MotoGP grid takes shape as three more major 2027 moves confirmed

Marini will say goodbye to Honda after this season and will race for KTM Tech3 from 2027 onward. The 29-year-old Italian thus embarks on a new adventure after three seasons with Honda’s factory team. His arrival coincides with the introduction of the new technical regulations in MotoGP.

Tech3 views Marini’s experience as important for that transition. In 2027, the current 1000cc engines will be replaced by 850cc units, and Pirelli will become the new tyre supplier. Moreover, a new phase begins for Tech3 in its collaboration with KTM.

"Luca is a rider we have been closely following, and we are very pleased to welcome him to Tech3 from 2027," says Tech3 CEO Guenther Steiner. "He brings a wealth of experience, but also the right mentality and approach for what we’re building here. 2027 will be a major reset for MotoGP, so it’s important to have a rider who can contribute to our progress in this new era."

Marini also has experience developing a bike that isn’t yet fighting at the front. His stint at Honda began in 2024, when the Japanese manufacturer was going through a challenging phase after the departure of Marc Marquez, who won six world titles in his 11 years with the team. Tech3 specifically points to Marini’s ability to work with engineers and provide feedback during development.

"Luca understands what it takes to operate at this level, whether it’s collaborating with the engineers, developing the bike, or making progress under difficult circumstances," Steiner continues. "We’re entering an exciting new chapter with KTM, and we believe Luca has the speed, experience, and determination to help us achieve our goals."

Marini isn’t the only rider whose future became clear on Wednesday. Fermin Aldeguer will move to VR46 Racing after this season. The Spaniard will remain within the Ducati family but swap Gresini for Valentino Rossi’s VR46 team.

Aldeguer is signed for 2027 and 2028 and will remain directly under contract with Ducati. At VR46, he will also have factory-spec equipment. That fills another key spot on next season’s grid.

Finally on a busy Thursday, Izan Guevara was signed by Pramac Ducati. The Spanish Moto2 title contender and Moto3 champion will race for the Yamaha satilile squad next season.

The three announcements follow a period in which the riders’ market has been blown wide open. Marc Marquez’s contract extension with Ducati’s factory team served as a major starting point. The Spaniard will stay with the Italian manufacturer through the end of 2028.

Not long after, it became clear that Pedro Acosta will be his teammate from 2027. The arrival of the current KTM rider simultaneously meant there was no longer a place at Ducati for Francesco Bagnaia. The Italian will continue his career at Aprilia, where he will race alongside Marco Bezzecchi.

Important decisions have now also been made at Yamaha, Honda, and KTM. Fabio Quartararo will part ways with Yamaha after years together and move to Honda’s factory team. The 2021 world champion has signed with the Japanese manufacturer for 2027 and 2028.

Yamaha, in turn, has signed Jorge Martin. The former world champion leaves Aprilia and, starting next season, will form the new factory line-up together with Ai Ogura.

Alex Marquez will also begin a new chapter in 2027. The Spaniard is leaving Gresini and Ducati to join KTM’s factory team. There, he will have Fabio Di Giannantonio as his teammate, meaning the Austrian manufacturer will enter the new era with a completely refreshed lineup.

Gresini will also face a completely new situation due to the departures of both Alex Marquez and Aldeguer. Joan Mir will move to the Ducati team, while Daniel Holgado will make his MotoGP debut.

Marini's arrival means that one of the seats at Tech3 for 2027 has been filled. Maverick Vinales' future had already been a topic of discussion in recent months; during the race weekend in Assen, the Spaniard expressed his dissatisfaction—including to GPblog—regarding the way KTM was handling his future.

Vinales stated that KTM had kept him in uncertainty for too long and felt the manufacturer should have given him the chance earlier to look for a seat elsewhere. In an exclusive interview with GPblog , Steiner disagreed with those remarks.

"This is a sport in which performance is everything. That’s what you’re judged on, and everyone knows it," the Tech3 CEO said at the time. According to Steiner, KTM had been patient enough with Vinales, and stronger performances would have strengthened his position for a new contract.

With the announcements of Marini and Aldeguer, two more spots for 2027 were filled on Wednesday, while several other major moves have also been finalised. Who will line up alongside Marini at Tech3 has not yet been announced—however, Senna Agius, currently third in the Moto2 championship, appears to be the leading candidate.