- From 2027, a new regulation with 850cc engines and Pirelli tires should shift the balance of power in MotoGP
- The Grand Prix of Qatar on April 12 is at risk of cancellation due to the war in Iran
- Marc Marquez and Ducati are in agreement on most points regarding contract renewal
The MotoGP is in the midst of a phase of upheaval. At the sporting, economic and organizational levels, profound changes are emerging that are likely to fundamentally alter the image of the motorcycle world championship in the coming years. At the same time, geopolitical crises are causing acute problems in the 2026 race calendar, while the most important deals of the season on the driver market are not yet finalized.
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Liberty Media and MotoGP’s New Premium Strategy
LCR Honda team principal Lucio Cecchinello is among those in the paddock who are accompanying the impending transformation of the series with great conviction. From 2027, a new technical regulation comes into force that prescribes 850cc engines, restricts aerodynamic freedom, bans ride-height devices, and switches tire suppliers from Michelin to Pirelli. For the Italian, this marks the beginning of a new era of the world championship.
Sportingly, Cecchinello expects above all more movement in the field. “Naturally, with the new technical regulation, many things will change. There will probably be a kind of mixing, meaning a shift in the competitiveness of the motorcycles,” he explained in an interview with SPEEDWEEK.com. Ducati is likely to remain competitive according to his assessment, but where Honda, Aprilia, KTM and Yamaha will stand remains open. It is precisely this uncertainty that makes the appeal of the coming years, according to the LCR team principal.
In addition to the sporting aspect, the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, which is the new promoter under Liberty Media, is also advancing the positioning of the series as a premium brand. Cecchinello describes the plans as comprehensive: better hospitality areas, an upgraded paddock and an overall higher-quality environment for guests and partners. The aim is to deliberately improve the external perception of the sport.
“We have wonderful guests, but we would like to see fewer people coming to the races in flip-flops and shorts, as if they were going to the beach on a Sunday morning,” he said with a smile. One does not want to become like Formula 1, where everyone walks around in designer clothing. But the level must be raised to attract the world’s largest sponsors. So far, classic motorsport partners such as oil companies, energy drink brands or gaming companies have dominated the MotoGP paddock. Cecchinello hopes that in the future, major international corporations from other sectors will increasingly find their way into the premier class.
No Devaluation for Moto2 and Moto3
Rumors about a possible downgrade of the junior categories were strongly denied by Cecchinello, who, in addition to his role as team principal, is also president of IRTA. Neither a separate paddock nor a reduced race calendar are planned. Moto2 and Moto3 will continue to be represented at all 22 season races, and there will be no fundamental changes to the weekend format. Speculation that the smaller classes might only race on Saturday was explicitly dismissed by him.
On the contrary: Cecchinello is convinced that MotoGP’s growth through Liberty Media will automatically strengthen the junior categories as well. If the premier class gains economic and media significance, all platforms benefit from it, including Moto2 and Moto3. New sponsors from sectors previously distant from MotoGP could then benefit not only the premier class, but the entire paddock.
War in the Middle East Threatens Qatar GP
While long-term plans for MotoGP sound ambitious, the series is facing an acute problem in the short term. The war in Iran that began on February 28, which affects Israel as well as neighboring states, has direct implications for the 2026 race calendar. The Grand Prix of Qatar, a permanent fixture on the MotoGP calendar since 2004, is scheduled to take place on April 12 at the Lusail International Circuit. However, holding the race under current circumstances is considered unrealistic.
There have been no official statements from the promoter so far. Behind the scenes, however, discussions between the organizers in Doha and the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group are no longer about whether the race will take place as planned, but about possible alternatives.
The most obvious scenario would be a cancellation of the 2026 event without replacement. Despite existing contracts, such a decision could be justified by force majeure. Safety comes before commercial interest.
A second scenario envisions postponement to a later time in the year. However, the tightly scheduled race calendar leaves little room for flexibility. Since the Qatar race is classified as an overseas event and all equipment is transported by air freight, embedding it between the European races starting in late April is logistically not feasible. At most, a date immediately after the Malaysia GP in early November or after the planned season finale in Valencia in late November would be conceivable. Both variants would be logistically extremely demanding. Moreover, no one can currently foresee how long the escalation of violence in the Middle East will continue, making forward planning even more difficult.
