As the highest expression of sports motorcycling that is the MotoGP World Championship, every thousandth is vital. That’s why it’s much easier than it seems to go from being at the top to simply filling the grid.
It may sound harsh, but harsher is the reality that Yamaha has been going through for a long time. As with investments in the stock market, losing 20% in this case of performance is not the same as then gaining 20% from the point you are at, because you do not get back what you had. What’s more, one of the problems that arose was that for a long time there was evident immobility, and while everyone made progress in aerodynamics and other points, Iwata’s firm remained oblivious to everything.
Then came the moment of panic and they began to try to turn the tables with one of the biggest changes that can be made: changing the concept of the engine and the rest of the bike. So although Yamaha is making changes and little by little it is becoming more and more competitive, it is still very far away not only from Aprilia and Ducati but also from KTM and even Honda. And that is something that the Iwata brand neither wants nor should allow itself.
It is for this reason that they are preparing a total revolution or, rather, they have already started it. Right now, of the brand’s current riders, only Toprak Razgatlioglu is assured of continuity in 2027. But in addition, Yamaha has just confirmed important changes to its rider lineup.
The changes at Yamaha are of great significance
We are talking on the one hand about Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins, the two factory team drivers, who will leave the team at the end of 2026. Although it seems that the situation of both is different. While Fabio Quartararo has offers and everything indicates that he could go with Honda, in the case of Álex Rins there is no clear future at the moment.
To the news of the departure of Rins and Quartararo we must add the news of their “spare parts” in the official team. And Yamaha has also confirmed that starting next season they will have Jorge Martín and Ai Ogura, the winner of the Netherlands GP. Both the departures of Quartararo and Rins and the arrival of Martín and Ogura were an open secret that is now confirmed, and that consolidates the change they are making from Japan to continue walking the arduous path back to the top.
Now we only need to know who will be the fourth Yamaha rider, although in this case the commercial interests of the championship could provide an extra opportunity to Jack Miller who, far from standing out, is fighting practically daily to not be the last Yamaha.
