Yamaha confirms Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura as factory MotoGP riders for 2027

Yamaha has officially confirmed that Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura will race for its factory MotoGP team in the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

The announcement ends months of rumours and gives Yamaha an exciting new rider line-up for the future. The team believes both riders have the talent and determination to help Yamaha return to the front of MotoGP.

Yamaha's managing director, Paolo Pavesio, said the team is very happy to welcome Martin and Ogura. He explained that signing two top riders shows Yamaha's strong ambition to fight for race wins and world championships again.

Martin is already one of the best riders in MotoGP. He won the 2024 MotoGP World Championship and has shown great speed and confidence throughout his career. After a difficult 2025 season with Aprilia, when several injuries stopped him from showing his full potential, Martin has made an impressive comeback. This year he has returned to winning races, claimed pole position at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen and moved to the top of the championship standings.

His move to Yamaha also marks the end of his time with Aprilia. Yamaha hopes his experience and winning mentality will help the team improve from the very beginning of the 2027 season.

Ai Ogura has also earned his place in the factory team after a fantastic rise through the ranks. The Japanese rider won the Moto2 World Championship in 2024 before moving up to MotoGP. His performances have continued to improve, and he recently celebrated his first MotoGP race victory at the Dutch Grand Prix.

That success was a special moment for Japanese motorsport. Ogura became the first Japanese rider to win a MotoGP race since Makoto Tamada achieved the same feat at Motegi in 2004. Yamaha is especially pleased to have a Japanese rider representing its factory team once again.

Although Ogura came through Honda's young rider programme earlier in his career, he will now begin a new chapter with Yamaha. His hard work, natural talent and calm approach have made him one of the most exciting young riders in MotoGP.

The announcement comes shortly after Yamaha confirmed that Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins will leave the factory team at the end of the 2026 season. Their departures have opened the door for a completely new line-up as Yamaha prepares for the future.

Several other rider changes are also expected across the MotoGP paddock before the 2027 season begins. However, Yamaha has now secured two of the sport's biggest talents and hopes they can lead the manufacturer back to regular victories and title challenges in the years ahead.