clear is that Marquez is, even without making anything official, a trueಞ tsunami!”
Marquez has refused to confirm his plans for 20ဣ24 at this weekend’s Japanese MotoGP, Honda’s home race, but the expectation is that🀅 he will sensationally quit to go to Gresini Ducati.
His demand that Honda revaಌmp their staff with Europe-based expertise is already in motion, with long-serving Shinichi 🍸Kokubu shown the door.
But it might be too la🧸te to secure Marquez’s future, although Honda are clearly putting the building blocks in place with or without their s🐲tar rider.
൲A move🍸 for the hugely experienced Rivola would be seismic.
And targeting A✅prilia 🦄rider Vinales is also a hugely unexpected claim.
The veteran rider, 🔯in his ninth season in the premier class, has already represented Japanese manufacturers S💜uzuki and Yamaha but he is contracted to Aprilia for 2024, so an exit appears unlikely.
Honda have already recruited Johann Zarco - expected to slot i🌳nto their satellite team to replace Alex Rins in 2024 - while Iker Lecuona is an option to permanently step into MotoGP next year, if Marquez leꦐaves.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports for a decade covering everything from American sports, to footba🃏ll, to F1.
