GUIDOTTI SETTLES BACK INTO TRACKHOUSE ROLE AS TEAM TARGETS SECOND

Francesco Guidotti’s return to MotoGP team management has felt remarkably familiar. “It’s as if I hadn’t been away for a single day,” the Italian said of rejoining the paddock after an 18-month break. He is now Trackhouse Racing’s team manager, working alongside team principal Davide Brivio rather than replacing him immediately.

Guidotti brings around 25 years of Grand Prix experience, with spells at Aprilia, Pramac Racing and KTM among his career stops. He left KTM at the end of 2024 after what both sides described as an amicable separation; Aki Ajo took over as team manager for riders Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder. Guidotti then worked as an expert for Sky Italia, appearing at selected MotoGP events.

His route back began after Brivio announced he would leave Trackhouse following the 2026 season. Brivio has chosen to take on a new challenge with Honda in 2027. Trackhouse confirmed Guidotti’s arrival around the Brno Grand Prix last June, and there was speculation the pair might part ways early. Instead, they have continued to share responsibility.

The division of work is practical, Guidotti explained. Brivio handles broader team-principal duties, including matters beyond the garage and communication with the United States. Guidotti focuses mainly on operations inside the garage. “There is some overlap, of course, but it works well,” he said, adding that both men understand how a MotoGP team functions.

The timing also argued against a major reshuffle. Ai Ogura had established himself as a leading rider and was in title contention during the summer, so the team did not want to disrupt its structure. Brivio also remains under contract through the end of the year. “He stayed, and we work as a team,” Guidotti said.

Returning to the role was made easier by familiar faces at Trackhouse, including colleagues he had worked with decades earlier at Aprilia. “Time doesn’t stand still, in any respect,” he said, “but overall the team made it very easy for me. It’s a great pleasure to work here.”

Trackhouse’s immediate target is a strong finish in the teams’ championship. With seven events remaining at the time of the report, the Aprilia customer squad was second, just 25 points behind Ducati Lenovo, and had a chance to close the gap. Ogura, who missed time through injury, was sixth in the riders’ standings, 84 points behind championship leader Jorge Martin. Raul Fernandez was seventh. Ogura is set to move to Yamaha next season.