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KTM rider Bradley Smith reckons MotoGP could benefit from a football-style transfer window for contract negotiations as rider market speculation for the 2019 season increases.
This year’s MotoGP ‘silly season’ is expected to be busy, as the majority grid – including all 12 factory riders – are out of contract ahead of the 2019 campaign.
In 2016, a number of major deals were announced early in the season, with Smith agreeing a switch to join the fledgling KTM outfit prior to the season-opening Qatar Grand Prix that year.
Smith believes the unpredictable nature of the 2017 season makes discussing rider contracts so early again “crazy”, and thinks a transfer window would stop this from happening.
“We’re always going to talk about contracts,” said Smith.
“If you believe some of the rumours in the paddock, then the merry-go-round has started already.
“I was actually speaking with Marc [Marquez] on the flight back from Malaysia, and it just becomes crazy.
“When you look at this season as a whole I would say three different manufacturers were looking the strongest at three different points of the season.
“So to be speaking about it [the rider market] already now, you don’t even know what’s going to come next year, tyre wise we don’t know what’s going to come.
“There almost should be a window and then we should start speaking during that window, and that’s where people should make their decisions – not three seasons before, already deciding what you’re going to do for the next couple of years.”
Smith was at the centre of speculation during the 2017 season as rumours surfaced that KTM could drop him in favour of test rider Mika Kallio following a tough run of results.
The manufacturer eventually confirmed the Briton’s two-year deal would be honoured, but Smith added he found the period prior to this difficult to handle with constant questions about his future.
“The worst part of the day was coming and speaking to you guys [the media], because you guys wouldn’t let off the questions,” he said.
“When you know the situation isn’t what it should be, when people carry on pushing the button, of course it’s not going to be easy.
“I knew I needed to find my way with the bike and with the team, and I would see finally the last few races, those performances have got better.
“It’s certainly made life a little bit easier when the guys made the announcement and made everything clear just before Japan.”