Technical changes: New crew chiefs for Moreira and Quartararo at Honda

The MotoGP line-up for the 2027 season is almost complete. Unofficially, the only names missing from the grid map are those of Günther Steiner’s KTM customer team, Tech3. Officially, however, a number of announcements are still pending. Alongside Trackhouse-Aprilia, Pramac-Yamaha and VR46-Ducati, Honda has also yet to confirm the riders for either of its teams ahead of the start of the 850cc era.

What is known is this: in the official Honda works team, Joan Mir and Luca Marini will be replaced by Fabio Quartararo – and one of the two youngsters, Diogo Moreira, currently with LCR-Honda, or rising star David Alonso. Veteran Johann Zarco remains on board with the Honda customer team.

Diogo Moreira to have a Spanish crew chief in 2027

Further planning is underway within the team structures. As also reported by our Spanish colleagues at Autosport, Moto2 champion Moreira will no longer be working with Klaus Nöhles in 2027. The German former GP rider has been with LCR for years and, prior to Moreira, was also responsible for rookie Somkiat Chantra here. Diogo Moreira, currently the second-best Honda rider in 15th place in the World Championship standings, is set to work with Andres Madres next year. The Spaniard has been on KTM’s payroll for years.

Madres, who had been Brad Binder’s long-standing crew chief, was replaced at the start of the current season and has since been working alongside Enea Bastianini. HRC appears convinced that Madres is the ideal technical liaison for the up-and-coming Brazilian. It is still unclear whether the duo will be employed by the actual factory team – or within Lucio Cecchinello’s organisation.

Cristhian Pupulin: Noch an der Seite von Luca Marini (Honda)

Foto: Gold and Goose

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It has also reportedly been decided who will look after the eagerly awaited new Honda signing, Fabio Quartararo: Cristhian Pupulin. The Italian is one of the veterans of the paddock. Pupulin has a particularly close relationship with Jack Miller, whom he looked after at Ducati – both at Pramac and in the factory team – as well as in the KTM factory team. From the Austrian camp, he eventually moved to HRC, where Cristhian Pupulin looks after Luca Marini. Whilst Marini is set to leave Honda, crew chief Pupulin is expected to stay on and, as a technical heavyweight, take charge of the 2021 world champion.