MARC MARQUEZ SAYS HE EXPECTED IZAN GUEVARA TO THRIVE IN MOTOGP YEARS AGO

Pramac Yamaha has confirmed that Izan Guevara will replace Jack Miller in MotoGP in 2027, with the announcement coming ahead of the Aragon Grand Prix. Guevara, who finished second at Aragon, is currently second in the Moto2 standings, sitting 32.5 points behind Manuel Gonzalez. The team has also framed the move as part of a wider generational change: Miller, along with Brad Binder, Franco Morbidelli and Maverick Vinales—each aged 31—are all set to drop off the grid at the end of the year.

Guevara, 22, is widely regarded as a Pramac “protege” connected to Pramac manager Gino Borsoi, and his promotion arrives alongside a wave of young rookies. Senna Agius (21), Daniel Holgado (21) and David Alonso (20) are also part of the influx expected to reshape the class.

The link between Guevara and MotoGP has been visible for years, with Marc Marquez previously identifying him as a future threat. Four years ago, after Guevara won the Moto3 title, Marquez told AS: “Guevara won the title like a champion.” He added that Guevara “rides by instinct,” calling him “the most talented rider in Moto3 right now,” and predicting that the speed would carry into Moto2. Marquez also pointed to how Guevara’s close-quarters racing had improved: “Last year [2021], he was overshadowed by Acosta… He already had a lot of speed then, but he lacked the edge in close quarters, and this year he’s improved in that area.”

Marquez further explained why he both gets excited and expects trouble when young riders arrive: “When a young guy comes up and you see him perform, and he’s Spanish, it excites you even more.” He continued: “Of course I get excited when I see kids like this, but at the same time, I don’t, because I know they’re going to make things difficult for me very soon.” He said it was clear “these are kids who are going to move up to MotoGP.”

Guevara’s own path has reflected that momentum. After a first MotoGP season that ended with an eighth-place finish, he had seven victories and 12 podiums in 2022. In Moto2, he had been at risk of fading after scoring only one podium in his first 57 races, but a victory at last year’s Valencia finale marked a turning point. Since then, following an invitation to test for Yamaha’s MotoGP team, he has been a consistent front-runner, with no race finishes lower than seventh and another win added at Le Mans.

With his 2027 debut approaching, Guevara’s next challenge is expected to be sharper competition, including a tougher test against Toprak Razgatlioglu, who could benefit from the switch to Pirelli tyres as well as changes to electronics and aero.