The contenders for a surprise 2027 MotoGP vacancy

At the last MotoGP round, satellite Aprilia team Trackhouse Racing was aiming to retain its line-up of Raul Fernandez and Ai Ogura for the 2027 season - but that now looks like a lost cause with Yamaha’s reported move for Ogura.

That means the team will have to consider other options to fill what could become one of the grid’s most in-demand spots given Aprilia’s currently dominant form.

When Trackhouse team owner Justin Marks spoke exclusively to The Race at the Circuit of Americas three weeks ago, the rumours were that his team might be in the market for a new rider to replace Fernandez - but he insisted continuity was actually Trackhouse’s aim for the next two-year contract cycle.

“There are always conversations going on,” the NASCAR team boss admitted. “But honestly, I’m very happy with where we are. Both riders are performing well and are comfortable within the team.

“The last thing we need right now is instability. We need to build continuity - know who we’re working with, what bikes we’re on, and grow from there.

“So yes, there are discussions, but I don’t think making changes right now would be the smartest move for the business.”

However with the news first reported by the Motorsport Network last week linking Ogura’s to Alex Rins’s Yamaha seat, Trackhouse’s rider situation is partly out of Marks’s hands.

But that may well present an opportunity for the team to land some big-name talent.

And it also means that despite Fernandez’s hot-and-cold MotoGP career so far having made him subject to most of the rumours around the Trackhouse line-up until last week, he’s become even more likely to retain his seat.

While underperforming overall in his first two seasons with the team, finishing outside the top 15 in the championship standings both times, 2025 was something of a breakthrough for the 25-year-old, as he finally showed consistent podium pace and secured his first premier class race win at Phillip Island last October.

That didn’t stop rumours suggesting that 2020 MotoGP world champion Joan Mir was in the picture to potentially replace him - rumours quickly squashed by Fernandez’s manager Paco Sanchez, who also looks after Mir’s interests and was likely to know if one of his riders was being considered to replace the other.

However, there’s no smoke without fire, and with Mir’s name already lined to Trackhouse, it makes sense right now that he’s the prime candidate to replace Ogura, with the prospect of seeing the current factory Honda rider’s Suzuki-honed race style on the current high-performing Aprilia package a tantalising opportunity for 2027.

But Mir’s future also depends on the direction Honda wants to go in for its second seat alongside its yet-to-be-announced new signing Fabio Quartararo. Despite all the struggles of his Honda stint so far, Mir may well be reluctant to walk away from a factory seat there if he has chance to stay.

It’s less clear who else Trackhouse would consider if it can’t get Mir.

On-form VR46 rider Fabio Di Giannantonio is likely to be off the table as he chases a full factory seat and he may in any case prefer to stay in the Ducati fold.

An established, race-winning veteran such as Jack Miller, Maverick Vinales or Franco Morbidelli would bring PR value, but it’s less clear if it would bring results.

Instead, a spare seat at Trackhouse might give Aprilia chance to do something it hasn’t really been able to so far in MotoGP and successfully develop some young talent for a future factory seat.

There was a little experiment in that direction when Trackhouse allowed Moto2 racer Manu Gonzalez to test Ogura’s bike last season while the then-rookie was out injured. With Gonzalez kicking off his 2026 Moto2 campaign strongly and currently leading the championship, he could be in the mix again.

And if Trackhouse and Aprilia want someone from Moto2, although the very highly-rated David Alonso looks destined for a Honda future, a move for his long-time rival Dani Holgado could be smart.