Day by day, the places for next season are being defined based on, first, the few renewals that have occurred and, then, all the signings that are moving around. In fact, as of today there are only four drivers on the 2026 grid who will repeat in their current team for 2027.
The first to have his position secured was the now injured Johann Zarco, who will continue in the LCR linked to Honda. By announcing his signing for Yamaha, Toprak Razgatlioglu also secured his place in Pramac for 2026 and 2027. And before the start of the season, Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia sealed his continuity.
In this way, the 2026 season began, in which a strong market movement was expected, with rumors that have not stopped until the signings have begun to be made official, confirming many of them. The most important, by the gallon, is the continuity of Marc Márquez at Ducati for another two seasons. And, from there, the chair dance began.
Because, as we said and waiting for more announcements, at this time the rest of the confirmed drivers are signings with changes of teams. So, with what has already been confirmed and in alphabetical order, we have Bezzecchi and Bagnania in Aprilia, Marc Márquez and Acosta in Ducati, Mir and Holgado in Gresini, Álex Márquez and Di Giannantonio in KTM, Zarco in LCR, Razgatlioglu in Pramac and Martín and Ogura in Yamaha.
There are still 10 places to be officially confirmed, although several have an “owner” by 2027
This currently leaves us with a total of 10 pending spots and with HRC, VR46, Tech3 and Trackhouse without defining any of their drivers. That does not mean that, despite not being official, it is known that Fermín Aldeguer will have a place in the VR46 as a rider hired by Ducati, and that Diogo Moreira will continue in MotoGP and with Honda, although it remains to be determined whether he will continue in the LCR or jump to the factory team.
Therefore, the real places that are free are 8, and the list of pilots who are looking for one is not unlimited but it is extensive. In fact, there is a driver whose results make it incomprehensible that he is without a place for 2027: Raúl Fernández. The Spaniard, who currently occupies sixth place overall, 55 points behind Bezzecchi, is one of those who should clarify his future and it would be incomprehensible, given precisely his competitiveness, for him to be left without a place.
Then we have other drivers whose signing is taken for granted and whose announcement is being delayed for one reason or another, such as that of Fabio Quartararo for HRC. And from there the most important rumors begin with possible arrivals in the category, such as that of Bulega from the WSBK with the VR46, the promotion of Izan Guevara with Yamaha, or the jump of Bastianini to the Trackhouse.
Statistically, there will be illustrious casualties for the next campaign
With these movements and assuming that Fernández will continue either in Trackhouse or with another brand, we would have three “free” places left, which would be the two KTMs of the Tech3 and a Honda. Therefore there are options for some of the current pilots to continue. In the last few hours there has been talk of a possibility for Marini with Honda, although the rest have it complicated. In fact, what is expected is a generational change and due to available places, there will be several who will be left out.
The list of possible departures is headed right now by Álex Rins, as Yamaha has already confirmed his departure. While Brad Binder does not have a place in the official KTM team, Jack Miller has options to be replaced by Guevara according to rumors, Maverick Viñales right now and after his statements in Brno also seems to be out of KTM, and Franco Morbidelli would not have a place in the VR46 if the planned movements are confirmed.
So with 3 bikes available and many candidates, the brands will be able to choose and, even so, we will have several riders who will be left out. Which is it? For that we will have to wait…
