Avintia had to drop Abraham for MotoGP future security
The Avintia MotoGP team had to split with Karel Abraham to ensure it was in a "secure situation" going forward, says the team's sporting director Ruben Xaus.
Abraham had a deal in place to continue with the Ducati customer outfit in 2020, but was informed his contract was being terminated last week.
It is widely understood that Avintia is instead being lined up to field the out-of-contract Johann Zarco next year, with Ducati negotiating with Zarco directly.
While Abraham has indicated that he was blindsided by the team's decision, Xaus disputed the claim when speaking to motogp.com during post-season testing in Jerez.
"At the end there's nothing much to say," Xaus said. "We have been polite to the rider.
"Contracts are contracts. We were respecting everything, and from the other side was not everything clear.
"At the end I am not the owner of the team, Raul Romero is the owner of the team [and made the decision].
"We gave everything we could give to Karel to the last day of the championship. And it was very clear that the team needed a secure situation to keep going through. And it wasn't [secure].
"So I followed what the team owner's decision was. Now I understand that Karel is upset, but many meetings we had until this situation happened."
Avintia has recently firmed up a new two-year deal to continue fielding Ducatis in MotoGP, which Xaus says is "on better conditions" and will transition the team - described earlier this year by Abraham as MotoGP's last true privateer outfit - into a "private-satellite" operation.
It will field a pair of Ducati GP19s next year and expects to receive updates to its bikes throughout the campaign.
Xaus stressed the choice of who will partner Tito Rabat in 2020 "depends on others' decisions", indicating that Zarco may be arriving on a factory contract.
"On the table there are a few options, and clearly it [fielding a Ducati-contracted rider] is one of the options.
"To us, if this will happen, clearly to the team it gives a different value. Because the motivation is completely different.
"I tell you, I don't control the situation right now. What we're doing is just [working] to become a better team."
Previous article
Dovizioso wants more from "very interesting" new Ducati chassis
Next article
Marquez quickest as rain cuts testing short for 2019
About this article
| Series | MotoGP |
| Drivers | Johann Zarco , Karel Abraham |
| Teams | Avintia Racing |
| Author | Valentin Khorounzhiy |
Suzuki commits to 2026
Marc Marquez sensational comeback
Motorsport.tv Live: Portuguese MotoGP
Marc Marquez is back
MotoGP Starting Grid: Portugal Grand Prix
What does Marc Marquez have to do to get back to his best?
Following his resounding MotoGP return with a seventh place finish in Portugal, Marc Marquez now must work to rediscover his best form before turning his attention towards results-based targets
How Yamaha's rookie-spec MotoGP star is taking charge
Fabio Quartararo is on a roll in 2021 after storming to victory at a venue five months earlier served up one of his worst races. Contrasting Portuguese GPs for Yamaha's factory duo make it hard to understand just how good its 2021 MotoGP bike is, but the Portimao weekend did at least expose one key improvement compared to 2020
The hurdles Marquez faces next in his Portugal MotoGP return
Even by Marc Marquez’s own high standards, his MotoGP comeback on Friday at the Portuguese Grand Prix will be considered a success even if he didn’t top the times. But having shown competitive pace on his first day back, both Marquez and his rivals know plenty more challenges are to come...
Where does Espargaro sit ahead of Marquez's return?
Pol Espargaro’s first results as a Honda MotoGP rider may not appear special. But dig a little deeper and a clearer picture of his performance emerges. And, as Lewis Duncan writes, it’s cause for celebration at Honda with the return of Marc Marquez set to provide Espargaro with the reference he has been missing so far this year
The "pit bull" MotoGP rookie already drawing legendary comparisons
MotoGP’s 2021 rookie crop is one of the strongest in recent years, but one is already standing out. Jorge Martin’s Doha GP heroics have courted many to compare him to numerous MotoGP legends. Autosport spoke to Pramac boss Francesco Guidotti to find out why MotoGP’s latest Spanish star is already making such an impact
Why MotoGP's stewards must revisit Miller and Mir's Losail clash
Despite Suzuki’s decision not to appeal against Race Direction’s refusal to penalise Jack Miller following the incident with Joan Mir in Losail, something must be done to avoid a repeat of such an incident, which could have easily ended in tragedy
Why MotoGP’s top gun looks more dangerous at the Doha GP
Lightning hasn't struck twice for Maverick Vinales since 2017 and his wayward form of recent years makes predicting how he'll fare each MotoGP race weekend tricky. But fresh from his Qatar GP win, Vinales looks like an even more dangerous prospect for the Doha GP following an intriguing Friday practice.
Why MotoGP’s new Amazon Prime series is long overdue
OPINION: MotoGP is getting its own version of Drive to Survive on Amazon Prime at some point in the near future. It was news welcomed by the grid’s leading riders. And following the impact DTS has had on Formula 1, MotoGP desperately needs the same boost.
