The annual summer hiatus is fast approaching for MotoGP, a time when the riders, managers and team personnel get to shuck off their branded gear, turn off their phones and get into the holiday spirit…

Well, perhaps it will be for some. For some riders, it will be a nervously busy time for both themselves and their managers as this pause in the racing action allows a chance to thrash out deals for 2024 and beyond.

While some have contracts tucked neatly into their back pocket, others still need to confirm and - as a selection of newcomers wait in the wings patiently - a couple will almost certainly be on their way out…

So who is signed up, who is getting round the negotiation table and who is preparing a farewell party?

Ducati Lenovo Team

Defending champion and current points’ leader Pecco Bagnaia won’t be going anywhere soon and Enea Bastianini hasn’t had a chance to get his season up and running yet following his injury. Either way, they are rock solid for 2024.

Repsol Honda

Marc Marquez still has another year left to run on a deal so long-term it was signed before his career was sent into a tailspin by his arm injury in 2020. Beyond 2024, however…

On the other side of the garage, Joan Mir is on a two-year deal but a desperately poor start to the season riddled with crashes and flaky competitiveness might have changed the mood considerably behind the scenes. Depending on whether Mir wants to stay and help Honda find its groove again, he might find himself poring over his contractual terms this summer…

If - and it is still a big if - he does exit, Alex Rins would make an appropriate successor.

Monster Energy Yamaha Racing

The big question mark among the factory teams, while Fabio Quartararo is signed on for 2024 (a fact that may not be filling him with huge enthusiasm right now…), the seat belonging to team-mate Franco Morbidelli is very much under threat.

The Italian has struggled for form since a long lay-off with a knee injury, his return to action having coincided with his move straight into the factory squad. Results have improved against the grain of Yamaha’s general form, though by how much is hard to gauge as the M1 slides down the order of competitiveness.

Notably, Morbidelli’s tone has shifted recently from optimistic about staying in Yamaha to being bolshy about getting an alternative seat in MotoGP if he needs to. With no satellite team and Yamaha all at sea with the M1, interest in a potential vacancy has been muted at best, however high profile names like Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi have been bandied about.

Ducati wants to keep them and logic dictates they are better off on their satellite bikes, but with no obvious route into its factory set-up, the promise of works priority could sway either. Alternatively, Pedro Acosta is willing to wriggle free from his KTM commitments, with Yamaha perhaps proving the most fitting destination for such a green rookie.

Aprilia Racing

Though Aprilia has this year struggled to replicate the same pace and consistency that had it fighting for the title in 2022, the Italian manufacturer says it has no plans to change its riders.

However, after showing what the RS-GP is capable of at times last year, it is up to Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Vinales to cut out the sloppy errors that have cost it several big results in 2023.

KTM Factory Racing

No changes planned at KTM Factory Racing, despite the talented orange-clad riders from its junior development programme queuing up behind Brad Binder and Jack Miller.

Binder has matured into a genuine threat for the title this year, while Miller - despite some frustrating race day errors - has been quicker on the RC16 than many expected him to be.

Pramac Racing Ducati

Having stuck with Ducati through thick and thin over the last couple of decades, Pramac Racing can absolutely consider itself a title contender regardless of its satellite status.

It would be happy to retain both Jorge Martin and Johann Zarco, though it’s not a certainty they will, with the former - still bitter at being passed over for the factory Ducati seat - being courted by Yamaha and the latter still hunting for that first MotoGP win.

If Martin departs, then Zarco is likely to stay, but if Martin re-signs then Zarco could find himself on the chopping block, even if recent results have seen him stealthily climb the order. If it comes to that, then potential successors include an on-spec promotion for Marco Bezzecchi.

Gresini Racing Ducati

Alex Marquez looks likely to stay with Gresini Ducati for a second season, though the team will hope he’s ironed out his fast but fragile form by then.

However, it appears the end of the road is approaching for Fabio di Giannantonio. The Italian was hired for 2022 way back in 2020 as part of a deal made by the late Fausto Gresini, but while there were flashes of form in 2022 and he has been noticeably more consistent this year, he’s more often than not the slowest of the Ducati octet.

The rider being lined up to replace him is Tony Arbolino, the current Moto2 World Championship leader. 

VR46 Racing Ducati

VR46 Racing are enjoying a stellar sophomore season in MotoGP and its largely down to the step in performance made by Marco Bezzecchi and the high-level of fast consistency from Luca Marini.

The team really wants to retain both riders but accepts its year-old Ducati supply might prompt at least Bezzecchi to consider his options. Ducati is reluctant to go to five on-spec GP24s for next year, but could compromise on syphoning more Pramac-like support its way. 

If Bezzecchi does leave - either to Pramac Ducati or maybe even Yamaha - then it remains to be seen who could replace him. Celestino Vietti, VR46 Academy’s next-in-line, has shown up and down form recently, but there is mileage in luring Pedro Acosta, particularly if KTM turns down the chance to promote him to MotoGP. 

Such a move would in turn force it to release Acosta onto the open market, potentially into the arms of a no doubt very welcoming VR46 Academy.

RNF Racing Aprilia

RNF Aprilia could be in for a change if the team grows impatient with Raul Fernandez, whose form hasn’t improved noticeably from his tough maiden campaign on the Tech 3 KTM.

Miguel Oliveira has shown good pace - when he’s not injured - on the satellite RS-GP, but the Spaniard, despite his lifeline from the Malaysian squad, has barely graced the top ten at any stage this season, with his own assertion he was promoted too soon from Moto2 seemingly proving accurate.

If he is on the way out, then there will be a number of interested parties keen on getting what appears to be competitive, works-like equipment. 

If he exits Yamaha, Franco Morbidelli would be a strong candidate, as would Joan Mir if he finds a way out of his Honda contract. However, neither fit the ‘young protege’ mould Razlan Razali has previously insisted upon. Augusto Fernandez might suit, if KTM choose Acosta over him.

Looking towards Moto2, Razali could reunite with Jake Dixon in a move that would delight Dorna, Alonso Lopez would be a fast - if raw - option, while Aron Canet was linked with a seat at RNF last year.

GasGas Factory Racing Tech 3

A frustrating season thus far for Tech 3 Racing - now running GasGas branding - while Augusto Fernandez has enjoyed a positive, if low key, first few races in a competitive field, Pol Espargaro’s injury makes it hard to gauge exactly where the team is in the pecking order.

Its 2024 rider line-up will be dictated by KTM, who will decide on whether to drop Fernandez in order to retain Acosta on its books, but the indications suggest it won’t do that, so expect the same duo for next season.

LCR Honda

If Joan Mir sticks it out with Repsol Honda, then Alex Rins is assured of an 2024 LCR seat following his COTA heroics, but Takaaki Nakagami is again on the brink.

With the Japanese rider clinging onto his seat for 2023 by virtue of Honda prioritising his experience to help it get out of its troubles, a second year for Rins and Mir would largely negate this factor.

That said, Honda is also nervous about bringing on a protege - namely Ai Ogura - to ride such a difficult bike so soon. Even so, Ogura’s form has dropped off a cliff in 2023 following a slow return to form from a pre-season injury.

Somkiat Chantra has also been mooted, while his Thai passport would make him a huge asset for the sport. However, he hasn’t made the step in 2023 that many had hoped. If neither he nor Ogura show steps in the coming events, then expect Nakagami to get another stay of execution.