In theory, a replacement race at a different track or a double event at a venue already on the calendar would also be possible. MotoGP will likely try everything to reach the planned 22 events and 44 races. Whether the newly named MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group will reach its limits in the process cannot be ruled out.
Marquez and Ducati: Agreement Imminent
On the driver market, the most important open deal of the season is the contract renewal between reigning world champion Marc Marquez and Ducati. While other top drivers like Pedro Acosta, Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo have already moved the driver market for 2027, Marquez is keeping his employer waiting.
The starting position is clear: After his successful first Ducati season in 2025, in which he won his ninth world title, it would be a big surprise if Marquez were to leave the Italian brand for the new 850cc era. According to the Spaniard, negotiations are well advanced. “Ducati and I are in agreement on most points,” he said after his return from the season opener in Buriram to MotoGP.com. However, he did not reveal which points are still open.
The reason for the delay lies not in sporting or financial differences, but in the shoulder injury that Marquez suffered in October 2025 at the Indonesia GP. The injury kept him away from a MotoGP motorcycle from October to February. Marquez therefore asked Ducati for a break in negotiations until he felt physically fully ready again.
At the season opener in Thailand, despite not yet fully recovered, Marquez proved competitive. He fought for the win in the Sprint and was on course for the podium in the Grand Prix before a rim defect ended his race. He was once again the best-placed Ducati rider of the weekend. He wants to use the two-week break before the second season race in the Brazilian city of Goiânia to take the next physical step. In the championship standings, he is 23 points behind early leader Pedro Acosta, who is being touted as his new teammate at Ducati from 2027.
Assen Recognized as Best Grand Prix 2025
A look back at the past season shows what a successful MotoGP event can look like. The Grand Prix of the Netherlands in Assen has been voted the best Grand Prix of the 2025 season by the MotoGP paddock. The annual award considers all aspects of a race weekend, from organization to fan experience to the care of teams and drivers. Teams and other paddock figures participate in the voting.
The choice fell on the Dutch classic in a special year: In 2025, TT Circuit Assen celebrated 100 years of motorsport history. The circuit has been part of the calendar since the first motorcycle world championship season in 1949 and has hosted more Grand Prix races of the premier class than any other venue. For the anniversary, more than 200,000 spectators flocked to the track, including 109,499 on race Sunday alone, when Marc Marquez celebrated a double victory.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, spoke of Assen having a special place in the hearts of many MotoGP fans. The circuit is today a modern facility with high standards that enables great racing. At the same time, its history speaks for itself.
Arjan Bos, chairman of TT Circuit Assen, explained that the event is based on three pillars: first-class service for teams and drivers, the best possible fan experience including hospitality, and a unique entertainment program with music, air shows, fireworks and a spectacular opening ceremony. Combined with a hundred-year racing history and the great names engraved on the trophy, that is exactly what they had built years ago. And they will continue to raise the bar.
The official handover of the trophy is scheduled for June 28, 2026, the race Sunday of this year’s Dutch Grand Prix. In the previous year, the hastily deployed Solidarity GP from Barcelona was recognized as the best Grand Prix 2024, and in 2023 the award went to Qatar.
What This Means for MotoGP Fans
MotoGP is changing on multiple levels simultaneously. The new 2027 regulation promises more exciting racing because the cards between manufacturers are being reshuffled. At the same time, Liberty Media’s premium strategy should ensure that the overall experience at the track improves, from upgraded spectator areas to more entertainment off the track. To what extent this will affect prices remains to be seen.
In the short term, however, uncertainty remains on the calendar: Whether the Qatar GP takes place and whether the season actually reaches its planned 22 rounds is open. On the driver market, the impending Marquez deal at Ducati and the expected move of Pedro Acosta to the works team are shaping up to be one of the strongest driver pairings in recent MotoGP history. For fans, this means: The coming months should provide plenty to talk about both on and off the track.
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