The 2019 MotoGP Grid Is Now Nearly Complete

The 2019 MotoGP grid is now as good as complete. Today, the Reale Avintia squad announced they have signed a two-year contract with Karel Abraham which will see him racing a Ducati for the team for the next two seasons.

The announcement had been widely expected. Xavier Simeon has not lived up to expectations and failed to adapt to MotoGP, and Avintia were looking for a replacement. Abraham had been left without a team after the Aspar / Angel Nieto Team passed their grid slots to the Petronas Yamaha team, which had already signed riders for the coming season. Abraham needed a team, and Avintia needed a rider who could bring money, to replace the money lost when Simeon departed.

Though formally, there are two seats still officially without a contracted rider – the second Reale Avintia seat, and the second LCR Honda seat – those rides are already taken. Tito Rabat will stay on for another year at Avintia, once he returns from his serious injury picked up at Silverstone, and Taka Nakagami will extend his contract with LCR Honda.

All that is needed is the official confirmation.

2019 MotoGP Rider Lineup: