Yamaha's decision to build its 2027 MotoGP line-up around Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura could already be looking like a masterstroke, with the two future factory riders currently leading the championship for Aprilia.
As MotoGP heads to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix from August 7 to 9, Martin leads the standings by 14 points over fellow Aprilia rider Ogura. Reigning champion Marc Marquez is only 18 points behind Martin, with Marco Bezzecchi and Fabio Di Giannantonio also within 24 points of the lead.
The situation is a remarkable contrast for Yamaha. Its current leading rider, Fabio Quartararo, sits only 14th in the championship, while the manufacturer is last in the constructors' standings.
Yet Yamaha could potentially enter the new 850cc and Pirelli era in 2027 with the MotoGP number one plate.
Monster Yamaha team director Massimo Meregalli admitted the possibility of bringing a reigning champion into the Yamaha garage next season is being considered, but suggested the manufacturer would prefer to win the title with one of its own riders.
Source: Autosport
"For a manufacturer, for a team, it's better to get the number one from inside, not coming from outside," Meregalli said.
Martin is already familiar with the pressure of carrying the number one plate to a new manufacturer. He moved to Aprilia after winning the 2024 MotoGP title with Pramac Ducati, meaning another championship triumph this season could see him repeat the feat with Yamaha in 2027.
Meregalli remains optimistic about Yamaha's future despite the manufacturer's struggles with its new V4 engine.
"We are extremely satisfied of the job that we were able to do and, as you can imagine, we are really excited to go into a new season with a lot of new things, not only the rider line-up," he said.
For now, however, Yamaha is focused on improving its current package. Meregalli confirmed that more updates are still coming, with the latest aerodynamic upgrade not expected to be the manufacturer's final development of the 2026 season.
Yamaha's current rider line-up is also set for a major overhaul. Quartararo is confirmed to join Honda in 2027, while Alex Rins and Jack Miller have both been linked with possible moves to the World Superbike Championship. Toprak Razgatlioglu is expected to be the only current Yamaha rider remaining with the manufacturer next season.
With Yamaha's last MotoGP title coming through Quartararo in 2021 and its most recent race victory arriving in 2022, the manufacturer has endured a difficult period.
However, Martin and Ogura's current form offers a glimpse of what Yamaha could have waiting for it in 2027. If either rider finishes the 2026 season as world champion, Yamaha could begin its new era with exactly what Meregalli wants: the number one plate coming from within.
