Shocking revelation: Davide Brivio is helping shape Trackhouse Racing’s future MotoGP lineup – even though he’s already got one step out the door.
The Italian mastermind, who will step down as Trackhouse’s team principal at the end of this season, is still providing key input on the team’s 2027 rider roster. Brivio’s successor is unannounced, and while all signs point to a high-profile move to HRC, Brivio is making sure his departure doesn’t leave Trackhouse in limbo. The team faces an important decision: it must find at least one new rider to replace Ai Ogura for 2027, and Raul Fernandez’s future hangs in the balance. Trackhouse’s leadership change is at a critical juncture, with owner Justin Marks now leading negotiations for the team’s next era in MotoGP.
Brivio’s exit has not been a secret. In fact, he insisted on publishing the news early to avoid conflicts of interest or last-minute surprises. “I wanted to be very fair with the team and tell them I won’t be here because I wanted to avoid going into the (rider) discussion and then saying, ‘Oh, sorry, I’m leaving’,” Brivio told MotoGP pit lane reporter Jack Appleyard in Hungary. “Maybe we anticipated too much! But I thought it was the appropriate way, the right way to do it. So, yes, I won’t be here. Justin (Marks, team owner) is taking charge of the conversation now. We talk to each other. He asks me for my opinion, and I give my thoughts, my opinion. And then it’s his decision.”
Trackhouse’s dilemma is twofold. On the one hand, he has to replace Ogura, whose contract will expire after next season. On the other hand, they must decide whether Raul Fernandez – whose stock has soared after a sensational sprint victory at Mugello – deserves a coveted seat. Fernandez’s resurgence has reignited speculation, but the team is also rumored to be adding big names like Tech3’s Enea Bastianini and eyeing Moto2 title contender Manuel Gonzalez as a potential rookie gambit.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Trackhouse’s decisions in the coming months will determine whether they move forward as a breeding ground for raw talent, or turn to established stars looking for immediate results. Brivio is clear about the crossroads the team faces. “I think it’s not a matter of what Manu Gonzalez can do (to get a MotoGP seat), it’s a matter of what project Trackhouse wants to build,” he explained. “Because if the idea is to start again with a new rider and develop as a novice, maybe it could be a good profile. But if the project has an experienced rider and has to go for results and they need someone to prepare, it’s another type of project. So, it’s not a matter of what he (Gonzalez) can do, it’s a matter of what the trackhouse wants to do in terms of the project. That’s my opinion.”
There is no denying the obstacles young riders face when attempting to break into the premier class. Brivio had nothing to say about teams’ reluctance to roll the dice on rookies. “Not so many people are brave enough to include a novice. We see that there is some resistance to putting a novice on a factory team. Normally you have to go through the satellite team, but then you also have to match the interests of the satellite team. For some manufacturers, the independent team is the junior team to develop young riders. At other manufacturers, the independent team is more autonomous, and can go for their own project. It “Depends on the market, the situation… I think, definitely, Manu deserves it. (But) if I’m him, if he can’t do it in 2027, I’ll keep going for another year and see what happens sooner or later.”
With the era of the Brivio coming to an end, Trackhouse stands at a crossroads that will define its competitive DNA for years to come. Will they double down on proven experience, or err on the side of caution and nurture the next MotoGP sensation? One thing is certain: the choices made in the coming months will send shock waves across the paddock – and Brivio’s fingerprints will be all over them, even as he prepares for his next challenge. The market for MotoGP rumors is about to explode, and no one is watching more closely than the riders whose future now hangs in the balance.
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