Marco Bezzecchi
With the MotoGP rider market heating up exponentially, Yamaha’s star rider Fabio Quartararo has already begun scouting his exit strategy, starting with a secret visit to a rival constructor’s headquarters.
During another disappointing term last year, Fabio Quartararo made it clear that 2026 would be Yamaha’s last chance to impress him enough to keep the Frenchman at the team into MotoGP’s new era of regulations.
His unrest at the Japanese constructor became more and more evident with every passing race weekend, and his ire in the media room was noted by everybody in attendance.
Quartararo has even changed his stance on joining a satellite outfit in order to break away from Yamaha’s subpar calibre of machinery.
The 2021 premier class world champion only cares about getting himself back on a bike that could contend for a title, and has gone as far as paying a visit to one of Yamaha’s factory rivals to offer his services to them.
Who will be Yamaha’s top rider in the 2026 MotoGP season?
Carlo Pernat says Fabio Quartararo visited Aprilia to ask for a £4.4m MotoGP contract
During an interview with GPOne, renowned rider agent Carlo Pernat gave his thoughts on the current landscape of the MotoGP rider market, and more specifically, the future of Quartararo.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 premier class campaign, it emerged that Aprilia had ‘initiated contact’ with Quartararo ahead of the Frenchman’s contract expiration at the end of 2026.
However, Pernat has shed some more light on the situation and has revealed that the 2021 premier class world champion actually visited the Italian constructor’s Noale-based factory and outlined his demands.
After being told that Aprilia doesn’t have the same financial prowess as Yamaha, Pernat said, “They don’t, but I know Aprilia made an offer to Quartararo.
“Or rather, Quartararo went to them and asked for €5m [£4.4m]. I don’t know if Aprilia is looking for him or not looking for him. But it’s something that’s up in the air.”
Pernat then went on to double down on his previous claim later on in the interview, commenting, “Quartararo is in contact with Aprilia, that’s for sure. He went to Noale, you know?”
Finish the sentence: In 2027, the Aprilia rider line-up will be…
Signing Fabio Quartararo could end Jorge Martin’s nightmarish stint at Aprilia
If Aprilia are successful in acquiring Quartararo’s services for 2027, it could finally open the door for Jorge Martin to make the move to Honda that he has been waiting for since the beginning of his high-profile contract saga with the Italian constructor last year.
Despite the Spaniard backing down from an exit in the end, Honda haven’t ‘closed the door’ on future negotiations.
The Japanese constructor are currently on an upward trajectory, and the only thing that the factory team are currently missing is a flagship rider who they can rely on to secure consistently strong results.
To make things even easier for Aprilia signing Quartararo, Martin has also been linked to a seat at Yamaha.
Honda may face some competition for the 2024 world champion if they are serious in pursuing him, by none other than their Japanese compatriots.
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