MotoGP’s 2027 rider market ignites at Sepang with Jorge Martin also linked to blockbuster Yamaha switch
The MotoGP rider market has been thrown into turmoil following reports from Motorsport.com suggesting Fabio Quartararo has agreed to a shock switch to Honda — a move that, if confirmed, could trigger a chain reaction across the grid heading into the 2027 regulation reset.
According to Motorsport.com, Honda’s factory MotoGP team has reached an agreement with Quartararo for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, ending the Frenchman’s long association with Yamaha. At this stage, no official confirmation has been made by either manufacturer.
Quartararo, 26, has been with Yamaha since his MotoGP debut in 2019 and delivered the brand its most recent premier-class title in 2021. However, ongoing performance struggles with the M1 appear to have eroded his patience, despite Yamaha increasing its financial and organisational commitment to the project.
In Yamaha colours, Quartararo has so far recorded 11 victories, 32 podiums and 21 pole positions, with 2026 expected to be his final season aboard the M1. That year will also serve as a transition campaign ahead of MotoGP’s major technical overhaul in 2027, when bikes switch to 850cc four-cylinder engines.
Signs of strain between rider and manufacturer have been evident for some time. When Quartararo renewed his contract in April 2024, he described the decision as an act of faith. While Yamaha followed through on its investment promises, Motorsport.com reports that the on-track gains have not met the Frenchman’s expectations.
Compounding the issue was a shift in Yamaha’s management structure following the departure of long-time team boss Lin Jarvis at the end of 2024. Quartararo was candid about the change when speaking to Motorsport.com late last year in Australia.
“I don’t speak much with Paolo. The people I’m interested in are the ones in the garage. I speak more with the engineers than with him,”
Should Honda officially confirm Quartararo’s signing, attention will immediately turn to his future team-mate. Joan Mir and Luca Marini are both out of contract at the end of 2026, with Motorsport.com reporting that Honda intends to evaluate motivation, development input and internal dynamics before making a call.
Both Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta have also been linked to the seat in recent months. Martin, the 2024 world champion, previously attempted to secure an early release from Aprilia in mid-2025 to join Honda, but that move was blocked by the Italian manufacturer and senior MotoGP management.
While Honda’s situation remains unresolved, Motorsport.com has also reported a second bombshell: Yamaha and Jorge Martin are believed to be finalising a deal that would see the Spaniard join the factory team for the next two seasons. As with Quartararo’s Honda switch, this move has yet to be officially confirmed.
If completed, Martin would leave Aprilia at the end of 2026, having joined the Italian marque from Ducati after being overlooked for factory promotion in 2025 — the same year he claimed the world title.
Martin’s mooted arrival at Yamaha would come as a surprise to many, particularly given his failed attempt to join Honda last year and a difficult Aprilia stint hampered by injury. The Spaniard has endured what Motorsport.com describes as the toughest period of his career, following a string of crashes and surgeries that limited him to just seven race starts last season.
He will miss the upcoming Sepang test as he continues to recover from surgery on his left scaphoid and right collarbone, injuries sustained in a heavy crash at the Japanese Grand Prix. Martin will still travel to Malaysia to attend the MotoGP season launch and observe testing, with Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori filling in alongside Marco Bezzecchi.
While Yamaha’s announcement regarding Martin is still pending, the report places added pressure on Alex Rins, whose chances of retaining his factory seat appear slim unless his performance improves markedly on 2025 form.
Adding another layer to an already volatile rider market, the MotoGP rumour mill continues to suggest Pedro Acosta is in advanced discussions with Ducati, a move that would further reshape the competitive landscape ahead of the new regulations.
For now, none of the reported moves have been formally confirmed — but if even part of Motorsport.com’s reporting proves accurate, MotoGP’s next chapter could look very different indeed.
