MotoGP Gossip: KTM commits, ‘very angry’ Espargaro, Rossi woos Razali

- KTM and Tech 3 Racing are the latest teams to agree to compete in MotoGP until at least 2026 to replace the current contract that expires at the end of this season. With KTM announcing in 2019 it factors the series highly in its wider company plans, this is likely to have gained even greater prominence in 2020 on the back of its breakthrough campaign across four bikes. The manufacturer scored its first wins in MotoGP - three in total - while Pol Espargaro ended up fifth overall, up from 11th in 2019.

While KTM is MotoGP’s new boy, it’s partner satellite team Tech 3 Racing is far from. Even so, after a 2019 campaign rooted towards the back of the grid, two wins from Miguel Oliveira marked its first in MotoGP after almost two decades in the series. (Speedweek)

- Continuing with Tech 3 Racing, it has confirmed its two-bike rider line-up for the 2021 MotoE World Cup with Lukas Tulovic staying on board to be joined by French WorldSSP front runner Corentin Perolari. (MotoGP.com)

- A ‘very angry’ Aleix Espargaro has expressed his emotions as Aprilia’s failure to make the step forward both it and he expected in 2020: “Honestly, i am very angry about this season, very angry, because we have never show that the bike is close to the top bikes. There is still a lot of work to be done.”

The RS-GP was considered the 2020 bike that had changed the most compared with its 2019 predecessor but results stayed much the same, with a best finish of ninth for the Spaniard and 93 points separating it from fifth pace Honda. (GPone via Autosport)

- Valentino Rossi has been playing Santa by sending out gifts - VR46 branded, naturally - to his nearest and dearest, including his new manager at Petronas SRT Yamaha Razlan Razali, who posted it to social media. Sucking up to the boss, already eh…? (Motosprint)