Honda secures Quartararo, Alonso for 2027 MotoGP campaign

The rider changes ahead of MotoGP’s new 850cc era in 2027 continue with Fabio Quartararo’s defection from Yamaha to Honda. Joining him will be Moto2 and Moto3 star David Alonso. While Quartararo will replace Joan Mir in the factory Honda HRC team, Alonso’s multi-year deal only mentions a Honda ride, not which team it will be with.

Quartararo made his MotoGP debut with the Petronas SRT Yamaha satellite squad in 2019 after four solid, but unremarkable seasons in Moto2 and Moto3. Seven podiums came in that debut year, with his first race wins in 2020 before a move to the factory team, replacing Valentino Rossi, in 2021.

Although Quartararo was MotoGP World Champion on the YZR-M1 in 2021, and runner-up in 2022, Yamaha has been left behind by the other manufacturers, especially Ducati and Aprilia, since.

The Frenchman’s last race win came in 2022 and his most recent podium in 2025. His best race finish to date this year – with the new V4-engined YZR-M1 - has been fifth.

Quartararo’s frustrations with Yamaha mirror those Marc Marquez had with Honda before he switched to Ducati in 2024. While he had apparently made his mind up late last year that the 2026 MotoGP season would be his last with Yamaha, Quartararo’s signing with Honda was only confirmed in July. Whether the 27-year-old’s move will deliver the same success as Marquez’s did is far less assured.

Born in Spain, but of Colombian/Spanish parentage, David Alonso will join MotoGP with a strong pedigree. A champion in the European Talent Cup and Red Bull Rookies Cup, Alonso joined Moto3 full-time in 2023. Finishing third overall that year, Alonso dominated the 2024 Moto3 season, winning 14 of 20 races on his way to the championship.

Stepping up to Moto2 in 2025 with the CFMOTO Aspar Team, Alonso took some time to find his feet. His first race win came at the Hungarian GP, with a handful of other podiums seeing him finish his rookie season in ninth. So far this year, Alonso has one race win and one other podium, and was sitting sixth overall after twelve rounds.