Many expected the MotoGP rider market to be chaotic in 2026, but not even the carnage sparked by Fabio Quattararo could have been anticipated.
Frenchman Yamaha has warned it will leave the team in 2026 if the V4 bike is not competitive. But reports have already suggested that he has put the project on hold as pre-season testing begins at Sepang.
Wow! Did you see this coming?
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Quatararo joins Honda. It marks the first major step in the two-year contract from 2027 MotoGP rider market. The news surprised everyone and Ducati and Aprilia were linked with the 2021 champion.
What’s surprising is how quickly it happened. Yamaha He signed the replacement. George Martin is set to join Yamaha from Aprilia. In 2027, with Quatararo We are going to the other Japanese manufacturer in MotoGP.
Jorge Lorenzo has compared Fabio Quatararo’s move to Honda to Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari.
Quatararo is adamant about his future. During the shakedown in Malaysia, rumors about him joining Honda swept the paddock.
took George Lorenzo As he explained, he was completely surprised GPON. He equated the action with Lewis Hamilton Moving to Ferrari in Formula 1 last year, how did he make the switch ahead of the upcoming season?
Monday brought some calm to MotoGP. Marco Bezecchi has renewed his Aprilia contract. Asked about this, Lorenzo said: “It was fairly predictable news. But the other day was like April Fools’ Day. Every hour more unexpected and unbelievable news came out.”
Who do you want as Fabio Quattararo’s 2027 Honda team-mate?
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“Especially the news about Quartararo to Honda… no one expected it. Martin to Yamaha… it’s not official. Maybe it’s not true, maybe it doesn’t exist.”
“In Spain they say, ‘When the river sings, the water flows.’
Asked if it was difficult to deal with the rumours, he said: “Yes, as soon as Hamilton signed with Ferrari: he spent a whole year still driving for Mercedes.”
“This is not the best environment for the team or the driver, but I think they are all professionals. I don’t think there will be any problems, regardless of the result.”
Read more: Everything you need to know about Fabio Quatararo from net worth to career statistics
Who will be Fabio Quatararo’s team-mate at Honda in 2027?
He is going to Quatararo. HondaNaturally, the focus is on who will be his teammate in 2027, the Japanese giants have several options to consider.
Joan Mir and Luca Marini Contract expires in 2026. The pair have helped Honda lead the 2025 C class of the discount system, with the former scoring two podiums and the latter finishing in the points in all but one of the races he’s competed in.
Honda reviews Mir and Marini In the season and it will give them time to prove themselves and show that they deserve another contract.
However, it is said that it is. Marini is the leading candidate In order to stay at Honda and pair up with Quattararo in 2027, the Italian will need to continue his consistency in 2026 and get the better of the Mir.
