Marco Bezzecchi
Many expected the MotoGP rider market to be chaotic in 2026, but even they would not have anticipated the carnage that has already ensued, sparked by Fabio Quartararo.
The Frenchman has warned Yamaha about him leaving the team if the V4 bike is uncompetitive in 2026. But as pre-season testing at Sepang gets underway, reports are already suggesting that he has quit the project.
Wow! Did you see this one coming?
Quartararo has joined Honda on a two-year deal from 2027, marking the first major move on the MotoGP rider market. The news took everyone by surprise, with Ducati and Aprilia also linked with the 2021 champion.
What was equally as surprising was how quickly Yamaha signed his replacement. Jorge Martin is set to join Yamaha from Aprilia in 2027, with Quartararo heading to the other Japanese manufacturer in MotoGP.
Jorge Lorenzo compares Fabio Quartararo joining Honda to Lewis Hamilton’s shock move to Ferrari
Quartararo kept tight-lipped about his future during the shakedown in Malaysia as rumours about him joining Honda swept the paddock.
It took Jorge Lorenzo completely by surprise as he explained to GPOne. He likened the move to Lewis Hamilton’s transfer to Ferrari in Formula 1 last year, with how he made the switch before the upcoming season.
Monday brought a bit of calm back to MotoGP as Marco Bezzecchi renewed his Aprilia contract. When asked about this, Lorenzo said: “That was fairly predictable news. But the other day seemed like April Fools’ Day: every hour, more unexpected news came out, incredible.
Who do you want as Fabio Quartararo’s 2027 Honda teammate?
“Especially the news about Quartararo to Honda… no one expected that. Martin to Yamaha… it’s not official. Maybe it’s not true, maybe there’s nothing.
“In Spain, they say: ‘When the river sings, the water flows’. If there’s so much talk about it, 80-90% of the time it’s true.”
Asked if it is difficult to deal with the rumours, he added: “Yes, like when Hamilton signed with Ferrari: he spent a whole year still driving for Mercedes.
“It’s not the best environment for either the team or the rider, but I think they’re all professionals. I don’t think there will be any problems, whatever the outcome.”
READ MORE: Everything to know about Fabio Quartararo from net worth to career stats
Who will be Fabio Quartararo’s teammate at Honda in 2027?
With Quartararo heading to Honda, naturally, the attention turns to who will be his teammate in 2027, with the Japanese giants having several options to consider.
Joan Mir and Luca Marini are out of contract in 2026. The pair helped guide Honda into C rank of the concessions system in 2025, with the former scoring two podiums and the latter finishing in the points in all but one race he competed in.
Honda will assess Mir and Marini during the season and will give them time to prove themselves and show that they deserve another contract.
However, it is said that Marini is the leading candidate to stay at Honda and pair with Quartararo in 2027. The Italian will need to keep up his consistency in 2026 and get the better of Mir.
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