Honda is preparing for the arrival of French rider Fabio Quartararo, incorporating Christian Pupulin, Luca Marini’s team leader, to ensure a successful transition for 2027. This move will occur as part of a technical change starting from the new season, with the introduction of 850cc motorcycles to the championship.
Although the official signing of Quartararo’s transfer to Honda is expected to be among the last communications, the decision was agreed upon a few months ago. Quartararo, who has been competing for eight seasons with Yamaha, where he won the world championship in 2021, is considered Honda’s star signing for the new era.
Pupulin, with extensive experience, has worked alongside Marini for the past two seasons, following his tenure at KTM. Involved in the MotoGP environment, he is known for his successes with renowned riders such as Nicky Hayden and Andrea Dovizioso, and now he is preparing to lead Quartararo’s team.
Additionally, Ignacio “Nacho” Madurga, one of Quartararo’s closest members during his time at Yamaha, will also join Honda as the tire manager, following him to the new structure of the Japanese manufacturer. With this setup, Quartararo seeks stability and support as he faces his challenge with Honda.
Expectations for the Frenchman are high, as he will become one of the benchmarks within the team, although the identity of his teammate is still to be defined. Currently, Diogo Moreira is the leading candidate to occupy the other seat on the team, although Honda has not yet made a definitive decision on this matter.
Moreira, the recent Moto2 champion, has shown a quick adaptation to MotoGP and, similar to Quartararo, will have a new team leader next season, thus expanding the team’s expectations for a future full of promises.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
