While the 2017 MotoGP World Championship is coming towards the end, the 2018 MotoGP rider lineup was finalized a few days back. Xavier Simeon has been roped in from Moto2 to join Avintia Ducati to complete the 24 rider lineup for 2018. Here's a quick briefing about the riders competing in the Championship for the upcoming season. 1. Movistar Yamaha MotoGP
* Valentino Rossi
* Maverick Viñales
Since both riders signed a two year deal last year, they remain in the factory Yamaha team until end of 2018. With two top riders in the World, Movistar Yamaha is a strong contender for the Manufacturer's championship as well.
2. Repsol Honda Team
* Marc Marquez
* Dani Pedrosa
Similar to the factory Yamaha team, both the Repsol Honda riders have contracts until the end of 2018. Marc Marquez is currently leading the World Championship points table and is close to clinching his fourth World title.
3. Ducati Team
* Andrea Dovizioso
* Jorge Lorenzo
Same situation with the Factory Ducati team as well. Both the riders look forward for a great 2018 season, with the Ducati Desmocedici improving leaps and bounds.
4. Team Suzuki Ecstar
* Andrea Iannone
* Alex Rins
Suzuki also retains both of their riders as the contracts are valid until 2018. Though, there were rumours that Jonathan Rea will be joining the team due to incompetent performance of Iannone. But Rea has completely denied the rumour, and will be continuing with Kawasaki in WSBK.
5. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
* Aleix Espargaro
* Scott Redding
Aprilia breaks relationship with Sam Lowes citing his poor performances in 2017. Scott Redding arrives from Octo Pramac racing team to ride for the Italian marquee.
6. RedBull KTM Factory Racing
* Pol Espargaro
* Bradley Smith
RedBull KTM Factory riders have their contracts to the end of 2018, and will continue to develop the RC16 machine. With Mika Kallio performing far better than Bradley Smith, there were talks in bringing Kallio as a full time rider. And Bradley Smith is also rumoured to retire from competitive racing to start his own training academy.
7. LCR Honda
* Cal Crutchlow
* Takaaki Nakagami
LCR Honda returns to a two bike line up for the first time since 2015. Cal Crutchlow will be accompanied by current factory Honda test rider Taka Nakagami for the 2018 World Championship.
8. Monster Yamaha Tech3
* Johann Zarco
* Jonas Folger
The satellite Yamaha team has contacts running in till late 2018, and both the German and French riders stay as teammates for the next season as well.
9. EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda
* Franco Morbidelli
* Tom Luthi
Marc VDS team has completely changed its current team, to make way for two incredible talents coming from Moto2. Morbidelli is a student from VR46 Rider's academy headed by the Master. It would be great to see the teacher and scholar racing together side by side in 2018. Tom Luthi awaits to show his caliber on a MotoGP machine as well.
10. OCTO Pramac racing
* Danilo Petrucci
* Jack Miller
Danilo Petrucci remains with the Pramac racing team while Jack Miller arrives for a new challenge. Miller will be riding a Ducati for the first time in MotoGP.
11. Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati team
* Avlaro Bautista
* Karel Abraham
The present Aspar Ducati riders remain in the team for 2018 due to their contract terms.
12. Realle Avintia racing
* Tito Rabat
* Xavier Simeon
Both Hector Barbera and Loris Baz are out of the MotoGP lineup in 2018. Both riders are replaced by Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon respectively.
By: Aravind Rb.
* Valentino Rossi
* Maverick Viñales
Since both riders signed a two year deal last year, they remain in the factory Yamaha team until end of 2018. With two top riders in the World, Movistar Yamaha is a strong contender for the Manufacturer's championship as well.
2. Repsol Honda Team
* Marc Marquez
* Dani Pedrosa
Similar to the factory Yamaha team, both the Repsol Honda riders have contracts until the end of 2018. Marc Marquez is currently leading the World Championship points table and is close to clinching his fourth World title.
3. Ducati Team
* Andrea Dovizioso
* Jorge Lorenzo
Same situation with the Factory Ducati team as well. Both the riders look forward for a great 2018 season, with the Ducati Desmocedici improving leaps and bounds.
4. Team Suzuki Ecstar
* Andrea Iannone
* Alex Rins
Suzuki also retains both of their riders as the contracts are valid until 2018. Though, there were rumours that Jonathan Rea will be joining the team due to incompetent performance of Iannone. But Rea has completely denied the rumour, and will be continuing with Kawasaki in WSBK.
5. Aprilia Racing Team Gresini
* Aleix Espargaro
* Scott Redding
Aprilia breaks relationship with Sam Lowes citing his poor performances in 2017. Scott Redding arrives from Octo Pramac racing team to ride for the Italian marquee.
6. RedBull KTM Factory Racing
* Pol Espargaro
* Bradley Smith
RedBull KTM Factory riders have their contracts to the end of 2018, and will continue to develop the RC16 machine. With Mika Kallio performing far better than Bradley Smith, there were talks in bringing Kallio as a full time rider. And Bradley Smith is also rumoured to retire from competitive racing to start his own training academy.
7. LCR Honda
* Cal Crutchlow
* Takaaki Nakagami
LCR Honda returns to a two bike line up for the first time since 2015. Cal Crutchlow will be accompanied by current factory Honda test rider Taka Nakagami for the 2018 World Championship.
8. Monster Yamaha Tech3
* Johann Zarco
* Jonas Folger
The satellite Yamaha team has contacts running in till late 2018, and both the German and French riders stay as teammates for the next season as well.
9. EG 0,0 Marc VDS Honda
* Franco Morbidelli
* Tom Luthi
Marc VDS team has completely changed its current team, to make way for two incredible talents coming from Moto2. Morbidelli is a student from VR46 Rider's academy headed by the Master. It would be great to see the teacher and scholar racing together side by side in 2018. Tom Luthi awaits to show his caliber on a MotoGP machine as well.
10. OCTO Pramac racing
* Danilo Petrucci
* Jack Miller
Danilo Petrucci remains with the Pramac racing team while Jack Miller arrives for a new challenge. Miller will be riding a Ducati for the first time in MotoGP.
11. Pull&Bear Aspar Ducati team
* Avlaro Bautista
* Karel Abraham
The present Aspar Ducati riders remain in the team for 2018 due to their contract terms.
12. Realle Avintia racing
* Tito Rabat
* Xavier Simeon
Both Hector Barbera and Loris Baz are out of the MotoGP lineup in 2018. Both riders are replaced by Tito Rabat and Xavier Simeon respectively.