MotoGP riders need a manager to manage their communication and financial affairs. Who they are and what they do.
Managing the communication and affairs of a MotoGP rider is not easy. These athletes are increasingly similar to companies, between sponsors and engagement these are staggering figures, especially for those who are part of the factory teams and win Grands Prix. Extra bonuses of a certain weight are also foreseen for those who finish in the top three positions, as Enea Bastianini’s manager, Carlo Pernat, explained several times last season.
Sometimes there are real agencies that manage the finances of a pilot, other times it is former pilots who take on the role of manager. Just think of Alberto Puig, who was Dani Pedrosa’s manager before becoming a Honda manager. Or as in the case of Emilio Alzamora, who became famous for having joined Marc Marquez until the middle of the 2022 season. But there are also those who prefer to rely on more family management, as in the case of Miguel Oliveira, who has chosen his father Paulo.
What do managers do and how much do they earn?
The 75-year-old Carlo Pernat is certainly one of the most experienced figures in the MotoGP paddock. Many are asking to be represented by him, but at the moment he only has two clients: Bastianini and Arbolino. Riders such as Loris Capirossi, Marco Simoncelli and Andrea Iannone have passed through his hands. He was also sporting director of two manufacturers: Cagiva and Aprilia, as well as having collaborated with one of the greatest legends of all time, Valentino Rossi.
How much money does a driver manager make? On average a manager receives 5 to 25% of a driver’s contract. This percentage is highly dependent on the pilot’s earnings and the extent of the support. Some managers also take care of accounting and tax returns, in which case the commission can go up to 25 percent. In the case of a multi-million dollar deal the manager’s earnings percentage is lower.
Managers not only deal with the factories or teams that hire their riders, but also with the manufacturers of helmets, apparel and other items, as well as the riders’ personal sponsors, usually linked to energy drink brands. sunglasses and similar items. Below is the complete list of managers and their drivers.
The list of MotoGP managers and riders
Pecco Bagnaia – VR46 Academy
Fabio Quartararo – Eric Mahe (former driver)
Enea Bastianini – Carlo Pernat (professional manager)
Alex Rins – Miguel Galvarriato (lawyer)
Aleix Espargarò – Albert Valera (professional manager)
Joan Mir – Francisco Sanchez (lawyer)
Jack Miller – Aki Ajo (team owner)
Jorge Martin – Albert Valera (professional manager)
Alex and Marc Marquez – Jaime Martinez (Marketing Manager Red Bull Spain)
Maverick Vinales – Giovanni Balestra (former company executive)
Johann Zarco – nobody
Franco Morbidelli – VR46 Academy
Taka Nakagami – his mother
Brad Binder-Wasserman Media Group
Raul Fernandez – Management Agentur 2KARS
Pol Espargarò – Homer Bosch (former company manager)
Marco Bezzecchi – VR46 Academy
Luca Marini – VR46 Academy
Fabio Di Giannantonio – Diago Tavano
Augusto Fernandez – his father
