The excitement surrounding KTM's signing of Johann Zarco ahead of the 2019 MotoGP season was matched only by the shock created by his abrupt dismissal just a few months later, with the championship already underway, after the Frenchman accepted he could not adapt either to the RC16 or to the way the company operated.
The Zarco episode was the first clear indication of KTM's distinctive approach to rider management. The Mattighofen manufacturer regards its riders as its highest-profile employees and expects complete commitment in return. That conflict proved to be only the beginning in a series of difficult break-ups over the following six years. The latest involves Maverick Vinales, who is now likely to be contesting the final races of his MotoGP career.
