The 2026 MotoGP season promises an epic battle at the front, with world champion Marc Marquez returning from his shoulder injury to take on his brother Alex Marquez and Aprilia’s Marco Bezzecchi, among others, for the title.
But at the other end of the spectrum, several riders are fighting to remain on the grid. Three riders – Johann Zarco, Diogo Moreira and Toprak Razgatlioglu – had their long-term futures secured in MotoGP before the start of 2026, with the majority of the grid out of contract at the end of the year.
In most seasons, that would allow space for riders to build momentum gradually. But with factories keen to lock in their riders as quickly as possible for 2027, early-season form could determine who has a seat, and who does not, when MotoGP’s new 850cc era begins.
Here are five MotoGP riders who need a big 2026.
Enea Bastianini (Tech3)
Enea Bastianini achieved little in terms of results after switching from Ducati to KTM machinery in 2025
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
If his two-year stint at the factory Ducati team fell short of expectations, Enea Bastianini’s time at Tech3 KTM has been a definitive disappointment.
Aside from the lone podium finish at the Catalan Grand Prix last year, Bastianini has struggled to find his rhythm and has arguably become the weakest link in KTM’s four-bike assault. The RC16’s aggressive nature doesn’t allow the Italian to exploit his greatest weapon: the silky smooth riding style that pays dividends in the final laps of a race.
Bastianini was once the primary candidate to replace Jorge Martin at Aprilia, but with the Noale factory reaching an agreement with Francesco Bagnaia to partner Marco Bezzecchi, that door is now firmly shut. The 28-year-old will most certainly have to come up with something special this year to extend his stay in MotoGP.
Bastianini, however, remains a proven race winner, with the potential to annihilate competition on a good day. While he may have not fully realised the potential he showed in his Gresini days, he certainly has a lot more to give in the championship.
With Maverick Vinales and Alex Marquez set to team up at KTM’s factory line-up next year, Bastianini’s goal must be to convince Tech3’s new management that he can reach his peaks more consistently when MotoGP’s new 850cc era begins next year.
Joan Mir (Honda)
Mir joined Honda at its lowest ebb and now must fight to keep his place at the team as it rises again
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
Joan Mir had already weathered Honda’s bleakest chapter in MotoGP history – a slump that made him seriously consider walking away from the series before he had even turned 30.
But now that the Japanese manufacturer has finally got its act together and is edging back towards the sharp end, Mir must also step up a gear and help fill the leadership void left by Marc Marquez’s departure in 2024.
To Mir’s credit, there were tangible signs of resurgence towards the end of last season, as he claimed two memorable podiums at Motegi and Sepang. But those big points-scoring performances made little difference to his final tally because he finished too many races on the ground – either because of his own unforced errors or due to other riders taking him out.
Honda’s overtures for first Jorge Martin and now Fabio Quartararo speaks volumes about its ambitions. But the fact that it is still looking for an A-lister shows a lack of faith in its current line-up. With sweeping regulation changes looming in 2027, Honda believes that it needs a rider of Quartararo’s stature to spearhead its next project. Mir, despite being a world champion himself, hasn’t done enough to show he can lead Honda.
If his stint at Suzuki is anything to go by, Mir certainly warrants another term at Honda. But as HRC deliberates its 2027 line-up, the odds are stacked against him.
Luca Marini’s technical feedback is highly regarded in Japan, and he also has a safety net at VR46 should Honda elect to sign a youngster alongside Quartararo next year. Mir needs to assert himself both on track and within Honda’ design offices to secure his future in MotoGP.
Fabio di Giannantonio (VR46)
Di Giannantonio must step up for VR46 if he wants to keep his place
Photo by: Media VR46
Fabio di Giannantonio heads into 2026 with a point to prove. Ducati showed significant faith in him last year by granting him a direct factory contract and the GP25, making him the only rider outside the official team to get the latest equipment from Borgo Panigale.
However, while the Italian put together some standout performances – and kept Ducati’s podium streak alive in Valencia – his lack of consistency was the underlying issue. A large part of his struggles could be attributed to the capricious nature of the GP25, but he rarely imposed himself as the clear leader within VR46 and did not consistently outperform his team-mate Franco Morbidelli.
