Paris (AFP)

The signing of the Spaniard Pol Espargaro at Honda, the transfer of his compatriot Alex Marquez to the LCR satellite team and the extension of the Italian Franco Morbidelli at Yahama-SRT were announced on Monday by their respective teams.

Pol Espargaro, currently at KTM, "will join the Respol Honda team (the official team of the Japanese brand, editor's note) with a two-year contract for 2021 and 2022", he said on the team's Twitter account .

He will replace Alex Marquez, transferred to the LCR satellite team "in 2021 and 2022", in which he will however ride "a factory motorcycle", the same as Espargaro and that his big brother Marc Marquez, the other Honda official driver entered until 2024.

At Honda-LCR, Alex Marquez will take the handlebars previously entrusted to the British Cal Crutchlow.

Delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 MotoGP season will start with two Grands Prix in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, on July 19 and 26. Despite this, fifteen of the twenty-two handlebars to be filled for 2021 have already been allocated.

The starting grid for the 2021 MotoGP World Championship is taking shape:

. Factory stables:

Honda: Marc Marquez (ESP) is engaged until 2024. Pol Espargaro (ESP) until 2022.

Yamaha: Maverick Vinales (ESP) and Fabio Quartararo (FRA) are engaged until 2022.

Ducati: Jack Miller (AUS) is hired in 2021, with an option for 2022. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) could extend his contract.

Suzuki: Alex Rins (ESP) and Joan Mir (ESP) are engaged until 2022.

Aprilia: Aleix Espargaro (ESP) is hired until 2022. Andrea Iannone (ITA) is suspended until June 16, 2021 following a positive test for a doping product. However, he appealed.

KTM: Brad Binder (RSA) and Miguel Oliveira (POR) have been announced for 2021.

. Satellite stables

KTM-Tech3: Danilo Petrucci (ITA) and Iker Lecuona (ESP) have been announced for 2021.

Ducati-Avintia: Tito Rabat (ESP) is under contract in 2021. Johann Zarco (FRA) is free at the end of the 2020 season.

Yamaha-SRT: Franco Morbidelli (ITA) has been extended for 2021 and 2022. The signature of Valentino Rossi (ITA) is expected.

Honda-LCR: Alex Marquez (ITA) is transferred from the official Honda team for 2021 and 2022 to replace Cal Crutchlow (GBR). Information is still awaited regarding the future of Takaaki Nakagami (JPN).

Ducati-Pramac: We must replace Jack Miller (AUS), promoted to the official Ducati team. Francesco Bagnaia (ITA) is expected to stay.

© 2020 AFP