Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) announced on Tuesday morning that it has signed a multi-year contract with 20-year-old Colombian driver David Alonso, covering 2027 and beyond. The company did not specify whether Alonso will race as Fabio Quartararo's teammate on the factory roster or under the satellite team LCR Honda.
Alonso's rise
The Madrid-born Colombian rider won the Moto3 world championship two years ago. After finishing third in his rookie season in Moto3, he dominated the championship the following year, then moved to Moto2 with the Aspar team. Alonso, who has only one victory so far in the 2026 season, is currently fourth in the championship standings, 79.5 points behind leader Manuel Gonzalez. He was forced to miss many races in the first half of the season due to a shoulder injury, which prevented him from maintaining consistent performance.
HRC stated in its announcement: “HRC is pleased to announce the signing of David Alonso to a multi-year contract. The 20-year-old Colombian has had one of the most impressive debuts in the lower categories, finishing third in his rookie Moto3 season before dominating the championship.”
Team uncertainty and contract duration.
The Japanese manufacturer did not disclose the exact duration of the agreement, which it described as "multi-year." According to information obtained by Motorsport.com, the contract covers a period extending beyond the standard two years.
Until last season, Alonso's career was managed by former Grand Prix driver Nico Terol, who also serves as the sporting director of the Aspar team. Due to this conflict of interests, both sides brought in Bob Moore from the sports agency Wasserman to manage Alonso's transition to MotoGP.
Sources close to Alonso believe that the factory Honda team will offer the most suitable environment for his transition to the premier class; he is expected to join 2021 world champion Quartararo in this lineup. Quartararo's transfer to Honda is also expected to be officially announced in the coming days. On the other hand, some argue that LCR Honda will offer the young driver a calmer adaptation process, free from the pressure of the factory team.