Honda have now reached agreement with ‘perfect’ rider for the 2026 MotoGP season

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Honda have had an unexpectedly dramatic few months in the MotoGP rider market. They are the main players this year, with three of their four riders out of contract.

Capitalising on those vacancies, Honda made an offer to Jorge Martin when the world champion pushed for a way out of Aprilia. Despite making his intention to leave public, Martin has ultimately been forced to honour his contract.

Honda naturally waited for clarity on Martin’s situation before finalising their plans. And according to Sky Italy, they’re about to put a major piece of their 2026 plans in place.

While 2020 world champion Joan Mir is already locked in, French Grand Prix winner Johann Zarco is expected to remain at LCR with full factory support. The future of the injured Somkiat Chantra is in doubt, though, amid concern over both his performance levels and application.

Luca Marini’s Honda contract extension is now considered a done deal

Sky have revealed that Honda are about to re-sign Luca Marini as Mir’s teammate. Marini is considered an ‘invaluable’ figure due to both his on-track performances and his feedback.

The Italian, who missed three rounds after a crash while testing for the Suzuka Eight Hours, recently finished a season-high P6 on his comeback at the German GP. The interest in Martin put him at risk of dropping down to LCR or even losing his MotoGP seat altogether.

But after losing out, Honda decided to retain him, and now ‘official confirmation’ is all that remains. Marini joined last year following Marc Marquez’s early exit.

There could still be a change to Honda’s roster for next year. Diogo Moreira is the favourite to replace Chantra, whose commercial backing may not be enough.

Valentino Rossi and Johann Zarco have previously raved about Luca Marini

Speaking to The Race when his arrival was announced, Zarco described Marini as a ‘super technical’ rider. He has ‘a lot’ of respect for his colleague, who works ‘twice’ as hard as his rivals.

As Sky note, Marini will be especially important next year as Honda prepare for the switch to 850cc engines and simplified aerodynamics in 2027.

Half-brother Valentino Rossi, who fielded Marini at his own team between 2018 and 2023, told GPOne that he had a ‘perfect’ riding style.

“Luca impressed me a lot,” he said in 2020. “He was like a car.”

In addition to the aforementioned Honda riders, Jack Miller (Pramac) and Franco Morbidelli (VR46) are also trying to earn new contracts.