A major shake-up is brewing in the MotoGP world! Toprak Razgatlioglu's crew chief, Phil Marron, renowned for his title-winning partnership, is set to make a surprising move to MotoGP in 2026 – but not where everyone expected.
Initially, rumors suggested Marron would join Razgatlioglu at the Pramac Yamaha team, as the rider was keen to bring his trusted ally with him. However, Yamaha preferred someone with more recent experience with prototype machines. Marron's last MotoGP stint was back in 2016 with Eugene Laverty at Aspar Ducati.
Marron's successful collaboration with Razgatlioglu since 2019 is undeniable. They started at the satellite Kawasaki squad Pucetti Racing, then moved to Yamaha's factory team, and finally BMW, clinching titles in 2021 and 2024. They are on track for a potential third title in 2025.
Instead of Marron, Razgatlioglu is expected to team up with Ducati veteran Alberto Giribuola next year. Giribuola recently parted ways with Enea Bastianini and the Tech3 KTM team.
But here's where it gets controversial...
The initial expectation was that Marron would stay at BMW to work with Miguel Oliveira in the World Superbike Championship (WSBK). However, sources indicate that Marron has informed BMW of his decision to move to MotoGP in 2026, but not with Yamaha.
And this is the part most people miss...
Marron is rumored to be joining KTM, potentially taking over as Brad Binder's crew chief. When questioned about potential changes, Binder stated, "At the moment everything's staying the same... I'm really happy. But you know, sometimes things change and let's wait and see."
What do you think? Will Marron's move to KTM be a success? Do you think Binder's performance will improve with a new crew chief? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
