At the Portuguese Grand Prix, the FIM and Dorna Sports unveiled an ambitious overhaul of the "Road to MotoGP" program, the official pathway to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing. At the heart of this new structure is a brand-new series called Moto4, and a clear political objective: to foster the emergence of talent from countries outside the traditional motorcycling scene.
Presented jointly by Jorge Viegas, president of the FIM, and Carlos Ezpeleta, Director of Dorna SportsThe new structure aims to standardize and broaden the path of young riders, from their first laps to the premier category of MotoGP.
« We are aware of the importance of developing young talent, and we wanted to further improve the system. ", said Carlos Ezpeleta in Portimao.
« Strengthening the Talent Cup program was essential. Thanks to the support of the FIM, we have achieved this, and we are convinced that Moto4, with its Moto Mini championship, can attract even more young international talent to our unique sport »
The objective is clear: to make racing accessible, universal and technically consistent, while ensuring a structured transition from mini-bikes to MotoGP.
Championships starting from age 10, on standardized mini-motorcycles
The base of the pyramid rests on the Moto Mini championships, supported by national federations and organized in 22 countries starting in 2026.
Two levels are planned:
- Mini 160cc Motorcycle : from age 10, for young people who are discovering competition.
- Mini 190cc Motorcycle : from age 12, for those who are perfecting their skills before moving on to the next level.
All of these championships will converge towards a world final which will be held in parallel with the Valencia Grand Prix, at the close of the MotoGP season — a powerful symbol of unity and visibility.
Moto4: the new gateway to the Talents Cups
À 14 years, the drivers will then be able to access the already well-established regional Talent Cups — Northern, Asian, European and British Cups.
But the major innovation lies in the creation of the Latin Cup, dedicated to South America, under the name Moto4.
All these series Moto4 will share the same technical foundation: the Honda NSF250, a benchmark machine in the intermediate categories. This standardization will guarantee equal opportunities and direct comparability of performance across continents.
The most striking — and undoubtedly the most debated — point of the project concerns the incentives planned for teams recruiting riders from non-traditional motorcycle sport countries.
The idea is to encourage the emergence of new talents from Africa, Latin America, the Middle East or South Asia, in order to make MotoGP a truly global sport, beyond its historical European and Japanese strongholds.
Jorge Viegas summed it up bluntly:
« For me, the FIM has two essential missions. Besides the ongoing work on the safety of sport, it is about to enable young people, including those from disadvantaged backgroundsto participate in motorcycle competitions and to develop the greatest talents »
Beyond Moto4, the progression remains unchanged:
- 15 years : access to the Red Bull Rookies Cup.
- 16 years : possible entry into the Moto3 Junior World Championship.
- 18 years : arrival in the Moto3 World Championship, with a derogation for the top three of the Rookies Cup and JuniorGP (access from age 17).
By making the initial stages more accessible and diversifying the backgrounds of young pilots, Dorna and FIM lay the foundations for a renewed global ecosystem.
Le Moto4 it is not merely a new category: it embodies a vision — that of a MotoGP more open, more equitable and more global.
And while the debate on quotas and incentives is expected to be heated, one thing is certain: PortimãoThe race towards the future of motorcycling has just taken a decisive turn.
