Marco Bezzecchi
Gresini are close to reaching an agreement to end their satellite Ducati deal and join Honda from the 2027 MotoGP season, in a move that might see Enea Bastianini join.
Ducati have supplied Gresini with a satellite bike supply since the 2022 campaign, when the Faenza crew left the Aprilia stable after their fellow Italian team launched a full works entry. Aprilia and Gresini had worked together as a factory-supported outfit from 2015 until 2021.
The chance to work with Aprilia as a factory-supported entry had convinced Gresini to leave Honda, having started their MotoGP journey with the Japanese brand in 2002. Now, Honda are eager to bring Gresini back into their fold alongside LCR to have six works bikes in 2027.
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Gresini are close to reaching an agreement to run factory Honda bikes from 2027
Gresini and Honda reuniting from the start of the 2027 MotoGP regulations era would also see the Japanese squad help to reshape the Italian team’s rider line-up. Alex Marquez and Fermin Aldeguer are both expected to leave Gresini following the end of the 2026 season.
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That is according to The Race, which reports that Honda are ‘seriously’ trying to get Gresini to join LCR to have two satellite teams at the start of the 2027 MotoGP regulations. A deal for Gresini to join forces with Honda again is also said to already be ‘close’ to being sorted.
Honda and Gresini cannot yet finalise their agreement as MotoGP is still currently engaged in talks with the Japanese giant and the four other manufacturers over their collective five-year contract from 2027. Once that is sorted, Honda’s reunion with Gresini can be finalised.
David Alonso and Enea Bastianini could join Gresini Honda in 2027
Gresini becoming a satellite Honda team again from 2027 could even see current Tech3 ace Bastianini and/or Moto2 sensation David Alonso join the crew next year. Marquez has raced for Gresini since 2023, and Ducati have run Aldeguer there since 2025, but both might leave.
It is said that Ducati are set to place Aldeguer at VR46 in 2027, having taken up their option to extend the Gresini rider’s factory contract with the Bologna Bullets. Meanwhile, KTM are expected to sign Marquez, after Ducati passed him over in favour of Pedro Acosta for 2027.
Marquez is out of contract directly with Gresini at the end of 2026, when Bastianini will also see his factory KTM contract to ride for Tech3 end. It has been said that Yamaha are close to signing Bastianini for 2027, so it remains to be seen whether he would join Gresini Honda.
Alonso has emerged as the leading candidate for a factory Honda ride in 2027, as well, with the Tokyo outfit yet to rule on offering Luca Marini and/or Joan Mir new contracts to partner with Fabio Quartararo. It is widely said that Quartararo will leave Yamaha for Honda in 2027.
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