The Marc VDS Racing Team, which races as Team Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS in the MotoGP (with Franco Morbidelli and Thomas Luthi) and Moto2 (with Alex Marquez and Joan Mir) World Championships, is currently surrounded by drama.
For starters, the team is purportedly unhappy with its current deal running satellite-spec Hondas in the MotoGP World Championship and is considering accepting an offer to become Yamaha’s new satellite team beginning with the 2019 MotoGP World Championship.
Then on May 6, during the MotoGP event at Jerez, the Marc VDS Racing Team issued the following statement:
“The Marc VDS Racing Team to race on until 2021
“The Marc VDS Racing Team is committed to racing in the World Championship until 2021.
“This was confirmed again today by Team Owner, Marc van der Straten, who stated: ‘To the people of the MotoGP paddock and the race fans. I have heard many rumours in the paddock this weekend about our team and I want make the situation clear for everyone. We will continue to race competitively, as we do now, until 2021. That is my intention and that is exactly what we will do.'”
The statement was in response to rumors circulating within the World Championship paddock that the team’s future was uncertain due to some sort of dispute between owner Marc van der Straten and his long-time Team Principal/Team Manager Michael Bartholemy.
Monday, May 14, Marc VDS Racing Team issued a statement from Bartholemy asserting that he remains in charge of Marc VDS Racing Team operations and confirming that there is some sort of dispute between him and the team owner. That statement reads:
“STATEMENT FROM MICHAEL BARTHOLEMY, TEAM PRINCIPAL
“Allegations of financial impropriety were made against me personally during the Spanish Grand Prix weekend in Jerez. These allegations were made not directly, but via the press.
“Since these allegations were made against me in my role of Team Principal of the Marc VDS Racing Team, I rejected the allegations unreservedly and vowed to defend against them robustly.
“That remains my clear position. For this matter to be resolved at the earliest opportunity, I have made repeated requests through my legal representatives for evidence to be provided in relation to the unfounded allegations.
“I wish to make it clear that no evidence has been forthcoming from Mr Marc van der Straten or his legal team. Furthermore, they informed us that journalists falsely reported Mr Marc van der Straten’s declarations.
“I would also like to make it clear that Mr van der Straten and his legal team have confirmed that there has been no termination of contract. Finally, they have made no communication informing me that I am no longer responsible for managing the Marc VDS Racing Team as Team Principal in future.
“I offered several options as to how this issue might be resolved, but no solution at all was presented by Mr Marc van der Straten. I received a request for a meeting on Monday May 14 at 1530 CET in Geneva, Switzerland, which I confirmed that I would attend. At 1830 CET on Friday May 11 that meeting was cancelled without any content-related explanation and with no indication that the meeting would be rescheduled.
“For me, this action can only be interpreted in one way; that all such allegations are off the table now. I will therefore be attending this weekend’s French MotoGP™ round in Le Mans to continue as Team Principal of the Marc VDS Racing Team, with all my dedication for the team.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to personally thank those, both inside and out of the paddock, who did not hesitate to support me in the face of these unsubstantiated allegations. Most importantly, I also want to thank my family, who have suffered more than most from these unfounded accusations.”