That hasn\u2019t stopped continued bombshell reports from emerging, with the latest over the weekend linking Ai Ogura to a shock Yamaha switch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
So, where does this leave the MotoGP trade board?\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
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![\"Marc](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gng_1301018_hires.jpg\")
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Marc Marquez, Ducati Corse, 2026 US MotoGP<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/p>\n
Ducati<\/p>\n
Ducati Lenovo Team:<\/p>\n
The factory Ducati squad was one of the first to seemingly lock down its line-up for the 2027 season, with the reigning champion manufacturer snaring Marquez Marquez to a new contract while pairing him with Pedro Acosta.\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the delay in announcing this is linked to the discussions between the brands and the championship, Marquez did admit earlier this year that his own talks were taking time as he looked to assess his physical condition.<\/p>\n
Gresini Racing:<\/p>\n
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There was some doubt about Gresini\u2019s future as a Ducati satellite team after the Italian squad was left unhappy with its parent manufacturer’s decision to move Fermin Aldeguer to VR46 for the 2027 campaign.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ducati is reported to have reached a deal to continue supplying bikes to Gresini, whose line-up will be completely refreshed for the 2027 season. The headline signing is Dani Holgado. The Moto2 frontrunner had been courted by Yamaha, but has elected to race a Ducati instead.\u00a0<\/p>\n
His team-mate is set to be Enea Bastianini, who has been linked to a return to Gresini, with whom he raced in 2022 on his way to third in the standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
VR46 Racing:<\/p>\n
Valentino Rossi\u2019s MotoGP squad, which is Ducati\u2019s officially-supported satellite structure, will welcome Fermin Aldeguer into its line-up. Aldeguer signed a two-plus-two deal with Ducati when he joined MotoGP for the 2025 season, with the option on his contract taken up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Fabio Di Giannantonio\u2019s strong start to the 2026 campaign on the GP26, on which he is currently Ducati\u2019s leading rider in the standings and its only grand prix podium finisher after three rounds, will likely keep him in place at VR46.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Joan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gng_1292869_hires.jpg\")
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Joan Mir, Honda Factory Racing, 2026 Buriram test<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/p>\n
Honda<\/p>\n
Honda Factory Racing:<\/p>\n
Honda was always set to be one of the major players in the 2027 rider market, following its resurgent form in 2025; flirtations with Jorge Martin and Pedro Acosta for 2026 signalled what was to come.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ahead of pre-season testing beginning at Sepang in February, Honda looked to have made the first big-money signing of the rider market as Fabio Quartararo was reported to have agreed a deal to join its factory team.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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He now looks set to be joined by 2024 Moto3 world champion David Alonso, who had his pick of the grid. The current Moto2 frontrunner is one of the paddock\u2019s hottest young prospects; gaining his signature is a major coup for Honda, further highlighting the pulling power it has again in the premier class.\u00a0<\/p>\n
LCR Racing:<\/p>\n
Honda\u2019s satellite structure already had Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira on long-term deals as of last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zarco is currently contracted through to the end of the 2027 season, while rookie Moreira has a three-year deal in place with Honda.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, a disappointing start to the current campaign has cast some doubt around Zarco\u2019s future. Though contracted to next year, there have been a number of instances in recent years where long-term deals haven\u2019t been enough to keep a rider in place.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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![\"Marco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gng_1304044_hires.jpg\")
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Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, 2026 US MotoGP<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/p>\n
Aprilia<\/p>\n
Aprilia Factory Racing:<\/p>\n
Aprilia was the first to announce a major signing for the 2027 campaign, doing so on the eve of pre-season testing when it confirmed Marco Bezzecchi had agreed a new two-year deal. Taking Aprilia to second in the constructors\u2019 table last season, Bezzecchi staying put is one of the least surprising announcements of the current rider market.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The identity of his team-mate is yet to be confirmed. Despite his return to form, Jorge Martin came into the new year unlikely to be staying with Aprilia long-term, not least in the wake of the contract dispute that erupted between both parties last season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Double world champion Pecco Bagnaia now looks likely to be Bezzecchi\u2019s team-mate. Bagnaia\u2019s place at Ducati was in doubt after a disappointing 2025 season, while initially he was close to a Yamaha deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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According to\u00a0Motorsport, Bagnaia was convinced against a Yamaha move following discussions with Quartararo.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Trackhouse Racing:\u00a0<\/p>\n
Aprilia\u2019s satellite structure scored a maiden win last year with Raul Fernandez in Australia. Its belief in young talent, as well as possessing the best bike on the grid currently, made it highly possible that its line-up would be unchanged.\u00a0<\/p>\n
However, Ai Ogura now looks set to leave for Yamaha at the end of the year. This has strengthened Raul Fernandez\u2019s claim to remain where he is.<\/p>\n
One-time world champion Joan Mir has been linked to reuniting with former Suzuki team boss Davide Brivio, with his time at Honda looking like it\u2019s over.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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![\"Fabio](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/quartararo.jpg\")
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Fabio Quartararo, 2026 Thai MotoGP.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/p>\n
Yamaha<\/p>\n
Yamaha Factory Racing:<\/p>\n
