2027 MotoGP grid: Almost a quarter of the riders are new – implications for SBK

For next year and until at least the end of 2031, MotoGP will not only see new technical regulations, with engine capacity reduced from 1,000 to 850 cc, restricted aerodynamics and a ban on height-adjustable suspension. In addition, between 2026 and 2027 we are set to see more rider changes from one season to the next than has rarely been the case in the premier class. Of the 22 regular riders, all have now been confirmed except for Nicolo Bulega at VR46 Ducati and Senna Agius at Tech3 KTM; with the caveat that Honda has not yet decided whether Diogo Moreira or rookie David Alonso will ride in the works team alongside Fabio Quartararo – or end up alongside Johann Zarco at LCR.

With Agius, Alonso, Daniel Holgado and Izan Guevara, four promising talents are moving up from Moto2 to MotoGP, joined by Superbike series winner Nicolo Bulega, who could become world champion as early as September. The ones bearing the brunt of this youth injection are Jack Miller, Franco Morbidelli, Brad Binder, Alex Rins and Maverick Viñales, who are losing their seats in the premier class. The first three will move into the World Superbike Championship and continue to delight us as factory riders for Yamaha, Ducati and BMW. Rins is also trying to secure a place in the production-based championship and is in advanced talks with the Ducati privateer team Go Eleven, whilst Vinales is facing the end of his career.

Bautista and Petrucci lose their jobs

The same fate awaits two-time Superbike champion Álvaro Bautista (41) and Danilo Petrucci (35). Bautista only managed to finish on the podium once this season – in third place at the season opener in Australia – suffered multiple complex fractures to his right foot in Most in mid-May, and continues to struggle with the minimum weight requirement for the rider-bike combination, which affects him significantly more than anyone else. Bautista will lose his place in the Barni Ducati privateer team to the Spaniard Xavi Vierge, who in turn must make way for Jack Miller in the Yamaha works team. Given Ducati’s strength and the Yamaha R1’s weakness, this is not a bad deal for Vierge.

Barni Ducati was Danilo Petrucci’s Plan B should he lose his place in BMW’s factory Superbike team. What everyone had been saying for weeks has been official since 3 September: Petrucci and BMW will not be continuing together – at least not in the production-based World Superbike Championship. The popular Italian is to be replaced by South African Brad Binder. However, the German manufacturer would like to continue working with the multi-talented ‘Petrux’, perhaps as a test rider, in the US Championship or the Endurance World Championship. After all, as well as winning three races in the Superbike World Championship, Petrucci has also triumphed in MotoGP, MotoAmerica, the Superstock 1000 Cup and even a stage of the Dakar Rally.

Topic of the week

2027 MotoGP grid: Almost a quarter of the riders are new – implications for SBK

The 2027 MotoGP grid will feature five new regular riders, with at least three of those dropped set to move to the World Superbike Championship. The ones to suffer as a result are Alvaro Bautista and Danilo Petrucci.

Read more

TV program

Live

Misano: International Livestream

MotoGP World Championship

11.09.2026 - 08:55