Marco Bezzecchi
Honda have snared Fabio Quartararo from Japanese rivals Yamaha, as the 2021 riders’ champion has now agreed to sign a two-year contract with the Tokyo crew from 2027.
Quartararo has only ever ridden Yamaha machinery throughout his MotoGP career, after he debuted for Petronas SRT on a YZR-M1 in 2019. The 26-year-old has even raced with the Iwata outfit’s factory team since 2021, when he won the title after replacing Valentino Rossi.
But the native of Nice has lost faith in Yamaha, after failing to win a Grand Prix since scoring the 11th victory of his premier class career in Germany in 2022. Quartararo wanted to help Yamaha return to the top of MotoGP, but their ongoing woe has now convinced him to quit.
A report by Motorsport.com claims Quartararo has now agreed to join Honda on a two-year contract from the 2027 MotoGP season. The Tokyo outfit’s progress with the RC213V of late has tempted Quartararo to sign up to race an RC214V at the start of the 850cc regulations.
Who do you want as Fabio Quartararo’s 2027 Honda teammate?
Honda will give Joan Mir and Luca Marini time to prove they should partner Fabio Quartararo
But who partners Quartararo at Honda in 2027 is still unclear, as current factory team riders Luca Marini and Joan Mir are both out of contract at the end of the 2026 season. Honda will afford both riders a chance to earn new deals, as the team intend to review ‘several’ factors.
READ MORE: Honda’s top five riders of all time, including Marc Marquez and Mick Doohan
Mir registered the factory Honda team’s only podiums in 2025 with P3 finishes in Japan and Malaysia. But Honda intend to gauge Mir’s motivation levels at the start of the 2026 season, as the 2020 MotoGP champion also failed to finish 13 of the 22 Grands Prix staged in 2025.
Marini scored his best results of the 2025 season with P5 finishes in Hungary and Indonesia. The 28-year-old also worked on building closer ties with the Honda hierarchy in 2025, which could pay off in 2026 as the Japanese faction’s influence in decision-making is now growing.
Yet Honda also have KTM rider Pedro Acosta and Aprilia pilot Jorge Martin on their radar for the other RC214V next to Quartararo in 2027. Acosta is heavily linked with a move to Ducati, but the 21-year-old has also been a long-term target for Honda in their quest for a big name.
Honda are still interested in Jorge Martin after Aprilia blocked his move for 2026
Wow! Did you see this one coming?
Honda nearly signed Martin for the 2026 season while Marini was due to be out of contract at the end of last season. But Aprilia refused to recognise the release clause in the two-year contract that Martin signed to join the Italian factory in 2025, which ensured he stayed put.
Martin agreed to sign a three-year contract with Honda amid his efforts to break out of the 2024 champion’s contract with Aprilia. And given the deal only fell through due to Aprilia’s refusal to recognise the clause due to his injuries, Honda have not shut the door on Martin.
Johann Zarco and Diogo Moreira of LCR could also have a say in who joins Quartararo in the works Honda garage in 2027. Zarco and Moreira both have factory Honda contracts through at least the 2027 season, and Moreira’s contract features an option to join Honda for 2027.
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