Yamaha and Honda’s slumps and 2026 rider changes

Off-track, Honda and Yamaha are the key protagonists in the 2026 MotoGP rider market. On-track, they’ve both gone backwards again after their breakthrough results in May.Why has that happened, and is a champion rider like Jorge Martin right to put his faith in investment and long-term hope over current performance and the evidence of recent years? Simon Patterson and Val Khorounzhiy make the case for Honda and Yamaha’s prospects to a sceptical Matt Beer in The Race MotoGP Podcast.Honda’s likely 2026 line-up - and a surprise twist in it - is discussed too, as is the possibility of a total rider clearout at Yamaha’s second team, even though the Pramac duo Miguel Oliveira and Jack Miller are matching or outperforming struggling factory rider Alex Rins.Want to win a Marc Marquez special edition 8K AI-powered camera, signed by Marquez himself?We’ve teamed up with Insta360 to give away an autographed Insta360 Ace Pro 2 MM93 Edition - a special customised version of the camera with Marquez’s logo and iconic #93 on its body, plus other unique Marquez customisation touches.For a chance to win the signed Marquez edition Insta360 camera, all you have to do is send us ONE question about Marquez that you’d love The Race MotoGP Podcast team to answer. Submit your question HEREAnd whoever sends the best question as chosen by The Race MotoGP Podcast panel receives the signed Insta360 Ace Pro 2 MM93 Edition.Read the T&Cs HEREWant more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Use code 'THERACE' on this link to get the new Insta360 X5 action camera with a free Replacement Lens Kit: https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_term=THERACE&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=TheRACE&utm_content=date20250419A3LaunchThe Jorge Martin/Aprilia contract row erupted again during MotoGP’s Dutch Grand Prix weekend as first comments from Martin’s management and series promoter Carmelo Ezpeleta drove Aprilia to make clear it was ready to take Martin to court, then Aprilia gave more reason to question Martin’s logic by nearly winning the race with Marco Bezzecchi.The Race Members’ Club’s rants suggested plenty of sympathy for Aprilia’s side, and Simon Patterson is firmly in that corner too on The Race MotoGP Podcast - but Val Khorounzhiy has a very different view.After plenty of debate about Martin and Aprilia, Simon, Val and Matt Beer eventually manage to talk about some riders who actually participated in the Dutch GP too.Marc and Alex Marquez’s latest (tentative?) battle, Alex’s injury and how it happened, Fabio Quartararo’s nosedive from pole to two terrible races and Brad Binder’s plight are among the other topics covered.Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Use code 'THERACE' on this link to get the new Insta360 X5 action camera with a free Replacement Lens Kit: https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_term=THERACE&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=TheRACE&utm_content=date20250419A3LaunchAfter the big hints of a breakthrough at Aragon, Pecco Bagnaia came to his home MotoGP track Mugello - where he traditionally excels and far from a Marc Marquez stronghold - and… didn’t even finish on the grand prix podium as Marquez took another maximum score.How bad was that for Bagnaia’s season, and why did it happen? Simon Patterson, Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer debate what might be Bagnaia’s most painful 2025 low so far on The Race MotoGP Podcast.As Bagnaia fell back, at least Alex Marquez was there to take the fight to Marc - but how hard was he really fighting? The siblings’ (conspicuously gentle?) approach to racing each other is another hot topic after the Italian Grand Prix, as is stewarding after yet another Franco Morbidelli incident.We also tackle plenty of questions from The Race Members’ Club on topics including Yamaha and Honda’s awful weekends, the power balance between Maverick Vinales and Pedro Acosta at KTM, and where Fabio Di Giannantonio’s sudden performance came from.Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s an extended preview of a bonus episode available in The Race Members’ Club on Patreon ahead of Mugello - an exclusive one-on-one with MotoGP podium finisher turned World Superbike star Scott Redding on his fascinating career.From coming agonisingly (literally) close to winning a Moto2 title to Honda, Pramac and Aprilia stints in MotoGP before rebuilding his career with an epic British Superbike season and then his current life of highs and lows in World Superbikes, Redding’s story is an incredible one with rather a lot of ‘right place, wrong time’ in it.And he’s superbly honest and eloquent about every bit of it in this interview with Val.Want to listen to the full interview, plus get access to more exclusive MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With another running of the Isle of Man TT complete, Megan White and Simon Patterson look back on all the action for a special edition of The Race’s MotoGP Podcast.Three riders took all the spoils in the solo classes, with one win for Davey Todd and two apiece for Michael Dunlop and Dean Harrison, while the Crowe brothers dominated in Sidecars.Despite the Senior TT being cancelled due to adverse weather conditions, it was still a brilliant week of racing on the island, with 10 thrilling races.Megan and Simon looked back over the high points to see who the big winners of this year’s Isle of Man TT were, plus The Race's founder Andrew van de Burgt joins to share his experiences of attending the TT for the first time (Spoiler: He liked it a lot).Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s finally happening: after so many years of rumour and flirtation, the World Superbike Championship’s breakout superstar Toprak Razgatlioglu is coming to MotoGP in 2026.And the man who once only wanted to go to MotoGP on a factory bike, and whose Yamaha MotoGP bridge looked burned by two bad tests and a fractious aftermath, is joining the MotoGP grid… with Yamaha’s satellite team Pramac.Matt Beer wakes Simon Patterson from his well-deserved post Silverstone-TT-Aragon nap to discuss why Razgatlioglu is finally making the leap and assess how he might fare and how his first season should be judged.We also explain for anyone who hasn’t followed World Superbikes why Razgatlioglu is such a coup for MotoGP, and consider the impact of his exit on WSBK - especially with his 2025 title rival Nicolo Bulega also now being lined up for a MotoGP future too.Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Use code 'THERACE' on this link to get the new Insta360 X5 action camera with a free Replacement Lens Kit: https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_term=THERACE&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=TheRACE&utm_content=date20250419A3LaunchWhile Marc Marquez effortlessly dominated the Aragon Grand Prix ahead of brother Alex, his Ducati team-mate Pecco Bagnaia went from a dismally off the pace sprint to a genuinely encouraging Sunday race.Did 1.5cm of brake disc really have a transformative effect that will change Bagnaia’s 2025 season? Simon Patterson, Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer ponder the key to Bagnaia’s turnaround and how significant it might actually be.Yamaha’s tumble backwards, KTM’s surge forwards and Aprilia’s latest rider intrigue also feature, there’s a mild argument between the Joan Mir Fan Club and Johann Zarco Fan Club arms of the podcast panel and Simon has a downbeat rant that comes from a place of genuine love for MotoGP.Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The MotoGP rider market was supposed to be pretty settled heading to 2026, but it’s actually gone crazy - and not just because of Jorge Martin’s antics.Val Khorounzhiy and Matt Beer - with interjections from Simon Patterson in the Isle of Man TT paddock - give their takes on all the potential moves and which riders and teams actually need a break from each other and a fresh start regardless of what the contracts actually say.Plus the latest Toprak Razgatlioglu/MotoGP link and the lessons from things Davide Brivio’s done in the past.Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more.Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jorge Martin has officially communicated to the world that he expects to be a free agent at the end of the 2025 MotoGP season thanks to a clause in his two-year deal with Aprilia.Though he has not officially committed to riding for someone else - and Aprilia, which had just won at Silverstone, has not corroborated his status for 2026 - it marks a massive moment for both rider and team, with Honda looming in the background as an interested party.Val Khorounzhiy is joined by an Isle of Man TT-based Simon Patterson to go through Martin's statement and discuss where the parties go from here.They also offer injury updates on Ai Ogura and Luca Marini, the latter hurt considerably in a Suzuka 8 Hours testing crash - in what is a crucial contract year for the Italian.Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more. Head to ⁠⁠Patreon for 75% off your first month!Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Use code 'THERACE' on this link to get the new Insta360 X5 action camera with a free Replacement Lens Kit: https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_term=THERACE&utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=TheRACE&utm_content=date20250419A3LaunchA mad British Grand Prix Sunday broke Yamaha's heart and uplifted Aprilia - but why did Ducati allow either to fight for the win in the first place?Simon Patterson and Megan White discuss this in the latest The Race MotoGP Podcast after a weekend at the track, with Simon having dug up details on how the 2025-spec Ducati differs from last year's version after all.They also get into the question of how far along Yamaha is really, and whether Honda might actually be in equally good or better shape. And there's a discussion of what this sudden win does for Aprilia amid its ongoing Jorge Martin 'situation'.Finally, with poor attendance numbers this weekend, they discuss what Silverstone could be doing differently as the British home of MotoGP.Want more MotoGP podcast content? Sign up to our motorbike-only Riders tier on Patreon for our 2015 revisited series, ad-free listening and more. Head to ⁠⁠Patreon for 75% off your first month!Follow the Race Moto channel on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠Check out our latest videos on ⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.