Final uncertainties on the MotoGP 2027 grid

The picture for the MotoGP 2027 grid has largely taken shape, but Raul Fernandez, Maverick Vinales, and Honda's rider plan are still uncertain.

The picture leading to the 2027 season in MotoGP has largely taken shape, but the official lineup is still not complete. While signatures, intentions, and contract options are being discussed behind the scenes, a few critical seats may remain open until the last moment.

Before the 2027 period when the series will switch to 850 cc engines and Pirelli tires, the grid is being renewed from top to bottom. This brings up the possibility of an unexpected departure for some riders who have long seemed established.

Raul Fernandez's future remains unclear

The situation of Trackhouse rider Raul Fernandez has become one of the most important topics in the MotoGP 2027 market. After his remarkable victory in the Mugello sprint, the first clear signs emerged that everything was not going well with his current team for 2027.

Although this picture is being downplayed within the team, Spain-based assessments show that Trackhouse is distant from the idea of bringing Fernandez back and is seriously considering Manu Gonzalez, who is at the top of the Moto2 points table.

Another development that could reduce Fernandez's influence within Trackhouse is that team principal Davide Brivio will move to Honda next year. Although it is said that Brivio could provide external input on the 2027 strategy, it is understood that the final decision will be with team owner Justin Marks and the person to be appointed as the head of the team. Francesco Guidotti's name is also emerging for this role.

Fernandez, when asked about his future in Hungary, painted a calmer picture. When reminded of the difficult situation last week, he said he was more relaxed and stated that the results of this weekend would not change the 2027 plan. He did not give a clear answer to whether he would stay at Trackhouse.

Fitness test for Vinales

The Tech3 KTM option is talked about as the main alternative for Fernandez. However, there are multiple question marks in front of this possibility. The most important is the health status of the current Tech3 rider Maverick Vinales.

The Tech3 management has shown that it is open to the idea of taking a young name from Moto2. Team principal Guenther Steiner emphasized that they could evaluate an experienced and a new rider together and pointed out the importance of having an experienced pilot as a reference alongside a rookie rider for development.

One of the names in this equation is Vinales. If he stays, the team can keep experience and youth together. However, Vinales admits that he has not been fully fit since Sachsenring and that his shoulder needs to recover.

Vinales said his goal is to be 100% fit by Brno and that his shoulder will be fine. From his perspective, there is no situation where he needs to prove he can fully recover again. However, the team side is not in a hurry to make a decision.

Honda's lineup plan is also open-ended

Although some names on Honda's side for 2027 seem clear on paper, the lineup of the factory and LCR teams is still not fully predictable. It is not known when Johann Zarco will return from his serious knee injury, and therefore his position in the team is not considered finalized without seeing his performance on the track.

It is also emphasized that Honda is one of the most disciplined manufacturers in the series regarding contract commitments. Therefore, Zarco staying at LCR if he recovers is one of the strongest options.

While Fabio Quartararo is expected to move to the factory Honda team, the ranking debate continues between young riders David Alonso and Diogo Moreira. Although Alonso is seen as a brighter talent, Moreira is considered an early candidate for the factory seat due to his MotoGP experience and current form.

Moreira did not talk much about the subject. He said he has a contract for next year, will have a motorcycle, but his team is not yet finalized. He stated that he is waiting for the decision and needs to continue his work.

Who is at risk of elimination?

In the MotoGP 2027 grid, not only new transfers but also current names are under pressure. Besides Maverick Vinales and Raul Fernandez, names like Luca Marini, Franco Morbidelli, Alex Rins, Jack Miller, and Brad Binder are also discussed as possibly being left out.

Morbidelli and Rins have clearly stated that they are ready to continue in MotoGP. Marini said that it will take more time for the full premier class lineup to take shape and that very few seats remain.

One of the most striking aspects of the picture is the number of possible rookies coming from Moto2. It is said that up to five new names could move up to the top class in the next season of the series. This also includes the possibility of the dominant World Superbike rider Nicolo Bulega moving to MotoGP with VR46 Ducati.

Bulega's winning 22 consecutive races and his teammate Iker Lecuona's consecutive successful World Superbike results for factory Ducati show how strong the power balance is on the Ducati side. Although the tire change is approaching, for now, the picture is still set in favor of Ducati.

The last lines in management are also changing. According to the possible 2027 picture conveyed, rider combinations on the Ducati, VR46 Ducati, Gresini Ducati, Aprilia, Trackhouse Aprilia, KTM, Tech3 KTM, Honda, LCR Honda, Yamaha, and Pramac Yamaha sides are largely shaped. Nevertheless, a few seats are still empty, and final decisions will become clear as the calendar progresses.