The MotoGP rider market is already very busy, even before the first official test of the 2026 season. Many riders have contracts that end in 2026, just before the big rule changes in 2027.

In 2027, MotoGP will introduce new technical rules. The engine size will go down from 1000cc to 850cc. Rear ride-height and holeshot devices will be removed. There will also be a new tyre supplier, as Pirelli tyres replace the current ones. Because of these changes, teams and riders are thinking carefully about their future.

One of the riders in this situation is Joan Mir. He currently rides for Honda, and his contract ends at the end of 2026. Like many others on the grid, he must decide soon what to do next.

There are also strong rumours about Fabio Quartararo, the 2021 MotoGP world champion. Reports say he could move to Honda in 2027. Quartararo has admitted that he is speaking with Honda and other manufacturers about his future.

Mir explained that because contract talks are starting earlier every year, he cannot simply wait. He said that now riders begin discussions as early as November. This creates pressure, because no one wants to be left without a seat for the next season.

At the same time, Mir said it is important not to rush. If a rider makes a decision too quickly, it might turn out to be the wrong one. However, if everyone else is signing contracts early, it becomes difficult to wait. He said he and his team will “play their cards” carefully, but he still does not know what he wants to do.

If Honda signs Quartararo for 2027, one of their current riders could lose their place. Mir’s team-mate is Luca Marini, so either Mir or Marini may have to leave.

Mir joined Honda in 2023 after Suzuki left MotoGP in 2022. Since then, he has helped the team improve after two very difficult seasons in 2023 and 2024. In 2025, he achieved two podium finishes and ended the championship in 15th place. One podium came at Motegi in Japan, Honda’s home race, and the other was in Sepang, Malaysia.

For now, Mir says he is focused on starting the 2026 season in the best possible way. But he knows that if other riders are already signing contracts, he may need to act soon. The situation is moving quickly, and like many others in MotoGP, he must soon decide what his future will look like.