The 2026 MotoGP season gets underway amid intense competition not just at the front but also for riders fighting to keep their seats as contracts near expiration ahead of the sport’s next regulatory era. While established names like Marc Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi are expected to battle for the title, others must deliver strong results early to secure their future in the premier class.
Source: MotoGP
Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM) enters the new year under pressure after an underwhelming debut with his current team in 2025. Aside from a single podium at the Catalan Grand Prix, the Italian struggled to adapt to the KTM RC16’s aggressive handling, leaving him one of the weaker links in the team. Once a candidate to replace Jorge Martin at Aprilia, Bastianini now needs standout results to convince KTM’s management he can reach his potential consistently when MotoGP’s technical era shifts in 2027.
Source: Motorsports.com
Joan Mir (Honda) has played a key role in Honda’s resurgence from its recent struggles, including a couple of late podiums in 2025. However, too many crashes and inconsistent finishes have left questions over his ability to lead the team. With Honda exploring high-profile signings and heading into a pivotal season of development, Mir must assert himself both on-track and within the garage to remain central to Honda’s plans.
Source: Visordown
Fabio di Giannantonio (VR46) heads into 2026 with strong backing from Ducati, riding the latest GP25 machine despite being outside the official factory team. While he produced some impressive outings, a lack of consistency and occasional struggles against teammate Franco Morbidelli have kept him from standing out. With VR46 reportedly considering fresh talent for 2027, di Giannantonio needs a strong start this year to secure his place or attract interest from other teams.
Source: Sepang International Circuit
Alex Rins (Yamaha) arrived in MotoGP with a strong résumé, having won races with Suzuki and Honda. Yet his tenure at Yamaha has been disappointing, with 2025 offering few highlights beyond brief flashes of pace. Outperformed by rivals on similar machinery and without a clear role in Yamaha’s V4 development project, Rins must elevate his performance significantly if he hopes to stay with the team.
Source: MotoGP
Franco Morbidelli (VR46) has enjoyed competitive rides aboard Ducati machinery but has not delivered the breakthrough results expected of him. After missing preseason testing due to a training accident and posting largely middling results last year, the Italian now finds his reputation for crashes and inconsistency under scrutiny. With VR46 likely to consider reshaping its roster, Morbidelli needs more than solid points finishes to secure his future and rewrite the narrative around his career.
Beyond these five, other riders such as Jack Miller and Johann Zarco face pressures of their own. Miller narrowly retained his spot with Pramac in 2025 and must offer technical value in Yamaha’s development to stay relevant, while Zarco’s contract security in 2027 could be tested if he fails to rebound from a slump last season.
With factories eager to confirm their 2027 line-ups ahead of major changes, early-season form in 2026 could prove decisive for many riders’ careers in MotoGP.
