Yamaha signs Martin and Ogura to MotoGP team

The Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team will field an all-new rider lineup in 2027, with Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins to make way for Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura, both of whom join the factory team on two-year deals. Martin is a former MotoGP World Champion and Ogura recently achieved his first MotoGP race win, but neither have experience with Yamaha in the premier class.

This year, Yamaha joined the rest of the MotoGP grid in adopting a V4 engine for their YZR-M1, but it’s yet to deliver any noticeable benefits, with a best race result of fifth for Quartararo and ninth for Rins over the first ten rounds. In the same period, both Martin and Ogura have won races on Aprilia’s RS-GP26, along with achieving multiple podium finishes.

While Quartararo was MotoGP World Champion in 2021 on the inline four version of the YZR-M1, he hasn’t won a race since 2022 – the most recent win for any Yamaha rider. Rins joined the factory team in 2024, but has yet to achieve a podium on the YZR-M1.

With MotoGP switching to 850cc machines, adopting Pirelli tyres and reducing rider assistance technologies in 2027, it is hoped the pairing of Martin and Ogura will be able to take advantage of these new regulations that favour rider talent over technical prowess.

"We are excited to welcome Jorge and Ai to the Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team as we enter a new era in 2027,” said Paolo Pavesio, Managing Director, Yamaha Motor Racing. “Securing riders of this calibre underlines our ambition and confidence in the [MotoGP] project.

"Jorge has already proven himself as one of the benchmark riders in MotoGP, with the speed, determination and mindset to fight for wins and World Championships. We expect him to play a key role in driving our performance forward from day one.

"Ai's progression over the past one-and-a-half seasons has been outstanding. His talent, work ethic and potential make us confident he can grow into one of the top riders in the championship. At the same time, we are especially proud to welcome a Japanese rider into the Yamaha Factory Team."