– Team changes in MotoGP are among the most exciting events of every season. They bring a breath of fresh air to the racing series and often decisively shape the careers of the riders.
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There will also be some such changes in 2027, as numerous rider contracts expire at the end of the current season. Below, we take a look back at some of the most spectacular and significant changes in MotoGP history.
Valentino Rossi to Honda (2004)
An absolute classic among team changes is that of Valentino Rossi, when he moved from Honda to Yamaha in 2004. After winning several world championship titles with Honda, Rossi surprised the MotoGP world when he decided to move to a team that was less competitive at the time.
Many at the time thought that his successes were solely due to the dominance of the Honda machine. But Rossi proved the opposite: In his first Yamaha season, he secured the title and showed that the rider has a decisive influence.
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“I wanted to prove that the rider makes the difference,” Rossi later explained, justifying his move as part of his quest for new challenges.
Valentino Rossi to Ducati (2011)
Another significant chapter in Rossi’s career was his move to Ducati in 2011. After years of success with Yamaha, Rossi sought a new challenge.
However, the move to Ducati, a team that was struggling with technical problems at the time, proved to be difficult. Despite his efforts, Rossi could never truly replicate the successes of previous years. His move to Ducati remained a brave attempt to make history with a new brand.
Rossi himself said in 2011: “It was a new challenge, a big challenge, and I hope we can succeed.” But after several disappointing years, he eventually returned to Yamaha, where he was able to celebrate some more successes.
Casey Stoner to Honda (2011)
Casey Stoner’s move to Honda in 2011 is also a memorable chapter in MotoGP history. Stoner, who became world champion with Ducati in 2007, moved to Repsol Honda and led the team directly to the title in 2011.
Stoner had dominated with Ducati, but found even more success on the Honda. “Honda was the team that supported me from the beginning, and I’m glad I made this move,” Stoner said after his switch. The Australian remained a dominant rider until his retirement in 2012.
Maverick Vinales to Yamaha (2017)
After impressive performances with Suzuki, Maverick Vinales decided in 2017 to move to the Yamaha factory team, where he met veteran Valentino Rossi as a teammate. Vinales was considered one of MotoGP’s greatest talents at the time, and his move generated correspondingly high expectations.
Indeed, he initially fulfilled them: Vinales won the first two races of the season in Qatar and Argentina and fought for the world championship title for a long time.
Nevertheless, his time at Yamaha proved to be inconsistent. After a strong start, years followed in which he struggled with consistency on the M1. Ultimately, the partnership ended turbulently in 2021 when Vinales left the team prematurely and moved to Aprilia.
Jorge Lorenzo to Ducati (2017)
Jorge Lorenzo’s move from Yamaha to Ducati in 2017 was also an exciting step in his career. After winning several world championship titles with Yamaha, the Spaniard sought a new challenge at Ducati.
Initially, he had difficulties adapting to the Ducati bike, but over the years he was able to achieve some impressive results, including several victories. “I wanted to develop further, and I knew that Ducati has the potential to be at the front,” Lorenzo said when he made the switch.
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It was a difficult but ultimately successful step for the Spaniard, even if he could never quite match the successes of his time at Yamaha and Ducati reoriented itself for the future even before better results materialized.
Jorge Lorenzo to Honda (2019)
After a glorious career with Yamaha and a difficult intermezzo with Ducati, Lorenzo dared to make the move to Honda in 2019. There, he formed a duo with the then-dominator of MotoGP, Marc Marquez. Many saw this as an opportunity to create perhaps the strongest rider line-up of all time.
However, the move was disappointing: Lorenzo struggled throughout the season with the RC213V, which was considered difficult to ride. Injuries and a lack of confidence in the machine led him to end his career at the end of 2019.
His move to Honda remains – alongside Rossi on the Ducati – an example that even the most talented riders do not always harmonize with every motorcycle.
Andrea Dovizioso to Yamaha (2021)
Andrea Dovizioso, who took a break after his time with Ducati, returned to MotoGP with Yamaha in 2021. Although Dovizioso competed in the Petronas satellite team and could not celebrate great successes, he brought a lot of experience and valuable technical insights that helped to further develop the motorcycle.
The move was a sign that even experienced riders in a new team can continue to make an important contribution to advancing the project.
Marc Marquez to Gresini-Ducati (2024)
Marc Marquez also caused a stir when he left Honda in 2024 after years of dominant successes, but also setbacks, to join Gresini-Ducati.
After injuries and technical problems at Honda, the move to a more competitive motorcycle was a necessary decision. Marquez explained: “It’s a big step, but I’m looking forward to starting a new chapter.”
The six-time MotoGP world champion gained new confidence on one of the best motorcycles in the series and achieved some respectable successes, which secured him a place in the factory team from 2025. There, he eventually won title number 9.
Jorge Martin to Aprilia (2025)
Another high-profile move was that of Jorge Martin, who, after strong years with Pramac-Ducati and winning the title in 2024, dared to make the move to Aprilia.
Despite numerous victories and his role as one of the fastest Ducati riders, he was denied promotion to the factory team there. The move to Aprilia offered him the chance to lead a new project as the clear number 1 and bring the team to the top. However, injuries hampered this endeavor.
In his second year with the manufacturer, Martin is now fit again and, together with his teammate Marco Bezzecchi, is fighting for top positions for the first time again.
MotoGP thrives on team changes that provide surprises. Whether it was Rossi, who went through Yamaha and Ducati, Lorenzo, who tried to repeat his success with Yamaha at Ducati, or Marquez, who dared a fresh start at Gresini-Ducati – they constantly change the face of MotoGP.
The changes show how crucial a team and a motorcycle can be for a rider’s success. They are an important part of the dynamic in MotoGP. Against this background, the upcoming season promises to be particularly exciting.
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