The waltz of stables and drivers shakes up the landscape

In less than a month, the landscape of the MotoGP world championship for next season has been turned upside down by the waltz of riders and teams while another revolution is announced for 2027 and the entry into force of new regulations.

The latest development is the announcement on Friday by the Italian team Pramac, one of the strongest on the grid, that it would leave the fold of the manufacturer Ducati, with which it had been linked for 20 seasons, to join Yamaha from 2025.

Pramac is currently leading the world championship with its Spanish driver Jorge Martin, allowing itself the luxury of being ahead of the Italian Francesco Bagnaia, who drives for the official team of the Bologna manufacturer.

But this decision is the result of a disagreement between Pramac and Ducati over the future of Jorge Martin, who expected to be promoted next year within the official team.

The role of Pramac and other so-called stables « satellites », is to train young riders so that they can then join the official team and to help with the development of the motorcycles. In exchange, they are entrusted with machines very similar, or even almost identical, to those in the factory.

Marquez rather than Martin

But Ducati preferred to hire Marc Marquez, already a six-time world champion, who is spectacularly back in form at 31 after two difficult seasons at Honda.

The Spaniard has regained his health within the Gresini team, which uses Ducatis which were those of the official team last season.

Disappointed, Martin announced in early June that he would leave Pramac next year to join Aprilia, another Italian manufacturer and Ducati’s great rival.

Pramac also felt betrayed and decided to offer its services to Yamaha, which will entrust it with two motorcycles from 2025 to 2032, identical to the official machines.

Pramac’s about-face shows how the five manufacturers currently involved in the championship (Ducati, Aprilia, Yamaha, Honda and KTM) are engaged in a fierce technological battle.

To gather the maximum amount of information and set up the bikes as best as possible on a given circuit, they have an interest in having several bikes on track during a race weekend. Ducati currently has the advantage with eight machines, Honda, Aprilia and KTM have four and Yamaha only two after losing one of its customer teams to Aprilia at the start of 2023.

Suzuki, who also had only two official bikes, left the championship at the end of 2022 and was not replaced.

“I think having such a strong team with such experience in the satellite team is very important and it will be a huge help.”recognized French Yamaha rider Fabio Quartararo after the announcement of Pramac’s rallying.

Possible arrival of BMW?

But these maneuvers also have the backdrop of the entry into force of new regulations for MotoGP from 2027, which will then remain valid until 2032.

It aims to reduce Ducati’s current lead by reducing engine displacement from 1000 to 850 cc to make them less powerful and by reducing the surface area of ​​the aerodynamic appendages used to increase the bike’s grip.

This new situation could encourage other major brands to enter the arena, first and foremost the German BMW, already present in endurance and Superbike races, machines closer to the series than those of MotoGP.

If the Munich manufacturer has not yet revealed its intentions, it will have to do so quickly if it wants to join the championship. “They are thinking about it”indicates a source close to MotoGP, without further details.

The five-year contracts signed between the manufacturers and the championship promoter, Dorna, expire in 2026. “All (new) contracts must be signed during the winter of 2025/2026”recalls Frenchman Hervé Poncharal, president of the MotoGP stables association (IRTA).

“There is therefore a window for an announcement until May-June 2025”he believes, when asked about the possible arrival of a new manufacturer in MotoGP to take the place left vacant by Suzuki.