Marco Bezzecchi
The 2026 MotoGP grid is finally complete, as LCR Honda secure a brand new rider to partner Johann Zarco next year. Here’s everything you need to know about next season’s rider line-ups.
Four rider announcements were made ahead of the Catalan Grand Prix, including Zarco confirming that he will remain with LCR Honda, whilst the team decided on his teammate.
The team have since revealed that Somkiat Chantra will be replaced in 2026 by Diogo Moreira following weeks of growing speculation that the Brazilian would be joining the MotoGP grid
Zarco had previously spoken positively about the new potential teammate, telling AUTO hebdo: “He could become a candidate to challenge me. It’s a boost when someone challenges you. But it really doesn’t change the work within Honda.”
Jack Miller was the latest current rider to confirm his seat for 2026, with Yamaha announcing that he will remain with Pramac for another season. Miller will be joined by rookie rider Toprak Razgatlioglu who will be moving to MotoGP from the World Superbike Championship.
The news means that Miguel Oliveira will lose his seat at Pramac after just one season with the team. Oliveira is currently 22nd in the riders’ championship and has been unable to finish in the top ten this year.
Ducati – Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia
Ducati will continue with their rider pairing of Marc Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia heading into the 2026 season. Marquez joined the squad last season after signing a two-year contract and has now set his targets on his seventh MotoGP title.
While Bagnaia has struggled this season, his past success at Ducati (world championships in 2022 and 2023) has allowed him to maintain support.
Gresini Ducati – Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer
Gresini Racing will retain their same rider pairing for 2026. It seems unsurprising that the satellite Ducati team would not make any changes with Alex Marquez currently second in the championship behind his brother Marc.
Marquez has gone from strength to strength during his three seasons with Gresini Ducati, taking his maiden MotoGP victory at the 2025 Spanish Grand Prix and a further six podium finishes this year.
Fermin Aldeguer has also proven that he is a rider to watch during his rookie season, claiming two podium finishes in France and Austria.
VR46 Ducati – Franco Morbidelli and Fabio di Giannantonio
The line-up at Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team will also remain unchanged heading into the 2026 season, despite rumours that Pedro Acosta could move to the team. Acosta had previously revealed he’d been in talks with the VR46 team and strongly considered leaving KTM after their slow start in 2025.
Fabio di Giannantonio will remain with the team for his third season, after the start of his year was plagued with injury, when he suffered a concussion and fractured collarbone during pre-season testing. Despite the injury the Italian has managed to take two third-place finishes this year.
Following an impressive debut season with VR46, Franco Morbidelli will also continue with the team in 2026.
Aprilia – Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi
Aprilia will retain Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi after a difficult 2025 season. Martin has only recently returned to racing after suffering a severe crash at the Qatar Grand Prix, resulting in 11 broken ribs. He had also previously missed the first three races of the year due to fractures in his hand and foot after a crash in pre-season testing.
Bezzecchi is having a strong debut season with Aprilia, currently sitting 4th in the championship, with four podium finishes in the last five races.
Trackhouse Aprilia – Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura
Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura will remain with Trackhouse Racing for the 2026 season. Fernandez had previously signed a contract in 2024 keeping him with the team for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. The Spaniard is yet to demonstrate the skill he had in Moto2, where he finished second in 2021, with eight victories and a further four podium finishes.
Ogura is currently in his maiden MotoGP season and has demonstrated an impressive performance, with nine points finishes out of 14 races.
KTM – Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder
Both Pedro Acosta and Brad Binder will be entering the second year of their contract deals with KTM in 2026. Acosta made his debut with Tech 3 in 2024 and, after a difficult start to the 2025 season, will be hoping for a better time next year.
His teammate, Brad Binder, will be under intense scrutiny heading into 2026 and hoping to secure a new contract with a better performance. Binder is facing his worst season in MotoGP since his debut in 2020, and hasn’t taken a win since the 2021 Austrian Grand Prix.
Tech3 KTM – Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales
Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales both joined Tech3 KTM at the start of the 2025 season on a two-year contract. The future of the squad has faced heavy focus in recent months, with Former F1 team principal Guenther Steiner set to purchase Tech 3 from Herve Poncharal.
After a difficult start to this year, rumours around Bastianini’s future with the team began to spiral, with speculation that he could have triggered a mid-contract exit. A mid-season improvement has seen Bastianini guaranteed to remain with Tech3 next year.
Vinales had a strong start to 2025, but an accident at the German Grand Prix had seen him miss four of the last races. The Spaniard is hoping to return to the Catalan Grand Prix, but has admitted he will not be fully fit again until 2026.
Honda – Luca Marini and Joan Mir
Luca Marini is one of the latest drivers to be confirmed for the 2026, with the Italian officially signing for a third season with Honda on 1 September. The squad had delayed re-signing the rider, with reports that Martin was looking to leave Aprilia in 2025 after he appeared unhappy with the project.
Marini has since shared that he has ‘really high expectations’ for Honda in 2026, following an impressive point scoring run in 2025.
Joan Mir will also remain with the team in 2026 as part of his current deal with the team. The Spaniard has not managed to match his teammate’s performance, retiring from nine of the races so far this year.
LCR Honda – Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira
Johann Zarco is another rider who has recently confirmed his 2026 seat, announcing that he will continue with LCR Honda for the next two seasons. Zarco has had a strong 2025 season with LCR already, taking the win at the French Grand Prix and finishing runner-up the following weekend at Silverstone.
LCR Honda have announced that they have signed Diogo Moreira to replace Somkiat Chantra after heavy speculation around the potential signing. Moreira currently races for Italtrans Racing Team in Moto2 and is sitting second in the riders’ championship.
Yamaha – Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins
Despite an expected shake-up next season, Yamaha has decided to renew their contracts with both Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins for 2026.
Quartararo had a strong start to the 2025 season, taking second place at the Spanish Grand Prix, and despite three retirements, has remained pretty consistent. It comes as no surprise that he has chosen to remain with the team for their eighth season together.
Rins has faced a difficult two seasons with Yamaha, and it was heavily rumoured that he could be dropped before the start of next year. Despite keeping his seat for 2026, one journalist suspects there’s ‘not a chance’ he will keep his seat in 2027.
Pramac Yamaha – Jack Miller and Toprak Razgatlioglu
Toprak Razgatlioglu has signed with Pramac, moving from the World Superbike Championship to the MotoGP team in 2026. All eyes will be on the two-time superbike champion, who looks set to take his third and final championship victory this season.
The news meant the team’s two current riders, Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira, would have to fight for the other empty seat. Despite both facing a difficult season, Miller is sitting five places ahead of his teammate in the championship.
Ahead of the Catalan Grand Prix, the team announced it had renewed their contract with Miller for the 2026 season.
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