Yamaha has picked former Rossi crew chief David Munoz to spearhead the technical support for Jorge Martin’s shift from Aprilia to the flagship factory squad, setting the stage for Martin’s first full‑season in a Japanese machine.
Munoz’s experience and background
Munoz joined the Yamaha factory team in 2020 after being personally hand‑picked by Valentino Rossi. He previously flew the keys on the VR46 bike in Moto2 before moving to the side of MotoGP rider Alex Rins, where he is now his current crew chief. The development of the M1 will benefit from Munoz’s proven track record in front‑end optimization and rider‑specific performance tuning.
Martin’s career thread into Yamaha
After a debut in the premier class with Pramac Ducati in 2021, Martin secured the 2024 MotoGP championship for Aprilia and spent two seasons with the Italian‑based outfit. Yamaha targeted him as Fabio Quartararo’s successor following the Frenchman’s switch to Honda, and the Spaniard’s move is seen as a key bolster to the squad’s championship ambitions.
Team infrastructure in flux
Alongside Munoz, Martin will load up on his long‑time mechanic David Galacho, better known as “Malaguita,” who followed him from Pramac to Aprilia. On the Yamaha side, Ai Ogura is set to partner with Munoz, while Diego Gubellini – Quartararo’s former crew chief – is expected to be handed over to Ogura’s new team.
- Pedro Acosta moves to Ducati to pair with Cristian Gabarrini.
- Nicolo Bulega joins VR46 under Fermin Aldeguer; Massimo Branchini (Deborah Di Giannantonio’s chief) will handle the factory Ducati side.
- Joan Mir reunites with Frankie Carchedi at Gresini, while Donatello Giovanotti likely works with David Holgado.
- Marquez and Di Giannantonio remain without confirmed crew chiefs for the factory KTM and Technics teams, respectively.
Implications for the 2028 launch
Yamaha’s decision to reinforce its technical core with Munoz sends a clear signal that the factory camp is fine‑tuning every element of its MotoGP platform for championship impact. Martin’s entry, backed by a seasoned crew and a proven mechanic, positions the team for a aggressive pursuit of race victories and the next title championship.
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