French MotoGP rider Fabio Quartararo, world champion in 2021, has committed to Honda for two seasons, the Japanese team announced this Tuesday, as had been expected for several weeks.
After eight seasons at Yamaha, which had announced its departure three weeks ago, the 27-year-old rider from Nice will try to return to the top with the other Japanese manufacturer in the field.
"Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) is pleased to announce the signing of Fabio Quartararo for the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP World Championship seasons. Quartararo will race for the factory Honda HRC team as the 850cc MotoGP era begins in 2027", said the Japanese team in a statement.
Quartararo's arrival at Honda, announced by some media at the beginning of the year, left no doubt for several weeks, as all the other teams had made their riders official for the next season.
The Japanese manufacturer, in full reconstruction since the departure in 2024 of its historic Spanish rider Marc Marquez, who moved to Ducati to continue his path of victories, is betting on "El Diablo" to regain prominence.
The 2027 season will be marked by a new technical regulation that will reduce the displacement of motorcycles from 1,000 to 850 cc, which could change the balance and put an end to the overwhelming dominance of European manufacturers in recent years, namely Ducati and Aprilia.
Arrived in MotoGP in 2019 after two disappointing seasons in Moto2 (13th in 2017 and 10th in 2018), Quartararo quickly stood out by becoming, in 2021, the first Frenchman to become world champion in the premier class.
But after reaching the top in 2021, the fall has been as impressive as its rise. Despite still fighting for the title in 2022 (2nd), the driver from Nice had to settle for secondary roles (10th in 2023, 13th in 2024, 9th in 2025).
Honda also announced this Tuesday the hiring of Colombian David Alonso, Moto3 world champion in 2024 and who is currently competing in the Moto2 championship.
"Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) is pleased to confirm the signing of David Alonso on a multi-year contract for the MotoGP World Championship", wrote the Japanese brand in a statement.
Honda has not specified, however, whether Alonso will be alongside Quartararo in the official team, or whether he will compete in the LCR satellite team with the other Frenchman, Johann Zarco.
Brazilian Diogo Moreira, who is making a promising debut in MotoGP this season for LCR, could, in fact, be promoted to the factory team.