Plus, while he ultimately finished the campaign with a comfortable points advantage, the pair were neck and neck in the standings for much of the year, with Morbidelli often ahead of his younger team-mate.
It’s perhaps no surprise that VR46 is exploring hiring two new young riders for 2027. Di Giannantonio’s trajectory in MotoGP has generally been upward across four seasons, and he remains a proven grand prix winner. But being part of the Ducati fold and having the best bike on the grid inevitably raises the bar.Â
A strong start to 2026 might be the only way he could convince Valentino Rossi and Alessio Salucci to reconsider their plans – or, failing that, secure a return to Gresini, where a vacancy could emerge if Alex Marquez completes his expected switch to KTM.
Alex Rins (Yamaha)
A race winner for both Suzuki and Honda, Rins just hasn’t clicked with the Yamaha
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images
On paper, Alex Rins has some excellent results in MotoGP. Six grand prix wins, 18 podiums and several front-row starts, all achieved before he turned 30 last December. He even propelled a demoralised Honda factory to victory in just his third race with LCR in 2023, demonstrating how quickly he can adjust to new surroundings, even when the times are tough.
However, his subsequent stint at Yamaha had been nothing short of disappointing so far, and he seems like a shadow of his former self.
A difficult first season in the Iwata brand was still understandable: he was having to adjust to an uncompetitive M1 and a mid-year leg injury stymied his progress. But there were no mitigating factors in 2025, where, apart from some brief flashes of pace in the Asian leg, he remained largely anonymous during the year. Being outscored by Jack Miller on the Pramac-entered bike wasn’t exactly a good look for the Spaniard, either.
Even with Yamaha bracing for the loss of its star rider Quartararo, it is willing to let go of Rins on the other side of its factory garage unless the latter significantly improves his performance this year.
The partnership simply hasn’t worked for either party and Rins looks somewhat dispensable heading into 2026. With Yamaha entrusting Miller for the development of its V4 bike this year, the pressure is on Rins to make a case for himself within the Iwata ranks.
Franco Morbidelli (VR46)
Morbidelli has been given some of the best rides on the MotoGP grid in recent years, but hasn’t delivered what was expected
Photo by: Steve Wobser / Getty Images
As Franco Morbidelli heads into his third season as a satellite Ducati rider, his breakthrough 2020 campaign with Yamaha seems like a distant memory.
Not many riders on the grid are fortunate to ride a Ducati, and it’s fair to say Morbidelli’s results aboard the Desmosedici have fallen short of expectations so far. The Italian was offered a plum Pramac seat and factory-spec bike in 2024, a move that should have reignited his career and turned him into a regular frontrunner.
But after missing the entirety of pre-season testing due to a training accident, Morbidelli failed to even stand on the podium all year, let alone put up any real fight against his title-winning team-mate Jorge Martin. To be fair to Morbidelli, he appeared a lot more comfortable at VR46 last year after being given a lifeline by his friend Valentino Rossi. Yet, his performances could best be described as solid but not spectacular.
Morbidelli’s reputation for crashing frequently and creating trouble for other riders doesn’t do him any favours. Yes, there were some instances where the criticism levied at him was disproportionate, but certain flashpoints like Valencia – where he fractured his right hand after slamming into Aleix Espargaro’s Honda at the start – only reinforced the narrative and showed why he still has to rein in his aggression in MotoGP.
With VR46 increasingly tipped to refresh its line-up, Morbidelli faces a pivotal season. He will need more than some steady points finishes to both secure his future and reshape the perceptions that have followed him in recent years.
Other riders under fire
Beyond the core quintet, several other veterans face a make-or-break season to secure a slot on next year’s grid.
Miller already came close to losing his MotoGP ride at the end of 2024, and it was only following Dorna’s intervention that he secured a seat at Pramac. Entering his second year with Yamaha, he must prove his technical value is indispensable in the development of the V4 project to safeguard his future.
Zarco may already hold a contract for 2027, but in a market volatile he must bounce back from his late 2025 slump or risk getting relegated to the role of a test rider.
How the MotoGP rider market shakes out could have a major role on the future of this quintet
Photo by: Steve Wobser / Getty Images
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