MotoGP’s silly season this year has seen plenty of changes as it faces a new regulation era in 2027. Ducati Lenovo Team were the first to kick the announcements off in June. Now, three months later, the grid is all but confirmed. Red Bull KTM Tech3 are the last team to announce and confirm their riders. Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales depart, making way for Luca Marini and rookie Senna Agius.
The Departing Riders
Since 2025, Bastianini and Viñales have been at the French team, replacing Pedro Acosta who advanced to the factory team and Augusto Fernández who became a test rider for Yamaha.
Bastianini joined following his time with Ducati. The Italian came into MotoGP during 2021 and spent four years with the manufacturer, his last two being with the factory team. His final year with Ducati Lenovo saw him take a further two wins and nine podiums, and was challenging for the 2024 championship.
In his first year with Tech3, Bastianini achieved a podium at the Catalonia Grand Prix. His second year has seen his consistency highlighted, often finishing in the top ten in the races. Next year he is set to move teams again, heading to Trackhouse MotoGP Team alongside Raúl Fernández.
On the 2026 grid, Viñales is one of the veterans, with ten years in the series. As the 2013 Moto3 Champion, a single year in Moto2 drew eyes from the premier class. Consequently, 2016 saw him join Team Suzuki Ecstar. A flowing riding style allows him to be smooth on track and optimise the high-speed corners, making the Spanish rider one to watch. With ten wins and 35 podiums, Viñales always impressed.
Unfortunately, his time with Tech3 has been marred by injuries. A shoulder injury at the 2025 German Grand Prix caused him to miss eight rounds last year. And complications with the shoulder have seen him miss more in 2026. Currently, Pol Espargaró is filling in for him as he recovers.
Red Bull KTM Tech3 Welcome a New Lineup
With Bastianini departing and Viñales not returning, KTM Tech3 join the list of teams facing an all-new lineup in 2027. They have opted for Italian Luca Marini as an experienced face. Whilst Moto2 title contender, Senna Agius, becomes the fifth rookie to make his debut.
“We are building a team for a completely new era of MotoGP, and we wanted to combine experience with young talent.“
~ Tech3 CEO Guenther Steiner on the 2027 lineup.
Luca Marini
After a single race in Moto3 during 2013, Marini formally joined the Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing ladder in 2015 for Moto2. During his time in the series, he took six wins and 15 podiums, culminating in a second-place finish during the 2020 season.
As a result, he debuted in MotoGP in 2021, joining Bastianini at the Avintia Esponsorama team. This year, he raced under the Sky VR46 livery. In 2022, he headed to the Mooney VR46 Racing Team and in his final year with them, he took his maiden podium: a P3 in Qatar. Marini switched to the factory Repsol Honda Team, replacing the departing Marc Márquez.
In 2026, he remains with Honda and remains the only rider this year to achieve points in each race. In 2026, he faces a new challenge as he joins Tech3 and switches manufacturers to KTM.
“We are very happy to have Luca joining us from 2027. He has already shown his ability to perform at the highest level, and his experience in MotoGP will be extremely valuable as we enter this new chapter. He has a strong understanding of what is required from both the rider and technical side, and we are confident that he will be an important part of our progress with KTM. We are looking forward to working with him and seeing what we can achieve together.”
~ Nicolas Goyan, Tech3 Team Manager on Marini’s signing.
Senna Agius
Australian Senna Agius is set to debut in the premier class next year. During 2022 and 2023 he competed in the FIM Moto2 European Championship alongside a handful of Moto2 races. His second year saw him dominate, with eight wins out of the 11 races. Consequently, after winning the championship, he joined Moto2 full time in 2023 with Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP.
His maiden podium came at his home race in 2024. The following year, his home race also brought him a maiden win. So far, the Australian has shown consistent progress as he develops each year. 2026 sees him challenging for the championship. With two wins, four podiums, and a pole position he is proving his talent on track.
“We believe Senna has the qualities to make a very strong step into MotoGP. He has shown impressive speed and maturity in Moto2, but what really stood out to us was his determination to keep improving and his attitude towards the work required to succeed. Senna represents an exciting part of that future. We know there will be a lot for him to learn but we are ready to support him through that process. We are very pleased to welcome him to Tech3 and look forward to seeing him grow with us.”
~ Steiner on Agius joining Tech3.
The Grid for MotoGP 2027
Considering the new regulations coming into play, having an experienced rider paired with a rookie will allow the team a fresh start. Marini will bring the previous knowledge to help them develop, whereas Agius will bring fresh eyes and a new perspective. Furthermore, the Australian will bring experience with the Pirelli tyres from his time in Moto2, bringing them knowledge on the new manufacturer.
Now, the MotoGP grid for 2027 is nearing completion. We know all 22 riders who will be racing, but the seats of two remain unclear. David Alonso and Diogo Moreira will race, but Honda are yet to announce which team both will be in.
The 2027 grid will be filled with new faces. Five rookies are set to debut, the most since 2022. But more than that, most riders will debut new team colours. Currently, only five riders remain with their 2026 team. With plenty changing and new regulations incoming, 2027 will be all to play for.