With the distance from Italy to Austria cited as among the reasons for KTM failing to agree a contract extension with Fabiano Sterlacchini, a MotoGP project with ꩲ💜an Italian base seemed his likely future destination.

Those with an Italian connection include not only Sterlacchini’s former employer Ducati, bꦏut Aprilia and also Yamaha, which has been increasing the design responsibilities of its base in Milan.

Honda meanwhile looked out of the running since it𒐪 currently only has a European logistical base, in Spain, while the engineering side of the❀ RC213V is undertaken in Japan.

But,🍸 according to , that could all change with plans for a ꩲnew HRC European base in Milan.

That would put Sterlacchini, who previously held the title of Vice President of Technology in Road Racing at KTM, poten𝓰tially in contenti𝓀on and his name was linked with HRC during the Austrian MotoGP weekend.

Factory test rider S🧔tefan Bradl told Speedweek that people should not 'underestimate' Honda despite the RC213V continuing to languish at the bottom of the constructors' standings.

"Honda is doing something, it's not like no🎶thing is happening," Bradl said. 

"Look a꧑t what Honda has achieved in the past. It also took Ducati twelve years to become world champions again and to win a riders' title after Stoner.

"Don't undere🌞stimate Honda, which is why no one here should bury their head in the sand. The day will come when something happens again."

Meanwhile, Yamaha’s boss Lin Jarvis previously played down the prospect of Sterlacchini joining the M1 project, telling wuqian0821.com:

“At this mo🍷ment, we are not searching for a person with Fabiano's profile, but I value the excellent personal relationship we have, and I wish him all the very best for the future.”