Honda have “money floating about” but rumour mill says Miguel Oliveira may not go
A question mark over the long-term future of Alei♎x Espargaro at Aprilia m♒eans his seat could eventually be inherited by RNF’s Oliveira, the TNT Sports expert suggested.
Marc Marquez must be replaced by Repsol Hon🅘da for 2024 and Oliveira is among their chief targets.
“It sounds complicated,” Hodgson said on TNT Sports during the Indonesian MotoGP. “Miguel has got a contract next year - it’s direct with Ap﷽rไilia.
“He has a contract with a factory, you can still get out o💜f that contract but it will cost money.&nb෴sp;
“Honda now have saved a lot of money! There will be a fine, as well, [for Marquez] to not go through💛 with the contract. So not only are you not paying Marc whatever that figure is, [maybe £15m], there’s a fine on top of that.
“There is plenty of money floa🍸ting around for Honda to buy a really good rider.
“Miguel has been mentioned, what a rider to choose! A guy with a lot of exper💃ience, who rode for KTM and has been on the Aprilia, an intelligentཧ guy.”
Aleix Espargaro rumour shared: "That's what I'm hearing"
But Honda, despi🔯te the potential of riches, have slipped to the back of the MotoGP pack and are arguably at the lowest ebb, with even their star rider Marquez losing faith in the project.
Would Oliveira prefer a factory Aprilia or Honda😼 ride?
“Great question,” Hodgson said. "Because if he’s got a contract directly with Aprili꧒a, which it sounds like he has, Aleix Espargaro whose currently in that team is talking about not wanting to continue. That’s what I am hearing.
“So Miguel is in a position w🐼here he could be promoted straight into the factory team.
“What team would you rather be in, right now? Of course, Aprilia 𒐪all day🙈!
“But [Honda] will sort it out. The only way i🌳s up. You could sign a longer-te൩rm contract with Honda, a big-money contract.
“Maverick Vinales has been mꩵentioned. Jake Dixon’꧅s name has been mentioned. It’s still up in the air.”
The vacancy left behind by Marquez, who will join Gresini Ducati, is the only available bike in the 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:2024 MotoGP rider line-up.
James was a sports journalist at Sky Sports f𝕴or a decade covering everything from American꧋ sports, to football, to F1.
