RNF MotoGP team collapses, Trackhouse takeover hinted

By Thomas Miles

Date posted: 28 November 2023

RNF will no longer be on the MotoGP after the team collapsed following the season finale in Valencia last weekend, while a takeover led by SVG’s NASCAR team Trackhouse is speculated.

The Malaysian based team backed by CryptoDATA which started in 2021 and fielded Raul Fernandez, Miguel Oliveira and Lorenza Savadori throughout the season and recorded four top five finishes.

But MotoGP’s commercial rights holder Dorna Sports announced in the aftermath of the Valencia Grand Prix it will not allow RNF to take part in a fourth season.

“The MotoGP™ Selection Committee, comprising members of FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports, have decided not to select the CryptoDATA MotoGP™ Team for the 2024 season,” read Donna’s statement.

RNF’s Miguel Oliveira leads Marc Marquez and Jack Miller in Indonesia. Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

“Repeated infractions and breaches of the Participation Agreement affecting the public image of MotoGP™ have obliged this decision.

“The Selection Committee will be reviewing applications for a new Independent Team, using Aprilia machinery, to join the MotoGP™ class grid for 2024.

“More information on this matter will follow in due course.”

RNF’s collapse follows reports the team and its title partner CryptoDATA was in financial trouble and since then AUTOSPORT believes the NASCAR Cup Series team Shane van Gisbergen has joined for 2024, Trackhouse, is in the frame.

The team made its Cup Series debut at the 2021 Daytona 500 and rose to prominence in Australia and New Zealand especially this year when van Gisbergen joined it for the Project 91 program in Chicago.

The three-time Supercars champion made history, winning on debut at the Chicago Street Race before returning for more at Indianapolis.

Shane Van Gisbergen driving for Trackhouse Racing at Indianapolis.

The journey went so well van Gisbergen will be moving to America full time next year where he will look to take on the NASCAR world full time in a developmental programme.

It has been reported that Trackhouse is the frontrunner to takeover RNF in 2024 with owners Justin Marks and Armando Christian “Pitbull” Perez keen to expand outside of North America.

Meanwhile, Dorna Sports wants MotoGP to grow in North America and a Trackhouse team could be a great way to do so.

AUTOSPORT reports an official announcement of the Trackhouse and Aprilia partnership “will come over the next few days”.

RNF MotoGP team founder and boss Razlan Razali addressed media following the announcement and pointed the finger at CrytoDATA.

“I think the general assessment I would say is that for a team to be where they are today and for Dorna to say such things, there’s definitely a problem and only Dorna can do what they are doing to ensure the credibility of the sport, so that it’s not being disrupted in any way,” he said.

“So, hence that means there’s a problem. By saying that, I do have a problem with CryptoDATA. I think over the years our vision of what we want from the team has shifted.

Aprilia’s Massimo Rivola, with RNF’s Razlan Razal during the Valencia GP. Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

“I believe we are a sports team and the business side of it is second.

“For the guys of CryptoDATA it’s more about the business. That’s where the alignment went a little bit wrong and it came to this situation.”

As all of this goes on in the background, current RNF rider Fernandez will still be present at Tuesday’s post season test also at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, riding an Aprilia with factory mechanics.

Photo by Gold and Goose / LAT Images

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