Contracts for 2027: The winners and losers in the MotoGP job market

There is little consolation for mediocre Grand Prix riders once they reach a certain age. ‘Mediocre’ is by no means meant to sound derogatory. Any rider who can hold their own in the premier class of the Motorcycle World Championship is undoubtedly extremely talented. There are very few exceptions to this, and certainly none in the current era, characterised by extremely close races and ever-narrowing gaps.

Yet, given the constant stream of up-and-coming talent and the ‘brave new world’ of the revamped and (supposedly) improved MotoGP, which begins next year, there are inevitably going to be some losers.

The Geniuses

The problem is the presence of geniuses who eclipse everything else – currently represented above all by Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta. As long as they are in the mix, even the exceptionally gifted have only an occasional chance of victory. Until their time runs out.

We’re talking here about Grand Prix winners such as Brad Binder and Jack Miller. Two riders whose results in 2026 were significantly hampered by less competitive machines (KTM and Yamaha). And who may find themselves out of a job next year or forced to switch to the World Superbike Championship.

The transfer window is in full swing, albeit belatedly following contractual disputes between the manufacturers and MotoGP. Although agreements had already been reached behind closed doors, the announcements were held back until confirmation was received that there would indeed be a racing series from next year onwards.

Since the rather over-the-top announcement of this contract at the Czech GP, there has been a flood of announcements, most of which merely confirmed what was already known. And there are some exciting surprises in store for the new 850cc era.

At Ducati, Acosta joins Marquez Senior – the veteran champion pitted against the expected newcomer. At Aprilia, Bezzecchi teams up with Bagnaia, who has turned his back on Ducati after eight years and is now being displaced by Marquez.

Fabio Quartararo is aiming for redemption at Honda after a five-year dry spell with a struggling Yamaha. He is banking on HRC recovering from its own crisis – a process that has already got off to a promising start.

For Jorge Martin and this year’s revelation, Ai Ogura, it is an even greater risk to leave the highly competitive Aprilia in favour of Yamaha. They must surely be being paid very well. It is also a gamble for Alex Márquez and Ducati’s current lead rider, Fabio Di Giannantonio, to cross the Alps to join the somewhat struggling KTM team.

MotoGP rules from 2027

One theory regarding the technical changes – smaller engines, lighter bikes, less aerodynamics and a ban on devices for adjusting the bike’s ride height – is that “riding skill will matter more”. Should this prove to be the case, life for the risk-takers could become easier than it currently appears. However, rules designed to level the playing field have rarely worked as intended in the past, and there is always one – or sometimes even two – manufacturers that bag the lion’s share of the wins.

But that is no consolation for the two riders mentioned above. Nor for other former race winners who are facing a decline in their careers. These include Maverick Viñales, Alex Rins and former Moto2 champion Franco Morbidelli. Added to this is the unassuming but outstanding Luca Marini, who, unlike them, has never won a MotoGP race but is exceptionally consistent and reliable. Incidentally, Pedro Acosta has not yet secured a GP victory in MotoGP either. There may still be hope for the first and last of these riders, but for now they remain queuing at the job centre, hoping for the best.

The promotion candidates from the Moto2 World Championship

There is another category that clings more to hope than to certainty: Moto2 riders who have already won races but have made the mistake of being neither Spanish nor young.

Strictly speaking, Manuel Gonzalez is Spanish through and through, but at 23 he’s already an ‘old man’ in this class. Only four of the 28 riders on the grid are older. The former Supersport 300 World Champion narrowly missed out on the Moto2 title last year and seems well on the way to clinching it this year. Yet, apparently, that is not enough to secure a guaranteed place on the MotoGP grid – much to everyone’s surprise.

The other rider in the ‘rising stars’ category is his Australian team-mate Senna Agius. Strangely enough, his nationality could prove to be an advantage, as MotoGP is keen to boost its international appeal. Unfortunately, there are currently no obvious American candidates who could do the same for the USA.

Meanwhile, the young Spanish Moto2 riders Daniel Holgado and Izan Guevara, as well as the Spanish-born Colombian David Alonso, are stepping straight into the fray – with rides at Ducati, Yamaha and Honda.

Well, no career lasts forever. Even Valentino Rossi had to retire at some point, although Marc Márquez has just extended his contract by a further two years – by then he’ll be 35; and Bagnaia’s new contract with Aprilia runs for a remarkable four years – by the end of it he’ll be 33. That will be a shock to many young riders.

Racing can be a cruel business, and not just in terms of the obvious risks of injury. Talent alone isn’t necessarily enough. But to be fair: it certainly helps.