Yamaha will run a fifth bike at Jerez with Augusto Fernandez as a wildcard entry. The move is aimed at collecting data to improve the struggling 2026 machine after poor results in recent races. The post-race test scheduled on Monday makes this weekend important for Yamaha’s development direction.
Aprilia has dominated the 2026 season so far but faces a tougher challenge at Jerez, a circuit traditionally strong for Ducati. With multiple race wins already, Marco Bezzecchi leads the championship, but the Spanish GP is expected to test whether Aprilia can maintain its advantage.
Enea Bastianini confirms he has stopped attending MotoGP Safety Commission meetings this season, citing total inaction on rider safety. Fabio Quartararo also skips most sessions, arguing the grid lacks unity after India’s chaotic rain split in 2023. Both demand a formal riders’ association. The boycott lands as Brazil’s return brought asphalt failures and Adelaide’s 2027 street circuit raises fresh concerns about track standards.
Alex Rins is out of the Yamaha factory team for 2027, with Ai Ogura confirmed as his replacement alongside Jorge Martin. Rins had already acknowledged at COTA that he was not enjoying the bike and was uncertain about his future, finishing last in the grand prix. With no race seat likely available elsewhere, his MotoGP career could end at Valencia in November.
Aprilia will run its 2027 850cc prototype for the first time at a private Jerez test on April 30 and May 1, just days after the Spanish GP. CEO Massimo Rivola said the team is not in a hurry, explaining that Aprilia’s key strength is its speed from concept to track, describing it as their “time to market” advantage. All four other manufacturers have already tested 850cc machines.
Johann Zarco will take part in the 2026 Suzuka 8 Hours with Honda HRC. The LCR Honda MotoGP rider is aiming for a third straight victory after winning the event in 2024 and 2025 with Takumi Takahashi. Honda has not yet finalized or announced its complete rider lineup for this year’s race.
Johann Zarco says he would be surprised to extend his MotoGP contract beyond 2027, signalling his current LCR Honda deal is likely his last. The 35-year-old, who won on home soil at Le Mans in 2025, spoke about passing the torch to rookie teammate Diogo Moreira, describing the Brazilian as exceptional and a potential future factory team rider. An era nears its end.
Jorge Martin trails Bezzecchi by just four points heading into Jerez after making a strong start to his Aprilia career. Martin has already warned that Ducati will be a bigger threat this weekend , but the 2024 world champion knows this is his circuit. Jerez acts as something of a level playing field for Martin and Bezzecchi, with neither having a dominant record at the venue.
Ducati are winless in five Grands Prix and the factory team have not celebrated a Sunday podium since the 2025 Japanese Grand Prix, their longest wait since Aragon 2012 to Qatar 2014. Bagnaia, Marquez and Di Giannantonio all arrive at a circuit where Ducati has won every Sunday since 2021. Jerez is where they need to end the drought. Fast.
Marc Marquez used the April break to train at Aragon, targeting a physical step before his home Grand Prix after identifying himself as the main limitation in the opening rounds. Ducati boss Gigi Dall’Igna insists the reigning champion will be 100 percent fit for Jerez. Marquez sits 36 points behind Bezzecchi heading into Round 4 and remains without a Sunday podium this season.