Honda confirms David Alonso's 2027 MotoGP signing, but key detail still missing

Honda has confirmed the signing of 2024 Moto3 world champion David Alonso to a multi-year factory MotoGP contract for 2027, though the Colombian's team placement remains unresolved.

The 20-year-old has long been touted as a MotoGP-bound talent with Honda, with early reports linking him to the factory squad alongside Fabio Quartararo. However, those expectations have faded in recent months as Honda weighs whether to promote Diogo Moreira from its LCR squad and slot Alonso into the satellite team instead.

Honda Racing Corporation issued a statement on Tuesday confirming Alonso's multi-year deal, but offered no clarity on which Honda entry he will race for. The statement praised his progression through the lightweight classes: third in his Moto3 rookie season in 2023, dominant champion in 2024, and now in his second Moto2 campaign with a maiden class win at the 2025 Hungarian Grand Prix and fourth in the 2026 standings.

With 20 wins, 30 podiums and nine pole positions across Moto3 and Moto2, Alonso has continued to exceed expectations. He is scheduled to make his debut on the 2027 Honda machine at the Valencia post-race test.

The uncertainty over Alonso's team has complicated Honda's broader 2027 plans. With Joan Mir and Luca Marini both departing HRC, the factory squad's line-up is the only one yet to be announced on the grid. Quartararo's already-confirmed move to Honda has been held up by the same indecision.

Moreira, in his debut MotoGP season with LCR, has impressed by scoring points in all but two grands prix so far, with a best finish of sixth in Hungary and 16th in the standings. That form has given Honda a genuine dilemma over how to deploy its two young talents.

Sources

• Crash.net