Marco Bezzecchi
With the upcoming MotoGP season marking the end of an era for the premier class in terms of the current regulations, there are a number of riders who need to show what they are made of in order to cement their place on the grid in 2027.
The overwhelming majority of the grid will find themselves out of contract at the end of the upcoming term, sparking an overhaul for both the machines that will be in play, as well as the riders who race atop them.
As of right now, the rider market for 2027 is riddled with speculation. No one wants to commit just yet, in order for them to have the best possible chance of landing a frontrunning seat for the regulatory overhaul.
Despite that, there are still plenty of riders who must first show that they deserve to keep their spot on the grid.
Here is MotoGP News’ list of five riders who all have a point to prove in the premier class’s final foray in the 1000cc era:
Jorge Martin
The 2024 MotoGP world champion had a torrid time in his title-defending season last year, and he must be able to convey the fact that he hasn’t been affected by his recent injury troubles in order to save his career.
Jorge Martin missed a total of 14 race weekends in his debut year with Aprilia, culminating in the worst title defence in MotoGP history.
Having sustained three separate injuries that ruled him out of the ensuing rounds, it’s natural that the Spaniard will have suffered mentally from the ordeals, and his lap times could definitely be affected by it.
Unfortunately, with how competitive the contest for a seat on the grid is, he could be forced to make way for someone else if he’s unable to get over them in a timely manner and prove that he still deserves his seat.
Toprak Razgatlioglu
MotoGP new boy Toprak Razgatlioglu is the only rider on this list who has a contract for 2027, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have anything to prove during his debut campaign in the premier class.
The Turkish rider is the latest of a list of riders who have made the move from World Superbike to MotoGP, and will be hoping to surpass the most successful convert, Cal Crutchlow, in future years.
However, in 2026, it is paramount for the 29-year-old to show that he belongs in the premier class.
Former MotoGP rider turned WSBK star Alvaro Bautista has already warned Razgatlioglu that he doesn’t have much time before questions will start being asked of him, so he needs to get to grips with Yamaha’s new M1 as fast as possible to cement his seat on the grid.
Francesco Bagnaia
After being the undisputed golden boy of Ducati since his move to the factory outfit in 2021, Francesco Bagnaia’s most recent campaign in red left a lot to be desired.
The 2025 term marked the Italian’s first since his days at Pramac Racing that he wasn’t in contention for the title, and the upcoming season will decide whether he is kept on at Borgo Panigale or left looking for a spare seat.
Ducati chief Luigi Dall’Igna was losing patience with Bagnaia in the midst of his struggles with the GP25 last year, indicating that the two-time world champion will need to hit the ground running this season.
Bagnaia is adamant that he wants to retire as a factory Ducati rider, but if results don’t come quickly in 2026, we could see a new rider don the famous red overalls for MotoGP’s new era of regulations in 2027.
Brad Binder
Similar to Bagnaia, Brad Binder also suffered from bike problems during his worst-ever season in the premier class.
Binder was obliterated by Pedro Acosta in the KTM teammate battle and looked out of sorts atop the RC16 for the majority of the year.
The trajectory of the South African’s career has been heading towards a flash point for the last couple of seasons, and the upcoming term could be the most decisive yet in terms of his future on the grid.
With his contract at the Austrian constructor running out at the end of 2026, there are absolutely no guarantees that he will be able to land himself a seat on another team if he isn’t able to show what he is truly capable of.
Joan Mir
Since winning the 2020 premier class world title, Joan Mir has often been one of the most mysterious riders on the grid, largely due to his absolute lack of presence at the front of the grid.
The Honda rider still has just one Grand Prix victory to his name from that world-beating season, with some labelling him as a ‘consistency champion’ due to him benefiting from the mishaps of his championship rivals to snatch the title.
Another rider on this list whose contract runs out at the end of 2026, Mir could put a stop to those who think he is an undeserving champion by showing exactly why he is a MotoGP world champion.
Honda are on an upward trajectory at the moment, having just moved up a concessions rank at the end of 2025, meaning that Mir is slowly starting to receive a bike that is fit for competing at the front.
With young talent like Diogo Moreira joining the Honda ranks, the Spaniard must show he is still a world-class rider deserving of a factory contract before his chickens come home to roost.
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