Enea Bastianini signed a two-year contract with Trackhouse Aprilia to race in the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP seasons, the teams announced Monday, August 24, 2026. The move follows KTM’s decision not to exercise an option to extend Bastianini’s contract beyond 2026, freeing him to join the Aprilia satellite team.
Bastianini’s move to Trackhouse Aprilia marks the end of his two-year tenure with Tech3 KTM, the Austrian manufacturer’s satellite team, which runs through the conclusion of the 2026 MotoGP season. This decision effectively released Bastianini from his KTM obligations, allowing him to finalize his agreement with Trackhouse Aprilia.
KTM held an option to extend Bastianini’s contract for the 2027 season but chose not to exercise this clause by the July 1–2, 2026 deadline, according to multiple reports from Sky Sport Italy and other outlets.
The official announcement came on Monday, August 24, 2026, through coordinated statements from both Tech3 KTM and Trackhouse Racing, confirming Bastianini’s two-year contract covering the 2027 and 2028 MotoGP seasons. Sources at Trackhouse said Bastianini will race on the Aprilia RS-GP motorcycle as part of the team’s satellite operation, which is owned by the U.S.-based Trackhouse Racing organization. While Bastianini will not join Aprilia’s factory Noale team, officials confirmed he will have access to full-spec machinery, aligning him with the manufacturer’s competitive technical package.
Bastianini will join Raúl Fernández at Trackhouse Aprilia, with Fernández having already extended his contract through 2028. This pairing, according to team insiders, provides Trackhouse with a stable rider lineup for the coming two seasons. Bastianini is expected to occupy the seat currently held by Ai Ogura, who has been announced as moving to Yamaha for the 2027 season. The reshuffling of riders across teams, including Bastianini’s transfer, is part of a broader MotoGP market adjustment ahead of the new technical regulations set to take effect in 2027.
The two-year contract signed by Bastianini follows the standard MotoGP contract cycle and was reportedly agreed upon in principle several months before the official announcement. Italian media reported as early as May 28, 2026, that Bastianini had reached a verbal agreement with Trackhouse Aprilia, pending KTM’s contractual decisions. The expiration of KTM’s option clause at the end of June 2026 cleared the path for the formal signing, as confirmed by multiple sources including Sky Sport and Portuguese specialist outlets.
At 28 years old, Bastianini will join his third MotoGP constructor, having previously competed with Ducati-aligned teams before his stint with KTM. This move marks his fifth team or structure in the premier class, reflecting a career trajectory that has included both factory and satellite environments. Industry analysts note that by signing with Trackhouse Aprilia, Bastianini remains within a factory-supported ecosystem, continuing to race for a competitive European manufacturer despite leaving KTM.
The technical implications of the transfer are significant, as Bastianini will switch from KTM’s machinery to the Aprilia RS-GP, which features a distinct V-engine configuration and chassis philosophy. Trackhouse Aprilia operates as a satellite team but benefits from close collaboration with Aprilia Racing, ensuring access to high-spec technical resources. Team officials underscored that Bastianini’s arrival strengthens their rider roster for the upcoming MotoGP rules era, pairing him with Fernández to bolster the team’s competitiveness.
For KTM, the departure of Bastianini opens a seat at Tech3 for the 2027 season, prompting the manufacturer to adjust its rider lineup following the earlier announcement of Ai Ogura’s move to Yamaha. The shifts involving Bastianini, Ogura, and other riders are part of a wider reshuffle across the MotoGP grid as teams prepare for regulatory changes and seek to optimize their lineups.
Bastianini’s signing with Trackhouse Aprilia was the culmination of a transfer process that unfolded over several months, with the official confirmation closing a period of speculation. The two-year contract aligns with the typical MotoGP contract duration and reflects a strategic move by both rider and team ahead of the 2027 season. With the new MotoGP technical regulations approaching, Bastianini’s integration into the Aprilia satellite team represents a key development in the evolving competitive landscape of the sport.
