Marco Bezzecchi
Many figures in the MotoGP paddock are now convinced that Yamaha will sign Honda rider Luca Marini to complete their 2027 factory line-up with Aprilia star Jorge Martin.
Yamaha have had to dip into the MotoGP rider market to refresh their line-up for 2027, as it is an open secret in the paddock that their star man Fabio Quartararo intends to join Honda. Quartararo has led Yamaha’s project since he won the title in 2021, but he is out of contract.
It is widely believed that Quartararo has agreed to join Honda from 2027 on a two-year deal, which Yamaha reacted quickly to by convincing Martin to leave Aprilia when his contract for the Noale crew expires. Yamaha intend to sign Martin on a two-year deal, once it is finalised.
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The MotoGP paddock is convinced that Yamaha are signing Honda’s Luca Marini for 2027
But Yamaha have bided their time to decide who they will sign to partner Martin in 2027, as Alex Rins is also out of contract for the Japanese brand. Honda racer Marini has been widely linked with a move to Yamaha, and many now expect him to switch Tokyo for Iwata in 2027.
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That is according to GPOne, which reports that ‘many’ figures in the paddock are convinced that Marini will join Yamaha at the end of his contract with Honda this year. The 28-year-old has raced for Honda since 2024, but he is expected to be made redundant after this season.
Alongside it emerging in January that Quartararo intends to move to Tokyo next year, recent reports have indicated that Honda have chosen to sign David Alonso to complete their 2027 line-up. Marini and Joan Mir are both out of contract with the factory Honda outfit this year.
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Marini was not Yamaha’s number one choice to join Martin in their 2027 works line-up. The Italian gained prominence in their plans after Ducati rider Francesco Bagnaia pulled out of a move to Yamaha to join Aprilia, with the two-time MotoGP champion due to replace Martin.
Also, it was recently claimed that VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio has held fairly advanced talks with Yamaha, as his factory Ducati contract is another deal due to expire this year. But it is now said that Ducati intend to keep Di Giannantonio at VR46 in 2027 with a fresh deal.
Marini could, therefore, have been Yamaha’s third choice at best, but he can offer the Iwata outfit a valuable asset at the start of the 2027 MotoGP regulations era. Marini is revered for his crucial role in helping Honda develop their RC213V, but it does not always lead to points.
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