The Grand Prix Commission has just officially announced three major decisions that will profoundly change MotoGP in the coming years. Behind the technical announcements lies a very clear philosophy: to make races safer and more predictable, and to limit the technological escalation that has gradually transformed prototypes into veritable rolling laboratories. But there's also a message for Ducati…
This is undoubtedly the most symbolic decision. Starting from the Dutch Grand Prix 2026Forward starting devices will be banned in MotoGP. This decision comes after several months of debate and following concerns expressed by riders regarding the starts.
Carlos Ezpeleta had revealed a particularly striking statistic in Brno: Since the introduction of With the front lowering device, accidents on the first turn have tripled per starting point"The objective is therefore clear: to restore a more natural behavior of motorcycles when braking for the first corner.
This measure also represents a small victory for those who believe that the skill of the pilot should regain more importance in the face of electronic and mechanical aids. Pedro Acosta, Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins et Luca Marini had in fact participated in the trials carried out at Brno the Opinions were divided.But everyone knew that the ban had become practically inevitable. This prohibition comes just a few months before the planned 850cc technical revolution of 2027.
Otherwise, the grid changes from the Sachsenring onwardsContrary to some rumors, MotoGP will not switch to two-rider-per-row starts. The traditional format will be retained: three riders per row, but with increased spacing. The distance between the starting lines will increase from the current 9 meters to 12 meters starting with the 2026 German Grand Prix.
The objective, once again, is safety. The first few corners have become extremely aggressive with the lowering devices, the improved starts, and the increased field density. This measure should reduce the accordion effect observed regularly for several seasons. It also represents a political compromise: improving safety without disrupting the visual identity of MotoGP starts.
Is Ducati being directly targeted by the Commission?
The third decision is probably the most strategic. From 2028 onwards, no manufacturer will be able to field more than six motorcycles on the MotoGP grid.This rule will, however, remain in effect as long as at least five manufacturers always participate in the championship.
Behind this wording lies a sensitive subject: the influence of Ducati. Today, the Borgo Panigale brand enjoys a considerable advantage thanks to the amount of data collected from its numerous motorcycles.
This statistical dominance allows for accelerated development, increased real-world testing, and faster identification of effective technical solutions. By limiting to a maximum of six motorcyclesLiberty Media and the Commission seem to want to prevent one manufacturer from controlling too large a portion of the grid.
The official objective is not to penalize DucatiBut it's hard not to see this measure as a desire to preserve long-term sporting balance.
Taken individually, these three changes may seem modest. Taken together, they tell a different story. They show that MotoGP is entering a new phase where the priority is no longer solely technological performance.
Safety is once again paramount. Sporting balance is once again a major concern. And above all, Liberty Media is beginning to make its mark. Carlos Ezpeleta explained in Brno that he wanted to transform the 22 Grand Prix in "22 Super Bowls"To achieve this goal, the championship needs to be more spectacular, but also more understandable for the general public.
A MotoGP where starts become less artificial, where technological gaps are reduced and where no manufacturer monopolizes half the grid perfectly matches this vision.
Following the "Brno Pact," which secured the presence of the five manufacturers until 2031, this announcement likely constitutes the first real act of the new era. MotoGPAnd this is probably just the beginning.
