Overview
- Yamaha announced on Tuesday that Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins will leave the Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team at the end of the 2026 season and confirmed on Wednesday that Jorge Martín and Ai Ogura have signed two‑year factory deals for 2027–28.
- Quartararo, Yamaha’s 2021 world champion with 11 wins and 32 podiums for the marque, is widely reported to be set for a move to factory Honda on a two‑year contract but that move has not yet been officially confirmed by Honda.
- Team boss Paolo Pavesio thanked both departing riders for their service and described Martín and Ogura as a blend of championship experience and emerging talent that Yamaha wants to build around for the new rules era.
- The wave of announcements followed a recently resolved contract impasse between MotoGP’s commercial organiser and manufacturers that had delayed many 2027 deals, concentrating confirmations after talks concluded.
- The changes reflect manufacturers repositioning for the 2027 rule changes — smaller 850cc engines and a tyre switch to Pirelli — and could reshape development priorities, rider roles, and satellite team line‑ups in the paddock.