Although the grill of MotoGP 2026 It was largely predefined by the contracts signed in 2024, it is true that there was a good number of pilots who did not have insured the 2026 season. The transfer market with the large contracts usually moves every two years and that is why the main places in the official teams were more or less reserved.
But that does not mean that the market has been scrambled on several fronts. One of those fronts was Jorge Martín and his tensions with Aprilia, since despite having a contract with the Italian brand there was an alleged clause. Finally, the situation was clarified between both parties, Martín will compete in 2026 with the Italian brand and that opens the door to the following renewal: Luca Marini.
The Italian has been confirmed by HRC for the 2026 season, thus extending in a year the agreement they had and is that it was speculated that Martín could go to the official Honda team, which he had left the Italian out of the game that, in turn, could have returned to his brother’s VR46.
But as Marini stays in HRC, the Plaza del VR46 was still not occupied … until it has been confirmed that Franco Morbidelli will continue one more year with the structure of Valentino Rossi. The Italian is not setting a bad season in general terms and despite having lost a career, he is sixth in the general and ahead of his teammate, who wears a 2025 motorcycle.
Regardless, to these movements, because it seems that it was never the intention of HRC to pass it to the first team, there is Johann Zarco, who has renewed with the Japanese brand of which he is an official pilot to continue with the CSF not only on MotoGP 2026, but also in 2027.
The chain movements of the signing market finish profile the MotoGP 2026 grid, but there are still places
Therefore, we know that all grill Ducati are awarded for MotoGP 2026 and even Nicolo Bulega is confirmed as a tester, just like KTM and, theoretically, April. There is a deep available for now, because Chantra has not renewed and rumors talk about the possibility that Diogo Moreira Suba.
In Yamaha there is more uncertainty, because although there are four pilots with a contract (Quartararo, Rins, Razgatlioglu and Oliveira) the rumors suggest that Yamaha will terminate the Oliveira contract to give continuity to Jack Miller and, in the same way, the lack of results of Álex Rins in the official team makes rumors about whether he will continue in him or change.
So there are still some brushes to finish clarifying the MotoGP 2026 grid, but what does seem safe is that we will not see great surprises and much less in relation to the leading pilots or the reference equipment.
