hi elie! not sure if u check the asks of this blog anymore but did u see fabio has signed a contract with honda for 2027?
hi there!! i do and i did! i have notifications on. it's on a barely used email address but usually i don't miss much. i'm unfortunately not completely disconnected from any social media so i did get jumpscared by the news. and i guess it IS a big enough event to warrant a post here as one of the last fabio bastions lol
i have to admit i was more surprised by the timing of it but now with all the following "announcements" (nothing official yet but yaknow) i know understand that everything was actually set to be done before the season started. i guess it's logical that all the big names sign quickly, probably pushed by the factories because they want to secure top riders for the new regs.
as for the actual move. everyone seems surprised but i'm not. even for someone who distanced themselves from the sport, i'm still more motogp-pilled than your average joe lol. i still follow this french guy who has good connections within the gp and wsbk paddocks on socials, and for some time he has made a few comments about honda pursuing fabio. i'm pretty sure factory ducati was fabio's top choice, but they apparently were too busy discarding their two time italian world champion during christmas time to replace him with a young spanish rider who has yet to win a race (it's a smart choice ultimately, but my god it is funny. can't wait to see the 'goodbye pecco. who we booted #ducatifamily' announcement). age probably played against fabio here. so the next logical choice was honda. there's still too much uncertainty around ktm, aprilia's still the smallest manufacturer and yamaha... lol. that one would deserve its own post.
tbh with silly season already wrapped up, this upcoming season feels like the nap you take before going to a big party. nobody cares about your knew big ugly front wings or your stupid new right height device! unless marc isn't fully physically fit yet and pecco somehow wins because he suddenly remembered how to ride a bike again, then at least ducati's top brass faces would be worth its weight of gold in itself.
whatever! i saw a clip where fabio's hair looks good and fluffy. that's cool