The MotoGP rider market has grabbed much of the attention ahead of the 2027 season, but another major reshuffle is taking place behind the scenes.
As teams prepare for a new technical era, several manufacturers are changing the crew chiefs and engineers working alongside their riders. The moves could play an important role as teams adapt to the next generation of MotoGP machinery.
The relationship between a rider and crew chief is particularly important in MotoGP. Crew chiefs turn rider feedback into technical changes, manage race weekends and help guide development throughout a season. With several leading riders changing teams for 2027, many will also be starting new technical partnerships.
Honda is among the manufacturers making some of the biggest changes.
Source: Crash.net
Fabio Quartararo will begin his Honda adventure alongside Cristhian Populin, who will be tasked with helping the Frenchman adapt to the RC213V. Diogo Moreira, meanwhile, will work with Andrés Madrid, who moves across from KTM.
One of Honda's most notable pairings will see rookie David Alonso work with Santi Hernández. Hernández previously played a key role during Marc Márquez's successful years at HRC and brings extensive MotoGP experience to Alonso's debut campaign.
Johann Zarco will provide some continuity for Honda, retaining his existing group led by David García.
Ducati is taking a more stable approach in some areas. Marc Márquez will continue his partnership with Marco Rigamonti, while Pedro Acosta is set to take over Pecco Bagnaia's former crew, led by Cristian Gabarrini.
Gabarrini has played a major role in Ducati's recent success, making the move a significant one for Acosta as he steps into a new phase of his MotoGP career.
There will also be changes at VR46, where Fermín Aldeguer is expected to work with Massimo Branchini, currently Fabio Di Giannantonio's crew chief. Nicolò Bulega will be paired with Matteo Flamigni.
Gresini Racing will feature one of the most intriguing reunions of 2027. Joan Mir is set to work again with Frankie Carchedi, the crew chief who helped him win the 2020 MotoGP world championship with Suzuki.
Mir will now attempt to build a new chapter with Carchedi at Ducati, while MotoGP rookie Dani Holgado is expected to work with Donatello Giovanotti, currently part of Alex Márquez's technical group.
Aprilia is also reshaping its technical structure. Marco Bezzecchi will work with Francesco Venturato, while Pecco Bagnaia is set to join forces with Daniele Romagnoli.
At Trackhouse Racing, meanwhile, the team is opting for continuity. Noé Herrera will remain with Raúl Fernández, while Giovanni Mattarollo will continue working with Enea Bastianini.
Source: Crash.net
Yamaha will have several new combinations of its own. Jorge Martín is expected to be reunited with David Muñoz, who arrives from Aprilia, while Ai Ogura will work with Diego Gubellini.
Pramac Racing will retain Alberto Giribuola with Toprak Razgatlioglu, while Giacomo Guidotti will continue to help Izan Guevara as the young Spaniard adapts to MotoGP.
KTM is perhaps facing the biggest technical reshuffle of all, with three of its four engineering groups set for changes.
At the factory team, Phil Marron will work with Alex Márquez, while Manuel Cazeaux receives a promotion from Tech3 to the factory squad and will join Fabio Di Giannantonio.
Tech3 is taking an especially different approach under team boss Guenther Steiner, giving two engineers their first opportunity to become MotoGP crew chiefs.
Eneko Hernando, currently Luca Marini's data engineer at Honda, will move with Marini to Tech3. Francesco Munzone, a former Suzuki engineer who currently leads a Moto2 group working with Adrián Huertas, will take charge of Senna Agius.
The changes underline just how much preparation is going into the 2027 season. With new technical regulations arriving and a number of high-profile rider moves reshaping the grid, teams are also rebuilding the technical partnerships that will support their riders.
For many of the new combinations, the challenge will begin well before the opening race. Establishing trust, understanding a rider's feedback and finding the right technical direction could prove just as important as the names on the bikes when MotoGP enters its next era.
