How the MotoGP grid is shaking up for 2027: Rumours, signings and team transfers

While many riders are out of contract at the end of the year and plenty of young talent is coming through from Moto2, very few deals had been announced until 'Silly Season' fully kicked off.

This was in part due to the finalisation of a new Concorde Agreement between teams and MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group. That has now been signed off, and dominoes are starting to fall in response. Here is how the MotoGP grid is shaping up for 2027:

Despite injuries and retirement fears at the start of 2026, Marc Marquez has returned to winning ways and in response, Ducati have given him a new deal until 2028.

The day after the deal was announced, Ducati's most successful-ever rider, Francesco Bagnaia, was confirmed to be leaving the team with Pedro Acosta replacing him. The Spaniard has signed for 2027 and 2028, and leaves KTM as the most sought-after young talent in the sport with his world titles in Moto2 and Moto3.

With Ducati going all Spanish, Aprilia will go all Italian for 2027. Earlier this season, Marco Bezzecchi was rewarded with a multi-year contract extension, casting doubt on Jorge Martin's future with the team.

The 2024 champion's exit was then confirmed as Aprilia opted for Pecco Bagnaia. Shortly after Martin's departure from Ducati, Aprilia announced a substantial four-year contract for the two-time MotoGP champion.

Honda have been at the centre of a huge number of rumours at the start of 2026, but the one which seems as good as confirmed now is the switch of Fabio Quartararo from Yamaha. The 2021 world champion has now officially confirmed he will depart at the end of the season, and several reports have indicated that his chosen destination is Honda.

It also seems that Honda are keeping an eye on Moto2 talent David Alonso, who has already shown extraordinary potential and resilience at the start of the year. As for current riders Joan Mir and Luca Marini, it's hard to imagine either of them keeping a factory seat in 2027, though if either of them will, Marini is the much safer bet.

Yet Honda have also moved to tie LCR rider Diogo Moreira down to a long term deal until the end of 2028, and they could bring him up to the factory squad to partner Quatararo if they wish.

Another team which set for a dramatic overhaul is Austrian-based KTM. Despite their increased performance this year compared to last, poster boy Acosta is leaving a huge hole with his departure to Ducati.

KTM managed to snag a big-name race winner in response in the shape of Alex Marquez on a multi-year deal.

Things could get even better for the Austrians with Fabio di Giannantonio rumoured to join him in a double-pronged attack.

As for Brad Binder, recent results haven't done much to convince anyone that he is a top rider to lead KTM forwards, so rumours are beginning to pick up that he too might be replaced by a younger talent, with Collin Veijer being a likely candidate if he performs well in Moto2 this year.

Things are already looking bad for Yamaha in terms of their current bike performance, and they've now lost star rider and world champion Fabio Quartararo, along with Alex Rins. The pair have announced they will leave the team at the end of 2026.

Turning a negative into a positive, Yamaha's stature meant they were able to replace Quartararo like-for-like with another champion in Jorge Martin. The 2024 title winner signs through until 2028 and could join as a two-time champion as he currently leads the 2026 standings.

There's also delight for the team's Japanese fans as Ai Ogura will be parntering him, also signing on a deal until 2028. Ogura won his maiden MotoGP race in Assen and has been signed from Trackhouse in response.

At the start of the year it wasn't even clear whether or not VR46 would continue in MotoGP, but team boss Uccio Salucci has confirmed that the team are looking to renew their deal with Ducati. As part of the deal, it seems they also want to bring Fermin Aldeguer over from Gresini, with Franco Morbidelli most likely to make way.

Di Giannantonio has been very impressive so far this year, and it's an open secret that he's leaving for KTM. VR46 are already seeking alternatives, and one of their former academy members, Nicolo Bulega, hasn't done much to distance himself from solid links after destroying the WorldSBK grid with 21 wins from 21 this season. Fellow VR46 Academy rider and Moto2 title contender Celestino Vietti is also a possibility, with the team saying they want at least one Italian rider.

Tech3 is currently contracted as a KTM satellite team, but the rumours indicate that they might be looking join either Ducati or Honda in 2027, depending on the fate of Gresini and Trackhouse. While Enea Bastianini has had a handful of decent performances, Maverick Vinales has struggled to get to grips with the team and might have to make way for Brad Binder if they stay with KTM.

Spanish Moto2 title contenders Senna Agius and Manuel Gonzalez could battle for the other seat, or even complete a full rookie line-up if Tech3 want to go bold.

Gresini have gone for a full swap after their title challenge with Alex Marquez last season, moving on the 2025 runner-up and fellow Spaniard Ferim Aldeguer for another all-Spanish line-up.

2020 MotoGP champion Joan Mir joins from Honda, switching to a satellite bike for the first time in his career. He will, however, have a 2027 spec Ducati to fight on.

Mir will be joined by Dani Holgado, who remains highly-rated despite his faltering Moto2 title tilt.

LCR have new contracts for the experienced Johann Zarco and the impressive Brazilian Diogo Moreira.

However, Moreira's multi-year deal to the end of 2028 is with Honda itself, not LCR, and they could still place him in the factory team should they wish.

Aprilia's satellite team, Trackhouse Racing, have paid the price for their superb form with Dutch Grand Prix race-winner Ai Ogura being snapped up by Yamaha.

Raul Fernandez is also hugely rated, and the rumour mill suggests he could be partnered by Enea Bastianini or Manuel Gonzales.

Pramac Yamaha certainly took a gamble by signing the ambitious Turkish WSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu, but it is one that appears to be paying off as he progressively improves with every Grand Prix. He's since signed a deal until the end of 2027.

As for Jack Miller, his experience and popularity certainly have their benefits for the team, and on occasion, he has pulled out some solid results. However, the highly impressive and consistent performances from Izan Guevara in Moto2 make him a potential candidate to replace Miller.