Marco Bezzecchi
Fabio Quartararo is reportedly set to leave Yamaha and join Honda for the 2027 MotoGP season. It’s the first major rider market bombshell of the year.
It emerged on Thursday morning that Quartararo is signing a two-year deal at Honda in a brutal blow for Yamaha. They lose the 2021 world champion to their Japanese rivals at the start of their V4 project.
The key to the market, Marc Marquez is close to an extension at Ducati, and that was enough for Quartararo to pull the trigger on his Honda move.
Wow! Did you see this one coming?
Pedro Acosta is the favourite to partner Marquez, but it’s unclear whether Ducati were the first choice for Quartararo too.
Marc Marquez said that Honda would always be Honda
After Marquez left Honda at the end of the 2023 season, they were without a true superstar. Joan Mir won the title in 2020 and Luca Marini is a podium-finisher in the premier class, but neither are MotoGP A-listers.
Quartararo is a major coup, though, one that indicates that Honda are expecting to fight for the title following the 2027 regulation changes. They made significant progress on their journey back to the front last year, winning at Le Mans through LCR’s Johann Zarco and scoring four podiums in total.
Honda have now moved into the same concessions bracket as Aprilia and KTM and aim to be a consistent threat to Ducati this season.
Marc Marquez on Honda in 2023
While Marquez turned down a return to Honda, one statement he made following his exit rings true. He said that MotoGP’s most successful team would always retain their unique stature.
By attracting Quartararo, one of the most coveted riders on the grid, they have proven Marquez right. The Frenchman didn’t even need to see this year’s RC213V on track before he made his decision.
Even though they missed out on a dream reunion with Marquez, Honda now have the calibre of rider they need to start winning again.
How Marc Marquez’s departure helps Honda afford Fabio Quartararo
As reported by Crash, Marquez was earning around €12.5m (£10.8m) per year at Honda, which made him the highest-paid rider in MotoGP.
By contrast, Mir is earning just £2.5m under his expiring deal. Honda’s savings on salary freed up significant funds for bike development.
It also meant they had the budget to go big-game hunting in the 2027 market. Quartararo had indicated that he was ready to take a pay cut for a winning bike, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Honda have at least matched his eight-figure Yamaha salary.
While the team denied this, Honda reportedly offered Marquez a €100m extension in an attempt to stop him leaving. But they may now be realising that it was in their best interests, long-term, to let him go.
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