MotoGP has ultimately decided against a radical overhaul. The format that has profoundly transformed the championship in recent years will remain in place: the Saturday Sprint races and Sunday Grands Prix are confirmed. However, another idea, far less spectacular but potentially far-reaching, is now being seriously considered: limiting teams to a single motorcycle for part of the weekend. The objective is clear: to reduce costs, limit risks, and concentrate performance on the most crucial moments of the weekend.
For several days now, this hypothesis has been raising many questions in the paddock. Paolo Pavesio, general director of Yamaha racingHe sought to defuse the situation. No changes to the race format are planned. "He explains. The Sprint and Grand Prix races will retain their two motorcycles per rider. The discussion focuses solely on..." during certain test sessions or preparation.
The idea is simple: if a rider crashes on Friday morning, he will not be able to immediately restart on a second machine, which could naturally reduce risk-taking during the less decisive sessions.
For Yamaha This reflection goes far beyond purely financial considerations. We seek to protect MotoGP's most important asset: the riders. » By reducing the number of motorcycles available during certain sessions, manufacturers also hope to limit the number of laps completed, reduce accidents during practice and concentrate maximum performance on qualifying, the Sprint and the main race.
Pavesio However, he insists on one essential point: nothing has been definitively adopted yet. No one has decided that MotoGP will switch to a single motorcycle. It's simply a working track.L. »
This reflection is part of a broader evolution. The future MotoGP bikes of 2027 will already be less extreme: engine reduced to 850cc; simplified aerodynamics; elimination of lowering devices for the motorcycle and a search for a lower top speed.
According to PavesioThese measures respond to a reality that has become difficult to ignore. The motorcycles were becoming too fast for some circuits. Run-off areas were no longer sufficient, and spectators were sometimes very far from the action."The idea is therefore not to slow down the spectacle, but to make the races safer and more understandable."
Ducati urges caution regarding the concept of a single motorcycle
At Ducati, Davide Tardozzi share on GP One Overall, this approach, while acknowledging that nothing is yet set in stone. We have reached a compromise, but there are still several months to finalize the regulations. »
According to him, as with the arrival of Sprint races, the entire paddock will eventually adapt. With forty years of experience in this paddock, I know that all the teams will find solutions »
The main question now concerns pre-qualifying. Currently, a crash can be quickly recovered thanks to the second bike. Tomorrow, if a rider only has one machine available during these sessions, a simple mistake could jeopardize their entire weekend, including direct access to Q2.
Tardozzi recognizes that this issue will need to be studied very carefully. A fall could indeed have more serious consequences. But Each evolution has its advantages and disadvantages.All situations will need to be analyzed before a final decision is made. »
Ultimately, this reform perfectly illustrates the philosophy that accompanies the arrival of Liberty Medium and the new regulatory cycle. The objective is not to transform MotoGP, but to retain what makes it strong while controlling costs that have become very high and improving safety.
The spectacle will remain focused on qualifying, the Sprint, and the Grand Prix. However, the preparation days could become less frantic, with drivers more focused on managing their equipment and risks.
If this measure is ultimately adopted, it will profoundly alter the teams' strategies without changing what the fans see most: the battle for victory on Saturday and Sunday. This is probably the type of reform that MotoGP is seeking today: to evolve the championship without losing its identity.
