Fabio Quartararo is heading for Honda after Yamaha bid farewell to him and Alex Rins for MotoGP 2027. The move closes the book on a lineup that is already being replaced, with Yamaha turning to Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura for the next cycle.
Paolo Pavesio said the team and Quartararo had “shared both great successes and difficult moments” and added, “We have grown, celebrated achievements that have shaped our story, and faced challenges that have strengthened us.” He also said, “Beyond the results, it is this journey that defines our relationship, and in the end, Fabio will always remain one of the true legends of Yamaha MotoGP.”
Quartararo And Yamaha
Quartararo won the 2021 title in his first year as a factory racer after promotion from Petronas SRT. That made the split more striking, because his relationship with Yamaha had become increasingly strained as the team struggled to deliver a competitive package.
This season, he was especially frustrated by the slow start to the new V4 engine project. Yamaha’s decision now draws a line through that tension and points to a different rider path for 2027, with Honda awaiting a rider whose best season still defines his Yamaha run.
Rins And The 2027 Reset
Pavesio also thanked Rins for “bringing valuable experience, meaningful insight, and unwavering commitment.” Rins arrived at Yamaha at the start of 2024 still recovering from the serious leg injury he suffered while at LCR Honda the previous summer, and his Yamaha stint has been a painful disappointment.
The replacement plan is already set in motion. Yamaha has signed Martin, a factory racer and the current championship leader, along with Ogura, who won the Dutch Grand Prix.
That leaves the remaining contract detail on the same track as the rider move itself. Official confirmation of the deals and Quartararo’s switch to Honda is expected imminently, while Yamaha’s satellite team Pramac is expected to keep Toprak Razgatlioglu and release Jack Miller in favor of Izan Guevara.
