With changes coming concerning the size of bike engine sizes in MotoGP, manufacturers have been in talks to discuss managing costs ahead of the changes in 2027.
It was announced last year that the 2027 MotoGP season will undergo one of its most significant regulation overhauls since the switch from 800cc to 1000cc bikes made back in 2012.
The Grand Prix Commission confirmed a freeze on engine development for the 2026 season, preparing teams for the transition to 850cc machinery in 2027, which will also feature a ban on ride height devices and a significant drop in aerodynamics.
Although the official freeze will take effect at the start of 2026, it will essentially begin earlier for those outside concession group D, as their 2025 engines must also be used throughout the 2026 season.
Yamaha and Honda can continue engine development through to 2026 if they remain in concession rank D.
Non-concession manufacturers will also be permitted to modify engines in 2026, but only for safety, reliability, or component availability reasons.
Factories in concession Rank D will not be subject to the engine specification freeze unless their rank changes.
This allows them to maintain flexibility in engine development, enabling those with significant performance gaps to improve critical aspects of their machinery.
This upcoming freeze marks the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic that such restrictions have been imposed, as non-concession teams had to race with the same engines in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
The official statement from MotoGP said:
“The Grand Prix Commission approved the proposal in order to control costs and keep a level playing field as much as possible before MotoGP changes to new bikes in 2027.
“Those new bikes will make MotoGP safer, more sustainable and even more spectacular, and include completely new engine specifications.
“A freeze on development the season before keeps costs controlled for all, allowing factories to focus on their new designs for 2027.
“The sole exceptions to the freeze will be for safety or reliability, and for any manufacturers in concession Rank D.
“Corrections for safety or reliability, or proven non-availability of components, may be allowed for any manufacturer providing no performance increase will be gained.
“For factories in concession Rank D, the engine specification freeze will not apply unless they change rank.
“The spec for them will remain free as it is now, allowing those with a greater performance deficit to the top to continue working on key areas of their machinery.”
Meanwhile, rider changes coming up in 2025 include KTM announcing Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales would join their Tech3 team, replacing Pedro Acosta and Augusto Fernández. The latter is confirmed as a Yamaha test rider.
Aprilia Racing has announced that Marco Bezzecchi would join to race alongside 2024 world champion Jorge Martín, replacing Viñales.
Photo courtesy MotoGP
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FINAL 2024 MOTOGP RIDERS’ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:
| Pos. | Entrant | Points | |
| 1 | Jorge Martin
Prima Pramac Racing (GP24) |
508.00 | |
| 2 | Francesco Bagnaia
Ducati Lenovo Team (GP24) |
498.00 | |
| 3 | Marc Marquez
Gresini Racing MotoGP (GP23) |
392.00 | |
| 4 | Enea Bastianini
Ducati Lenovo Team (GP24) |
386.00 | |
| 5 | Brad Binder
Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) |
217.00 | |
| 6 | Pedro Acosta
Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16) |
215.00 | |
| 7 | Maverick Vinales
Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) |
190.00 | |
| 8 | Alex Marquez
Gresini Racing MotoGP (GP23) |
173.00 | |
| 9 | Franco Morbidelli
Prima Pramac Racing (GP24) |
173.00 | |
| 10 | Fabio di Giannantonio
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing (GP23) |
165.00 | |
| 11 | Aleix Espargaro
Aprilia Racing (RS-GP24) |
163.00 | |
| 12 | Marco Bezzecchi
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing (GP23) |
153.00 | |
| 13 | Fabio Quartararo
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) |
113.00 | |
| 14 | Jack Miller
Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) |
87.00 | |
| 15 | Miguel Oliveira
Trackhouse Racing (RS-GP24) |
75.00 | |
| 16 | Raul Fernandez
Trackhouse Racing (RS-GP23/24) |
66.00 | |
| 17 | Johann Zarco
CASTROL Honda LCR (RC213V) |
55.00 | |
| 18 | Alex Rins
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) |
31.00 | |
| 19 | Takaaki Nakagami
IDEMITSU Honda LCR (RC213V) |
31.00 | |
| 20 | Augusto Fernandez
Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (RC16) |
27.00 | |
| 21 | Joan Mir
Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) |
21.00 | |
| 22 | Luca Marini
Repsol Honda Team (RC213V) |
14.00 | |
| 23 | Pol Espargaro
Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) |
12.00 | |
| 24 | Dani Pedrosa
Red Bull KTM Factory (RC16) |
7.00 | |
| 25 | Stefan Bradl
HRC Team (RC213V) |
2.00 | |
| 26 | Lorenzo Savadori
Aprilia Racing/Trackhouse (RS-GP24) |
0.00 | |
| 27 | Remy Gardner
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP (YZR-M1) |
0.00 | |
| 28 | Andrea Iannone
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing (GP23) |
0.00 | |
| 29 | Michele Pirro
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing (GP23) |
0.00 | |