Savadori named at Aprilia on provisional MotoGP 2021 entry list
The provisional entry list of the 2021 MotoGP season has named Lorenzo Savadori as an Aprilia rider, as rumours continue to swirl regarding who will replace Andrea Iannone.
One-time MotoGP winner Iannone has been hit with a four-year competition ban for a doping violation after his appeal to have an initial 18-month ban was rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and the World Anti-Doping Agency’s to up the penalty was approved.
Numerous names had been linked with the vacant Aprilia seat, including Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow. But the outgoing Ducati rider never considered Aprilia a serious option and has opted for a sabbatical instead, while Crutchlow will join Yamaha as its test rider.
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola said last week test rider Bradley Smith was a “valid” option for 2021, though there have been question marks over his future with the marque after it replaced him with Savadori for the final three races of the season.
Moto2 frontrunner Marco Bezzecchi was offered a contract to join Aprilia next year, but the VR46 team blocked the move and will keep the Italian in the intermediate class for one more season.
Other names from Moto2 were linked, but American Joe Roberts appeared as the front-running candidate during the Portuguese Grand Prix weekend.
An announcement on Aprilia’s choice was expected on Sunday, but it never materialised, casting doubts on Roberts’ appointment.
MotoGP governing body the FIM has now released its provisional entry list for 2021, which has named Savadori as a race rider for next year. Aprilia is yet to comment.
The list has also revealed the race numbers MotoGP’s rookies will use in 2021.
Valentino Rossi’s half-brother Luca Marini will continue to run the number 10 as he joins Avintia Ducati, while his 2020 Moto2 world champion teammate Enea Bastianini will use 23 as the 33 he normally uses currently belongs to KTM’s Brad Binder.
Pramac rookie Jorge Martin raced with 88 previously, but this belongs to KTM’s Miguel Oliveira, with Martin using 89 instead.
New MotoGP world champion Joan Mir is currently listed with his traditional 36 number plate having previously been undecided if he would take on the #1 – though this could change come 2021.
2021 MotoGP provisional entry list:
| No. | RIDER | NATIONALITY | TEAM | MACHINE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | JOHANN ZARCO | FRENCH | PRAMAC RACING | DUCATI |
| 9 | DANILO PETRUCCI | ITALIAN | TECH3 KTM FACTORY RACING | KTM |
| 10 | LUCA MARINI | ITALIAN | ESPONSORAMA RACING | DUCATI |
| 12 | MAVERICK VINALES | SPANISH | MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MotoGP | YAMAHA |
| 20 | FABIO QUARTARARO | FRENCH | MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA MotoGP | YAMAHA |
| 21 | FRANCO MORBIDELLI | ITALIAN | PETRONAS YAMAHA SRT | YAMAHA |
| 23 | ENEA BASTIANINI | ITALIAN | ESPONSORAMA RACING | DUCATI |
| 27 | IKER LECUONA | SPANISH | TECH3 KTM FACTORY RACING | KTM |
| 30 | TAKAAKI NAKAGAMI | JAPANESE | LCR HONDA IDEMITSU | HONDA |
| 32 | LORENZO SAVADORI | ITALIAN | APRILIA RACING TEAM GRESINI | APRILIA |
| 33 | BRAD BINDER | SOUTH AFRICAN | RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING | KTM |
| 36 | JOAN MIR | SPANISH | TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR | SUZUKI |
| 41 | ALEIX ESPARGARO | SPANISH | APRILIA RACING TEAM GRESINI | APRILIA |
| 42 | ALEX RINS | SPANISH | TEAM SUZUKI ECSTAR | SUZUKI |
| 43 | JACK MILLER | AUSTRALIAN | DUCATI TEAM | DUCATI |
| 44 | POL ESPARGARO | SPANISH | REPSOL HONDA TEAM | HONDA |
| 46 | VALENTINO ROSSI | ITALIAN | PETRONAS YAMAHA SRT | YAMAHA |
| 63 | FRANCESCO BAGNAIA | ITALIAN | DUCATI TEAM | DUCATI |
| 73 | ALEX MARQUEZ | SPANISH | LCR HONDA CASTROL | HONDA |
| 88 | MIGUEL OLIVEIRA | PORTUGUESE | RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING | KTM |
| 89 | JORGE MARTIN | SPANISH | PRAMAC RACING | DUCATI |
| 93 | MARC MARQUEZ | SPANISH | REPSOL HONDA TEAM | HONDA |
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