Jorge Martín, the current MotoGP championship leader, will partner Ai Ogura at Yamaha next season as both riders leave Aprilia for the factory team. The move comes ahead of MotoGP's new 850cc and Pirelli era in 2027.
Martín and Ogura will form an all-new factory lineup for Yamaha. That means leaving a manufacturer leading the world championship for one sitting last in the constructors' standings right now.
Why did Jorge Martín choose Yamaha?
“I don't want to go really deep into it, but I always take the decisions that I think are better for me, for my family and for my future,” Martín said. He compared the move to his earlier choices — first Ducati, then Aprilia, now Yamaha.
“So let’s see what the future brings me,” the Spaniard added. Martín currently leads the championship standings, but he downplayed that position.
“Honestly, I don't really care now to be first, second, third, whatever,” he said. “I think it's anecdotal. The championship is quite open. Everybody is strong.”
What does Ai Ogura think about the partnership?
Ogura, who won at Assen this season, called having Martín as a teammate “really important.” The Japanese rider steps up to full factory status after two MotoGP seasons with Trackhouse.
“There are so many things so I'm not going to explain here. Just I saw this as a good thing for me, so that's why I decided,” Ogura said. “But as a Japanese rider it's really important to get a ride in a factory, especially for the Japanese brand.”
He added: “And also to have a strong teammate like Jorge is really important. It's going to be interesting.”
How does the championship look right now?
Martín sits first in the standings, with Ogura fourth. Despite Yamaha's current struggles, the #1 plate could end up on an M1 next season if Martín holds his lead.
But Martín isn't focused on that. “I just want to continue my preparation with Aprilia,” he said. “I could see in the last race I was still missing a lot of speed. For sure I started well, but the Trackhouse guys were much faster than me. So I need to improve my performance.”
Ogura has a mathematical chance to take the championship lead at the German Grand Prix. But he set a modest target for Sachsenring.
“Our target for this weekend is going to be in the top six. Sachsenring has always been a tricky one for me, and last year we struggled quite a lot here,” Ogura said.
What comes next for Jorge Martín and Yamaha?
Both riders will finish the 2026 season with their current teams before switching. The 2027 season brings new 850cc bikes and Pirelli tyres — a fresh start for everyone.
For Martín, it's another bold career move. He left Ducati for Aprilia, and now he's jumping to a struggling Japanese factory. The gamble could pay off big — or not.
“Let’s see what the future brings me,” he said.