Yamaha\u2019s continued poor form sent it to the 2027 rider market in a considerably weaker position compared to its rivals. Yet, despite losing a major asset in Quartararo, Yamaha appears to have come away from the market in a much stronger position than anticipated.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jorge Martin agreed a deal earlier in the year to join the Japanese squad\u2019s factory team, while Yamaha has seemingly snared a strong young talent in Ai Ogura.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pramac Racing:<\/p>\n
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Pramac will continue with World Superbike star Toprak Razgatlioglu into 2027, with his knowledge of Pirelli tyres hoped to give Yamaha an advantage during development of its 850cc bike.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The identity of his team-mate remains unclear. It seems unlikely that Jack Miller will extend his MotoGP career into 2027 in Pramac colours.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Following a test last winter, Moto2 race winner Izan Guevara has been strongly linked as a potential option for Pramac.<\/p>\n
![\"Pedro](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gng_1294929_hires.jpg\")
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Pedro Acosta, 2026 MotoGP Thai Grand Prix. Credit: Gold and Goose.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold & Goose<\/p>\n
KTM<\/p>\n
KTM Factory Racing:<\/p>\n
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The Austrian manufacturer looks committed to continuing in MotoGP beyond this year, despite long-term uncertainty following the financial crisis that enveloped the company in the winter of 2024\/2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Though it will lose Pedro Acosta from its line-up, he is set to be replaced by last year\u2019s championship runner-up Alex Marquez.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Maverick Vinales is thought to be his team-mate for 2027, however there have been reports that those plans have been put on pause following a disappointing start to 2026 for the Spaniard that has, in part, been caused by ongoing issues with a pre-existing shoulder injury.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tech3 Racing:<\/p>\n
Tech3\u2019s future is the most uncertain. Now helmed by ex-Haas Formula 1 team boss Guenther Steiner, the French outfit was initially talking publicly about continuing with KTM.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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However, in recent weeks there have been fresh reports linking Tech3 to a potential Honda switch, with the Japanese company keen to expand to six bikes for 2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n
That will have a massive bearing on Tech3\u2019s line-up if it comes to pass, potentially offering new destinations for the likes of Luca Marini and Joan Mir, whose Honda factory team tenures will come to an end this season.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"Franco](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/gng_1293237_hires.jpg\")
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Franco Morbidelli, VR46 Ducati, 2026 Buriram test<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0Gold and Goose<\/p>\n
MotoGP riders at risk of losing their place on the grid<\/p>\n
Brad Binder: The two-time MotoGP race winner hasn\u2019t had a podium since the opening round of the 2024 season and suffered his worst campaign in terms of championship position since 2020, when he was a rookie, last year. Though there are options on the grid still, Binder hasn\u2019t done much since his last victory in 2021 to necessarily vault him ahead of other candidates.<\/p>\n
Alex Rins:\u00a0Now in his 10th season in MotoGP, Alex Rins\u2019 form that saw him a regular contender for race wins at Suzuki has long since deserted him. Ever since the serious leg injury he suffered in 2023 when at LCR Honda, Rins has been a shade of his former self. While experienced enough to be a valuable asset in a development role, whether a team wants to commit him to a race contract is harder to imagine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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Joan Mir:\u00a0Joan Mir still has options, most notably Trackhouse. His speed is not in doubt, but his crash rate is too high for a world champion at MotoGP level. The bet a team will have to make is whether Mir, even on a cheap deal, can be reigned in enough to be able to deploy his speed to strong results and not a ballooning of its crash damage bills. There are definitely worse options, but Mir is also one of the riskiest.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Jack Miller: Jack Miller earned his contract for the 2026 season, but there haven\u2019t been many times where he was legitimately the best Yamaha rider on any given day. Now in his 12th season, Miller\u2019s usefulness is that of a test rider. Whether he would want to take that deal over a potential race option in another championship remains to be seen. Adelaide\u2019s deal may help his case for another year as a racer, but it hardly smashed Phillip Island attendance last season.<\/p>\n
Franco Morbidelli: Franco Morbidelli is another rider whose best days appear to be well behind him now. His time at Ducati has been average at best, while at its worst he brought himself to the verge of a race ban with the FIM stewards for his on-track antics. Even the relative safety of the VR46 surroundings isn\u2019t going to be enough to keep in his seat, while after nine seasons, it\u2019s hard to see him top of many lists for available teams.<\/p>\n
Luca Marini: It seems unfathomable that Luca Marini won\u2019t find a ride somewhere on the grid next year. While maybe not producing standout results, his consistency and analytical work has endeared him to Honda. The Yamaha option has gone for him, but in a year of such massive regulation change as 2027 will be, Marini will be a name sought after. If Tech3 does link up with Honda, that seems like the most logical solution.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Subscribe to our MotoGP Newsletter<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Come the end of the current season, once the 2027 rider market has been fully resolved, the grid…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":604249,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[572],"tags":[10669,64,63,8456,245659,10671,806,805,803,804,10670,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-604248","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-motosport","8":"tag-aprilia-racing","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-ducati-lenovo-team","12":"tag-honda-hrc-motogp","13":"tag-monster-energy-yamaha-motogp","14":"tag-motor","15":"tag-motor-sports","16":"tag-motosport","17":"tag-motosports","18":"tag-red-bull-ktm-factory-racing","19":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604248","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=604248"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/604248\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/604249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=604248"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=604248"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=604248"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}