Leading up to the Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League, the highly anticipated 2027 rulebook for MotoGP was announced just days before the French Grand Prix weekend. This significant overhaul of the series after 15 years sparked conversations among key figures in the sport, who took the opportunity to address the media at Le Mans. Dorna’s CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, FIM president Jorge Viegras, International Race Team Association president Herve Poncheral, and series sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta all participated in an informative press conference on Friday, shedding light on the intricate details of the new regulations.
One of the key highlights of the regulations is their primary objective – to reduce the top speeds of bikes in a direct manner. Surprisingly, this may not lead to significant changes in lap times as initially anticipated. The focus is primarily on enhancing safety by ensuring that bikes enter corners at a slightly slower pace. With the proliferation of aerodynamics and ride height devices, corner entries have become increasingly precarious. By curbing the impact of these elements, along with power restrictions, the aim is to provide more room for error without necessitating drastic changes.
Carlos Ezpeleta stated, “According to what the manufacturers have informed us, we can expect differences of around one to two seconds depending on the circuit. That’s what they’re telling us. Of course, performance and safety are always somewhat inversely proportional, and we anticipate a drop in performance, particularly in top speeds at certain circuits.”
A somewhat unconventional idea that has been discussed since the announcement of the new rules, although not officially covered by them, is the potential freezing of the current technical regulations in the final year of the existing rules in 2026. This proposal aims to allow manufacturers to save costs and focus on the development of the new 850cc engines. This approach was previously implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic when travel restrictions severely limited engineers. While it requires unanimous consent from the five current factories, Carlos Ezpeleta revealed that it is being considered for at least some teams based on MotoGP’s current concession system. He admitted, “It’s a subject that’s being discussed. The only limitation to development currently is the engine, and that’s a point that needs to be addressed. It will depend on whether you have concessions or not, but it’s something we’re discussing with the manufacturers. There’s no final decision as of today.”
Since the unveiling of the new rules, there has been ongoing speculation about the implications for production racing if it were to become faster than the premier class when capacity and power are reduced in 2027. However, as many safety concerns regarding speed and runoff areas apply to both MotoGP and World Superbike, the FIM’s next priority appears to be the long-awaited introduction of a new rulebook for the World Superbike championship. FIM president Viergas emphasized, “Obviously, our aim is to have MotoGP at the forefront. Superbikes were originally intended to be stock bikes with some modifications, and we have already begun working on changing the regulations there. Something will happen very soon, but in a way that maintains a distinction between MotoGP and Superbikes. We are in discussions with all the manufacturers, and progress is being made towards a mutually agreed solution.”
It has become somewhat of an open secret within the MotoGP paddock that BMW is keen on ending years of speculation and joining the premier class. Although not explicitly mentioned during the press conference, it appears that the new rules will also welcome BMW with open arms. Carmelo Ezpeleta explained, “Everyone has been waiting for the new technical rules to make decisions about the future. We are extremely pleased with the collaboration we have with the current five manufacturers in MotoGP; it is an incredible partnership. However, it is no secret that there have been other manufacturers who have expressed interest in being part of the championship in the future, confidentially between them and us. After today’s rules presentation, we anticipated this development. With the success of MotoGP thus far and the anticipation surrounding the new rules, it is generating significant interest from potential new manufacturers.”