Moto3 is no longer the springboard it claims to be. This is the observation that Carlos Ezpeleta, Dorna's sporting director, has finally publicly admitted. After more than a decade without any real technical revolution, MotoGP's entry-level category has become so static... to the point of becoming a trap for young riders.
"The gap with Moto2 is a bit too big ", recognised EzpeletaA sentence that sounds like a confession: Moto3 is no longer suitable for the transition to Moto2, much too brutal for rookies.
The plan of Dorna seems clear: entrust the engines to Yamaha and the frames to Kalex, the undisputed king of Moto2. Objective: reduce costs, make the machines more consistent and above all prepare young riders to take the shock Moto2.
A strategic choice that could also put an end to the current duel between manufacturers in Moto3 - a shift that risks making some historic manufacturers grind their teeth, such as KTM ou Honda.
Carlos Ezpeleta Dorna: " the gap with Moto2 is a bit too big »
From 2012, Moto3 served mainly as a showcase for manufacturers who sold quasi-prototype machines at exorbitant prices. The result: explosive budgets, fragile teams and riders often outclassed too early. By wanting to standardize costs and bring Moto3 closer to Moto2, Dorna sends a message: we must save the industry before it destroys careers.
Carlos Ezpeleta insists: Dorna will continue to inject money into the training categories. But the timing is telling: while MotoGP is already preparing its technical revolution for 2027 (850 cc, end of the ride control, limited aerodynamics), the parent company must also ensure that talent keeps pace.
Otherwise, we risk seeing even more riders explode in Moto3... then disappear before even having a chance in MotoGP.
A turn that could redefine the MotoGP pyramid: Yamaha et Kalex as saviors, Dorna as a late firefighter. But the real question remains: is this enough to recreate a solid industry, or just a band-aid for a category that has lost its reason for being?
