MotoGP silly season: only two seats left, at Avintia Ducati

The end of silly season nears, and the last few available seats are filling up. Marc VDS Honda has lost Jack Miller but has chosen Tom Luthi, who many expected would remain at Moto2 for the rest of his career, as the second rider to Moto2 championship leader Franco Morbidelli. 

Karel Abraham will stay with Aspar Ducati, his rider sponsorship deals meaning that Aspar Ducati is happy to keep him. The widely rumoured and expected second seat at LCR Honda has now been created, with Japanese rider Takaaki Nakagami filling that seat. He has financial backing from Idemitsu, which will carry on during his MotoGP tenure. However, Nakagami's official employment will remain with Honda Racing Corporation and not LCR Honda, just like Cal Crutchlow's contract. 

Of the two Avintia Ducati's, Tito Rabat is expected to take one of the seats. He currently rides for Marc VDS and brings quite a bit of sponsorship to whatever team he rides for. The second seat at Avintia Ducati is expected to be taken by Belgian Moto2 rider Xavier Simeon. He, too, has financial backing of his own, which should grease his way to the top. Sam Lowes looks set to return to Moto2 and try for another championship, and a return to the top class in motorcycle racing.