The current MotoGP era agreed between all parties ends in 2021. After this date another episode will begin, the rules of which are currently being discussed with the same actors. The latter can only welcome the progress of the category so much so that everyone is already in agreement on quite a few points. We can therefore outline what the contours of the queen discipline will be until 2026...
The CEO of Dorna, Carmelo Ezpeleta, plans to mark the path to the MotoGP World Championship from 2022 to 2026 starting next year. At this stage, we can assess three main areas: an aerodynamic disarmament, no more Grand Prix on the calendar, and no new manufacturer.
Currently, all MotoGP manufacturers and teams have contracts with Dorna for a period of five years, which will end after the 2021 season. The current contracts provide for a maximum of 20 Grands Prix and each customer team receives 2,5 million Dorna euros for each driver. At the same time, factory leasing packages for their private teams are capped at €2,2 million per driver per season.
Until now, it was not clear whether new manufacturers such as Kawasaki, BMW or MV Agusta would enter the fray. But this is unlikely since Carmelo Ezpeleta, the boss of Dorna, does not hide the fact that he is rather satisfied with the six current manufacturers which are Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati, KTM and Aprilia.
In fact, Dorna wants to continue after the 2021 season with 22 drivers and the current six manufacturers. Discussions with satellite teams such as Tech3, LCR, Gresini, Pramac, Avintia and Petronas have been clarified. By summer 2020 at the latest, the contracts will be extended from 2022 to the end of 2026. This brings stability and the contract between Dorna and the FIM even extends until 2041.
Headcount by brand will not change much. Yamaha has four motorcycles, KTM has the same, Ducati currently has six with Pramac and Avintia, Honda four for Repsol and LCR. Aprilia is the only one to have no starting position. The Italians use the two places of Fausto Gresini.
Interestingly, Aprilia is considered a partner of Gresini as a customer team. If Aprilia claims its own places as official manufacturer from 2022, a five-year contract must be signed and, in the event of early withdrawal, a financial penalty is due.
Over the years, every independent privateer MotoGP team has been eliminated, from Forward to AB Motorsports, Paul Bird Motorsport and IodaRacing. At the end of 2018, Marc VDS Honda was returned to his Moto2 project. Avintia Ducati is the only team of its kind left. It could become a candidate for acquiring Suzuki or Aprilia satellite status. For example, if Avintia gives up its two places to Aprilia, like Jorge Martinez did with its two bikes at Petronas-Yamaha a year ago, so Gresini could also become Suzuki's second team in the future.
Three years ago, Dorna saw the ideal situation like this: Six manufacturers each with a factory team and each factory also operating a customer team. This plan gives 24 places and 24 drivers with the best equipment. But Suzuki and Aprilia do not equip a second team to date.
The technical regulations will not change much after 2021. Only the aerodynamic rules must be strictly limited and costs in this area will be reduced. Likewise, the maximum number of races agreed with the Grand Prix teams will increase from 20 to 22, with everyone's consent. In return, the number of official and obligatory IRTA winter tests (two in November and two in February) will be reduced to one or two at most.
