With the confirmation that Stefan Bradl has done a deal to remain in MotoGP next season with Giovani Cuzari’s Forward Yamaha team, speculation now turns to who will be his team-mate in 2015.

Top of the rumour mill list is Alvaro Bautista who is almost guaranteed to lose his Gresini Honda to Scott Redding but a new name has entered the fray in the shape of World Supersport star Michael Van Der Mark.

The young Dutchman, who has already been pencilled in for promotion into the Pata Honda WSBK squad, put in an impressive display of winning the Suzuka Eight-Hours in front of many top Japanese bosses.

Another youngster in the frame is Dominique Aegerter. He also performed well at the Eight-Hours, coming third behind Van Der Mark’s winning MuSashi squad and the Yoshimura team. The Swiss has already tested the Avintia Kawasaki, which will be ditched in favour of Ducatis in 2015, and was faster than incumbent Mike Di Meglio on his first ride out.

Alex De Angelis will replace Colin Edwards for the three flyaway rounds, but his time is past. Danilo Petrucci has sponsorship money and is being considered and there is always a chance Jonathan Rea could try and break free of his HRC shackles…