The start of the 2027 silly season in MotoGP
- Silvia Cojocaru
- 39 minutes ago
- 5 min read
Written by Silvia Cojocaru, Edited by Dhara Dave
Although the 2026 season hasn’t started yet, there are already speculations about what next year’s grid might look like. With only two riders confirming their seats – Johann Zarco staying with Honda and Marco Bezzecchi with Aprilia – there is plenty of room for speculation, with even one change potentially starting a domino effect of exciting rider pairings.
Here is a deeper look into some of the most rumoured transfers we could witness ahead of the 2027 season.
Fabio Quartararo to Honda
The potential change that started the discussions: Fabio Quartararo ending his career-long partnership with Yamaha and joining their main competitors, Honda. It’s no secret that in recent years, Quartararo and Yamaha encountered multiple problems, but the Frenchman always seemed positive that the team would turn their luck around and become a competitive team again.
The 2025 season should’ve been a return to grace for the Japanese manufacturer, especially with Ducati engineer Max Bartolini joining the team. However, aside from some miracle performances in qualifying, Quartararo wasn’t left with much else to celebrate or to prove to him that the team is moving in the right direction.
In contrast, Honda showed signs of improvement in 2025, fighting for podiums and even claiming a Grand Prix win at Le Mans with Zarco, despite Quartararo qualifying on pole for the race.
When asked about his potential move, Quartararo admitted to being in talks with Honda but assured that an official contract is yet to be signed. He stated: “The only thing I can confirm to you today is that we are talking with teams. Honda is one of them, but we have nothing signed yet.”
Currently the highest-paid rider on the grid, Quartararo revealed that money won’t play a part in his decision to move manufacturers, adding: “I want to win. You can see the emotion I had in Silverstone. It's not about money. It's about the happiness to be on top of the podium.”
Pedro Acosta to Ducati
Another rider that might’ve grown disappointed with their current team is Pedro Acosta. The young prospect joined MotoGP in 2024 and was immediately seen as a future star. Still, after last year’s season, some might wonder if KTM could offer him the right resources to actually meet his potential.
KTM began to struggle and left Acosta fighting for points, rather than consistent wins, which proved even more frustrating when rookie Fermín Aldeguer claimed his first Grand Prix victory in the premier class before Acosta. Pit Beirer, KTM’s team boss, fears that the team hasn’t done enough to convince Acosta to stick around for another year, stating: “We haven't done enough yet because we need to prove first.
“The end of the year gave him confidence, but he made no secret that he still expects another step on the bike and that we are in a position to offer him a contract for the future. “
Asked about the rumours, Acosta responded: "Well, in the end, we know that 2025 has been more difficult for all KTMs than we expected, but that's what I'm saying. I want to get on the bike and see what I find.”
Ducati had been reportedly eyeing the young Spaniard for a while now, and a partnership between Acosta and Marc Márquez would certainly be one of the most exciting on the grid.
Francesco Bagnaia to Aprilia
While Acosta might be looking to join Ducati, Francesco Bagnaia could be looking to join their Italian rivals, Aprilia.
Bagnaia’s relationship with the factory team took a serious hit after Marc Márquez joined the team ahead of the 2025 season. The Italian expressed his disappointment constantly and felt that the team was overlooking him. This reflects in the team’s priorities for the 2-27 season, with team manager Davide Tardozzi stating: “Once we know whether Marc decides to continue or not, then we’ll think about the second rider. What’s clear is that if Marc decides to leave, then our priority will be to renew Pecco.”
Another Italian manufacturer that threatened to challenge Ducati’s domination last year might be a great new prospect for Bagnaia. At Aprilia, he would also be paired with his long-term friend, Bezzecchi, who already confirmed his place for the 2027 season.
Jorge Martín to Yamaha
While his teammate, Bezzecchi, recently tied the knot with his Aprilia bike for the next season, Jorge Martín is still not impressed with the Italian team. Martín sparked numerous rumours last year as well, after his injury-filled year forced him to sit out on the majority of the races.
Massimo Rivola temporarily changed the Spaniard’s mind, as he announced in a special press conference that he will finish the 2025 season with Aprilia and continue with them for 2026. Anything beyond this is still unknown and will certainly depend on how Martín adapts to the new bike this upcoming season.
Especially since he missed much of 2025, working with the team and giving his input on the new bike will be crucial for the Spaniard.
But if Aprilia fails to lock Martín in for another season, where could we see him in 2027? A rumoured possibility is Yamaha, especially if Quartararo decides to leave. The Japanese team will be looking for another star, and the 2024 World Champion might be exactly what they’ll be hoping for.
Álex Márquez to KTM
A potentially shocking change might come from the Gresini garage. One of the strongest riders of 2025, Álex Márquez said that he considers changing teams for 2027, especially taking into account future regulation changes.
Taking a risk might pay off in the long run, but the Spaniard doesn’t hide that, at the moment, his team still seems like the best prospect, stating: “We are working to have the best options when the moment to decide arrives. I won’t hide that Gresini is the most solid option, but it’s true that maybe this is a moment to take a risk, because you don’t know which bike will be the most competitive under the new regulations.”
The 2025 runner-up considers a move to a factory seat, which he might be able to find with KTM or even Yamaha.
Álex is also confident that all rumours will be resolved quickly, with a majority of riders putting pen to paper very soon. He argues: “More than 50% of the grid will have their future settled before the first race. Many teams, many manufacturers need to sign riders early so they don’t slip away.”
This means that teams can’t do much more to convince their riders to stay, and the pre-season might prove more important than ever.
There might not be long to wait before these rumours are confirmed, but until then, there is an exciting season of racing to look forward to. Tune in to the Thailand Grand Prix on 1st March at 8.00 BST!
What is your unhinged prediction for the 2027 MotoGP grid?
