It went completely unnoticed, but a little over a week ago, Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP's sporting director (and Carmelo's son) has spoken about the future of the Moto3 class.. You'll agree, the smallest of classes is essential to the MotoGP ecosystem, as it's where future superstars are supposed to be trained. What's the reality? Analysis.
There is cause for concern
Honestly, I'm not very optimistic about the future of this championship that we cherish so much. Since 2012, it has given us some anecdotal champions, yes, but also, pure talent. Beyond simple training, Moto3 has real character, with ever closer battles. Personally, and although I love the history, I much prefer the current category to the previous 125cc.
We're coming to the end of a cycle, and DORNA has felt it. Photo: Honda Team Asia
But I cannot deny that there are problems, and not minor ones. First, as Carlos Ezpeleta has so rightly pointed out, it's expensive, too expensiveThis is what is holding DORNA back the most at the moment. If you follow the championship closely, you know that only a few teams can win. There is no factory team as such, but a few teams stand out and win every time, year after year, race after race.
If we only talk about those that still exist, there are Red Bull KTM Garlic, the team of Aki Ajo, world champion in 2012, 2016, 2021 and probably 2025. It is the semi-official representative of KTM. On the other hand, because there are only two manufacturers left, Honda supports Leopard Racing, champion in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2023. Add to that Asparagus (title winner in 2022 and 2024), and you have more or less all the world champions. For such a tight category, it's slim, and places are very expensive.
Clearly, this hierarchy governed by the biggest structures – which recruit the best talents even before their accession to Moto3 – is not beneficial, because we are moving away from the promotion formula, and we are getting closer to a championship MotoGP miniature, which should not be the essence of Moto3. But let's admit: This problem has always existed and it will be very difficult to do anything about it., because it was more or less the same song in 125cc.
Moto3 specialists
For me, the biggest problem with Moto3 is not there. It lies in the fact that those who dominate are sometimes "only" specialists in this category., so much so that we forget its nature. Let me explain. Before, young drivers – from 14 years old – could register. But since then, the minimum age has been raised to 18 (and 17 in exceptional circumstances). The problem is that drivers have to race from 11-14 years old to 18 years old. Where can they go?
The CEV used to be a big deal. Stars like Fabio Quartararo completely crushed it. But since then, the MotoGP Red Bull Rookies Cup has grown in stature, and represents a sort of obligatory passage for anyone who wants to claim a Moto3 title. The championship leader, Jose Antonio Rueda won it in 2022. He was followed byAngel Piqueras, in 2023, andAlvaro Carpe in 2024. All are at the forefront currently. Then, there was the emergence of the JuniorGP World Championship, essential for moving into the world championship, the new form of the CEV. Two major problems with this: drivers can race in both championships at the same time, which reduces diversity and logically favors large structures which can afford to be represented everywhere. Second, and this is what I've been getting at since the beginning of this paragraph: both promotional championships use a Moto3 base, that is, a 250cc four-stroke. And that's not going well at all..
Many expected David Alonso to make an exceptional debut in Moto2 after his historic 2024 season. But ultimately, his debut in the intermediate category was rather sluggish. Alonso is a star, he will surely make it and was on the podium at Silverstone. Photo: Aspar
Why? Because the 18-year-old "young people" who arrive are so used to Moto3 that they become real specialistsThey are not prepared for the move to Moto2, which should be the sole purpose of Moto3. I have many examples, unfortunately. Lorenzo Dalla Porta, champion in 2019, is missing. Albert Arenas, title winner in 2020, is stuck in the middle of the pack in Moto2.
Izan Guevara, crowned in 2022, is not making it in the intermediate category. Jaume Masia, crowned in 2023, is no longer even in the world championship. And I'm only talking about champions! I can think of dozens more. Conversely, recently, it seems to me that Sergio Garcia is the only one who has actually made the transition, going from a very good Moto3 rider to an excellent Moto2 rider. Aron Canet is also a good example, but he's a bit older.
Meanwhile, those who win in Moto2 are either riders who haven't shone in Moto3, or players who have never done so at all, with the exception of Pedro Acosta, of course. Frankly, I believe that this ecosystem can no longer hold up and I can only understand the will of Ezpeleta's son.This has to change, training has to become training again.
Now that that's been said, what should we do? Tomorrow, I'll try to propose some solutions and present to you what Ezpeleta had in mind. In the meantime, tell me what you think in the comments!
As a reminder, this article only reflects the thoughts of its author, and not of the entire editorial team.
This is a crucial question, because the promotion categories are the foundations of MotoGP, and have always been of particular importance. Even today, titles won in these categories are included when presenting the riders' records, which is an exception specific to MotoGP. Photo: Aspar
Cover photo: Leopard Racing
