Carmelo Ezpeleta is busy preparing for the MotoGP future. It seems that the aim is to showcase more races and less test, but what is all planned for the future of MotoGP? Many contracts are running for five years and are due to end in 2021. By then, Ezpeleta wants the course to be already set for the future. He is setting up new agreements to run for the period 2022 to 2026. The current contracts worth 2.5 million from Dorna for each driver and include a maximum running of 20 Grand Prix’s.

Changes to be made include an increased number of Grand Prix from 20 to 22. It would mean that the number of races for bikes would then overtake the number in Formula 1, currently standing on 21. The aim is to achieve the maximum number of races per person. At the moment there are 19 races. Since Finland and Indonesia are expected to join in the future, and more tracks are indicating interest in joining up, an increased number of races becomes a requirement. It would lead to possibly reducing the number of test days even further after this season’s reduction from three to two already.

Ezpeleta is upfront about the fact that he is happy with the current grid. This is supported by the names of Aprilia, Honda, Ducati, Suzuki, Yamaha and KTM. It doesn’t seem that new manufacturers like Honda, BMW and Agusta will join the ranks for now. This idea is supported by some of the names in the race who don’t want to see more than 24 riders at once on the tracks.

It became evident that Valentino Rossi will not be running his own Yamaha customer team after his resignation and he will probably continue with protégés like Morbidelli. Dorna also seems keen to continue with 22 riders for the six manufacturers, instead of the current 24 after 2021.

Divisions will stay mainly the same. Yamaha and KTM will retain their four, Ducati has six for Pravac and Avintia and Honda four for Repsol and LCR. It is only Aprilia who will have a change to their starting places. This is due to their withdrawal in the period 2002 to 2004 in the Ivano Beggio after only three years, and they haven’t paid their fine since then. Therefore, they are considered more to be a customer team, racing as a Gresini partner. For them to gain official manufacturer status, they have to sign for five years from 2022, and early withdrawal will entail a hefty financial penalty.

Technical changes are minimal and are only to support continuity. It indicates stricter limitations regarding aerodynamic development, to retain costs while making adjustments. Dorna wants to create stability with early negotiations and talks are already underway with customer teams like Tech3, LCR, Gresini, Pramac, Avintia and Petronas. Representatives are at the table, to negotiate and get some plans set by the end of 2020. The future of MotoGP is something to look forward to with more races, as soon as all agree.

MotoGP Shaping Up for the Future