Yamaha have officially confirmed Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura as their factory MotoGP line-up for 2027, completing a blockbuster rider-market move that will take both riders from Aprilia to the Japanese manufacturer for the start of the new 850cc regulations.
The announcement, made on Wednesday 1 July, came a day after Yamaha confirmed the departures of Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins at the end of the current campaign. Martin, the reigning world champion and current championship leader, and Ogura, winner of last weekend's Dutch Grand Prix, have both signed two-year deals keeping them with the Monster Energy Yamaha team through 2028.
"It is a pleasure to welcome Jorge and Ai to the Yamaha Factory MotoGP Team as we enter a new era in 2027," said Paolo Pavesio, managing director of Yamaha Motor Racing. "Securing riders of this calibre underlines our ambition and confidence in the 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."
The move takes Martin to a third manufacturer, following his 2025 title triumph with Pramac Ducati and an injury-hit season at Aprilia. Despite a difficult debut on the RS-GP, the Spaniard claimed his first sprint and grand prix victories with the Noale factory and retook the world championship lead from Marco Bezzecchi at Assen last weekend.
Aprilia's decision to sign double MotoGP champion Pecco Bagnaia alongside the retained Bezzecchi for 2027 opened the door for Yamaha, who moved quickly to secure a big-name replacement for Quartararo. Ogura, fourth in the standings and 25 points behind Martin, becomes the first Japanese rider to join the factory Yamaha squad in the modern era.
Yamaha, winless since 2022 and with a best result of fifth this season on the new V4, will hope the pairing accelerates the team's return to the front as MotoGP switches to 850cc machinery and Pirelli tyres in 2027.
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1098909/1/official-jorge-martin-joins-yamaha-motogp-2027
- https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2026/07/01/martin-and-ogura-confirmed-in-all-new-yamaha-line-up-for-2027-and-2028/1075825
