With Pecco Bagnaia's decision to join Aprilia for MotoGP's next ruleset, Yamaha must now look elsewhere for 2027. The potential reunion of former title rivals and Moto3 teammates Bagnaia and Jorge Martin under one roof was a smooth transition plan for Yamaha's post-Fabio Quartararo era. However, with no official confirmation of Quartararo's departure from Yamaha and Martin's arrival at Aprilia, the garage's future remains uncertain.
Here are some potential riders Yamaha could consider for their 2027 factory team:
Fabio Di Giannantonio: Di Giannantonio has already had initial contact with Yamaha. He is currently a VR46 rider on a factory Ducati contract, and with Fermin Aldeguer and Nicolo Bulega likely to be prioritized for contract renewal, Di Giannantonio could be deemed surplus to requirements within the Ducati structure. He could be a dependable number two for Yamaha.
Enea Bastianini: Bastianini was the favorite for the Aprilia seat, so he might pivot to the seat Bagnaia has spurned. However, his qualifying performance and fit for the current sprint-infused weekend format are major question marks. Despite this, he can still be a devastatingly effective racer.
Toprak Razgatlioglu: Razgatlioglu has had a reasonable start in MotoGP, and his knowledge and success with Pirelli rubber make him a 2027 project. However, the silly season might be too early for him to adapt to Michelin tyres in their last season, making an immediate promotion from Pramac less likely.
Honda's Riders: Yamaha could benefit from the Honda situation. They could wait and see which of Honda's current factory riders, Joan Mir or Luca Marini, is ejected in favor of Quartararo's arrival. Alternatively, they could anticipate free agency anxiety for one of these riders and secure their services for 2027. Marini brings stability and developmental acumen, while Mir is effective over a race stint.
Go Leftfield: Yamaha could consider Brad Binder, who has had a reasonable off-season on the new V4 bike. They could also look at KTM racer Ai Ogura, if he can recapture his early-2025 magic, or whoever makes the most convincing start in Moto2 this year. Additionally, Jack Miller, despite not being in pole position, deserves a 'Plan C' consideration for any factory team 'Plan B'.
Alex Rins: Rins' situation is less favorable, as he has been unproductive since joining Yamaha. His 99 points are less than a third of what Quartararo accumulated. The best chance for Rins to keep his seat is a pause in the market that allows him to show improved performance on the new Yamaha. However, any uptick must come soon, or it might be too late.
