Fabio Quartararo has decided to join Honda from the 2027 MotoGP season on a two-year contract, getting the deal done before the 2026 season gets underway.
Reports have suggested that the Frenchman will leave Yamaha at the end of his contract in 2026. The Iwata outfit will introduce the V4 bike this season, which Quartararo had pushed for, but he will not give the machine a chance to prove its worth.
Wow! Did you see this one coming?
Quartararo will join Honda in 2027 on a two-year deal. The 26-year-old was bound to move fast on the MotoGP rider market and secure his future before the 2026 season started.
But his decision to give up on Yamaha before the V4 project has really started is an aggressive one, and one that Ramon Forcada thinks he may come to regret.

Ramon Forcada hints Fabio Quartararo may ‘regret’ joining Honda if Yamaha’s V4 is competitive
Yamaha have put all their effort into developing the new bike as they transition from the inline-four. Quartararo was not impressed with the V4 in its early stages, which may be why he has decided to jump ship for 2027.
But former MotoGP crew chief Forcada thinks that some riders may regret their transfers for 2027 mid-season if their current team’s bike ‘starts to work’. If the V4 is not competitive, Quartararo may think he has made a mistake.
“Those who need it have already made moves in the market,” said Forcada via Mundo Deportivo. “However, it’s also possible that those making moves now will regret it mid-year because the bike that isn’t performing at the moment starts to work.
What is Fabio Quartararo’s body language telling us here?
“In this respect, the big unknown is Yamaha and its V4. They’ve been working all winter, they have the 850cc engine ready, and the bike will be similar.
“But of course, for now, we don’t even know how the 1000cc performs. Imagine the 850cc. Right now, they’re the ones who have to sell the bike the most; we’ll see who ends up there.
“Knowing how Yamaha works, they’ll put together a solid team. At least on paper. The results will be another story, we’ll see. They’ll have a competitive team, that’s for sure.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats

Ramon Forcada’s theory could work both ways – Jorge Martin might regret joining Yamaha
Of course, as Forcada’s theory can be linked to Quartararo regretting leaving Yamaha, it could also work both ways. If the V4 is uncompetitive, he may be feeling that he made the right choice to join Honda.
Subsequently, riders may regret joining the Iwata outfit in 2027. Jorge Martin is set to replace Quartararo at Yamaha after deciding to cut ties with Aprilia.
As Forcada notes, riders may regret their decisions for 2027, and Martin could well have that thought if he sees that the V4 is not a strong bike in 2026.
Of course, the 850cc engine presents a new challenge for all riders and manufacturers, and nothing is a given for 2027. But if Yamaha still cannot produce a competitive bike with the V4 and the 850cc bike, then Martin might be having second thoughts.
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