Marco Bezzecchi
Moto2 title contender Daniel Holgado is now set to graduate to MotoGP with Gresini in 2027, after the Spaniard walked away from his negotiations with Yamaha about a ride.
Holgado is one of the hottest properties in the intermediate class after backing up his strong rookie campaign with CFMoto to emerge as a title contender this year. The 20-year-old took P3 in Thailand and won in Brazil, before finishing P16 in America after only qualifying in P15.
A long lap penalty for taking Joe Roberts out at Turn 1 during the initial race start at COTA in Texas also hindered Holgado’s efforts in the Moto2 United States Grand Prix. Holgado is now third in the standings on 33 points behind Manuel Gonzalez on 39.5 and Izan Guevara on 36.
Holgado and Guevara may now also both be set to graduate to the premier class in the 2027 MotoGP season. It recently emerged that Gresini intend to sign Holgado after committing to a fresh satellite Ducati deal, and it is said that Guevara is set to join Pramac Yamaha in 2027.
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Daniel Holgado told Yamaha ‘in recent days’ that he’s joining Gresini in 2027
Yamaha had been in talks with Holgado about a graduation to MotoGP in 2027, as well. But Motorsport.com now reports that the native of San Vicente del Raspeig informed the Iwata outfit ‘in recent days’ that he has decided to join Gresini to make his move up from Moto2.
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Gresini and Yamaha are both in the market for new riders for the 2027 campaign, as each of their current pilots looks set to be on the move. Ducati upset Gresini owner Nadia Padovani by giving Fermin Aldeguer to VR46 for 2027, having taken up their option to extend his deal.
It is also said that Alex Marquez will join the factory KTM team from 2027 after Ducati chose against offering him a works seat in their line-up. Meanwhile, it is an open secret that Fabio Quartararo is set to join Honda in 2027, and Yamaha look likely to release Alex Rins this year.
Yamaha are still in the market to sign a second factory rider to replace Rins, which may have been Holgado with Guevara expected to join Pramac. Jack Miller is out of contract at Pramac at the end of 2026, and Toprak Razgatlioglu’s agent expects he will stay at Pramac for 2027.
KTM must waive their contract option for Enea Bastianini to rejoin Gresini in 2027
Gresini also have an array of riders on their radar to join Holgado in their 2027 line-up, but it recently emerged that KTM Tech3 star Enea Bastianini was leading the race. However, it may not be that straightforward for Bastianini to rejoin Gresini, for whom he raced back in 2022.
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Motorsport.com adds that while Bastianini is Gresini’s ‘leading option’ to partner Holgado in 2027, and that the 28-year-old is also ‘keen’ on the move, he needs KTM to waive their right to extend his factory contract. KTM own the clause to stretch Bastianini’s deal through 2027.
Bastianini signed an initial two-year works contract with KTM to ride for Tech3 from 2025 on the back of Ducati releasing him from their factory team to sign Marc Marquez. He has since largely struggled to adjust to the RC16, but he is the second-best KTM rider so far this year.
Pedro Acosta is by far the best KTM rider with 60 points from the first three rounds, to rank third in the standings ahead of Bastianini in 11th on 22 points and works ace Brad Binder in 12th on 17. Maverick Vinales of Tech3 is yet to get a point amid his ongoing shoulder injury.
Also, while Honda are interested in Tech3 becoming their new satellite team in 2027, Gresini and Bastianini might still see KTM scupper their plans. It would not be that surprising to see the Italian secure a works switch after KTM put Vinales’ factory promotion for 2027 on hold.
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