MotoGP Rider Shake-Up
Jorge Martín and Ai Ogura Officially Sign with Yamaha; Pecco Bagnaia Moves to Aprilia
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Yamaha has officially confirmed its most important signing in a decade. The Japanese manufacturer announced on July 1, 2026, that MotoGP world championship leader Jorge Martín and Dutch GP winner Ai Ogura will form its factory pairing for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, according to Yamaha MotoGP.
The move triggers a massive domino effect across the paddock. Martín's departure from Aprilia opens the door for Ducati's three-time champion Francesco "Pecco" Bagnaia to join the Italian manufacturer on an unprecedented four-year deal through 2030, according to Crash.net.
Martín and Ogura Join Yamaha's 850cc Project
Yamaha Managing Director Paolo Pavesio said: "Securing riders of this calibre underlines our ambition... Jorge is a benchmark rider, and Ai's progression has been outstanding," according to Yamaha MotoGP. Martín is currently leading the 2026 MotoGP standings. Ogura sits 25 points behind him in fourth place, per The Race.
The signings are tied to MotoGP's biggest rule change in years. From 2027, engines drop from 1000cc to 850cc and aerodynamic devices are heavily restricted. To compete, Yamaha is switching to a V4 engine for the first time ever in the four-stroke MotoGP era, replacing their long-standing inline-four, according to The Race.
Ogura's Historic Assen Win Sealed the Deal
Ogura's signing gained momentum on June 28, when he won the Dutch GP at Assen. It made him the first Japanese rider to win a premier-class race in 22 years — since Makoto Tamada in 2004 — according to Motorsport.com. Analysts at The Race describe him as a "used-tyre specialist" whose calm riding style has made him a genuine title contender in 2026.
Ogura moves from the Trackhouse Racing satellite team, where team principal Davide Brivio confirmed in April that the Japanese rider would not be renewing. "Ai has told us he's not continuing... we potentially have one spot available," Brivio said, according to MotoGP.
Bagnaia Leaves Ducati for an All-Italian Aprilia Dream Team
On June 24, Ducati officially confirmed it would part ways with Bagnaia at the end of 2026, according to Motorcycle.com. One day later, Aprilia confirmed his signing on a four-year contract through 2030, pairing him with Marco Bezzecchi in what Italian outlet GPOne called an "all-Italian marriage."
Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola said: "Welcoming Pecco fills us with pride and gives Italian sport a further boost... we will give him a warm welcome, but first we will try to beat him!" according to Crash.net. Bagnaia does take a significant risk. He leaves behind longtime crew chief Cristian Gabarrini, who stays at Ducati to work with Pedro Acosta.
Martín's Aprilia Exit and the One Seat Still Open
Martín's move ends a turbulent chapter at Aprilia. Despite leading the 2026 championship, his relationship with the Noale factory broke down after he reportedly tried to exit his contract early in May 2025 and threatened legal action, according to Visordown. He now moves to his third different manufacturer in MotoGP.
The biggest unknown is who fills Ogura's old seat at Trackhouse Racing. Team owner Justin Marks wants an "experienced rider" rather than a rookie. Leading candidates include Honda's Joan Mir and Luca Marini, per AutoHebdo. Meanwhile, Fabio Quartararo — whose Yamaha departure was confirmed on June 30 — is widely expected to land at Repsol Honda.
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