MotoGP does not want to limit the number of bikes per manufacturer

The MotoGP grid is currently made up of 11 teams, five official and six independent, with a disparate distribution of bikes between them. Three brands have a total of four bikes, with a factory team and a satellite team, but Ducati boasts three independent teams, while Yamaha has not even one.

The Italian brand clearly benefits from its eight bikes on the track, which prompted first Aprilia, then Yamaha to ask for a limit to be imposed. However, from Borgo Panigale they defended themselves by ensuring that their important presence on the starting grid was due to the refusal of other brands to make the necessary efforts.

The situation may balance out a bit next year, as Yamaha is looking to poach one of its current teams from Ducati, as of today with no guarantee of getting it, however. The regulation which will come into force in 2027 could represent an opportunity to harmonize things even more, if a new manufacturer decides to get involved in MotoGP (BMW has already expressed its interest). At that point, it would be possible to have six official teams that each have a satellite team, but MotoGP has no intention of imposing this balance, seeing the good in leaving a certain freedom to the protagonists of the championship.

“There are many discussions related to the numbers of motorcycles per manufacturer,” recalled Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna. “The truth is that we have a regulation and, if a manufacturer has more satellites, it is because he has offered better commercial opportunities to the teams. For me, for the economic vitality of the championship, the system we have with six independent teams that have the right to speak is very good.”

“Today, with five manufacturers and six independent teams, we are in a very good period from a commercial point of view. We have been here for many years, we remember when times were different. For us, this system is very good,” he continued.

Currently, there are 22 bikes on the MotoGP grid, and the expected maximum is 24. Suzuki has freed up a spot by leaving the world championship at the end of 2022, but championship officials did not want to fill this void with a satellite team to allow the entry of a possible new manufacturer. KTM was thus rejected when it tried to add a second independent team last year.

Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images

In this sense, Ezpeleta remains firm in view of the 2027 season, with the desire to leave a potential new manufacturer the possibility of discussing with an existing team whether it wants to supply bikes, but not reduce the slice of the pie that each team currently receives : “We have no intention of discussing the number of bikes for 2027, because we think it is important to maintain the vitality of the championship.”

“If another manufacturer comes in, there will be the possibility that it is linked to one of the independent teams or not, but the idea is to maintain a situation of commercial freedom. I think it won’t be necessary to ban teams from having more or less than four bikes. It’s something we still need to reflect on, but the goal is to maintain the economic vitality of the championship,” concluded Ezpeleta.