- Honda is said to have already committed to signing the new Concorde Agreement
- The promoter has set the French GP in mid-May as the deadline for a joint agreement
- The MSMA is demanding a percentage share of revenue instead of fixed payments
The dispute over MotoGP’s new commercial agreement came into the open in Jerez. Three of the five manufacturers did not turn up at all to a dinner hosted by the series organisers on the Friday before the 2026 Spanish GP, and the other two sent only their second tier. As Motorsport.com reports, the promoter MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group (MotoGP SEG), formerly Dorna, then changed its negotiating tactics. Instead of talking to all manufacturers together, it now deals with each one separately.
Why Did the Manufacturers Skip the MotoGP Dinner in Jerez?
By staying away, the manufacturers responded to the promoter’s latest counteroffer. Negotiations over the new agreement have now been going on for more than a year.
The “Casual Dinner” takes place every year, with manufacturers, teams, sponsors and partners of the championship invited. This time it was held at the Bodegas Gonzalez Byass in Jerez. Representing the new owners was Liberty Media chief Derek Chang, joined by MotoGP CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta. Christian Horner, formerly team principal of Red Bull in Formula 1, was also among the guests.
Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM cancelled without warning. Ducati was missing CEO Claudio Domenicali, general manager Gigi Dall’Igna and sporting director Mauro Grassilli; team manager Davide Tardozzi and communications chief Artur Vilalta sat at the table instead. Honda sent team manager Alberto Puig and two press officers, but nobody from its senior management. The new owners did not take this well.
What Are the MotoGP Manufacturers Demanding from Liberty Media?
The manufacturers want a percentage share of MotoGP’s business instead of receiving a fixed sum every year as before. The new “Concorde Agreement” is set to define the series’ commercial framework from 2027 to 2031.
So far the manufacturers have negotiated together through their association, the MSMA, led by president Massimo Rivola, the CEO of Aprilia, and Lin Jarvis, formerly managing director at Yamaha. They cite competitions such as the Champions League, the NBA and the NFL as models. There, teams receive different amounts depending on results, share in TV rights and have a say in key decisions.
The promoter, by contrast, is mainly offering more money under the existing model, spread across all eleven teams. According to Autosport, the offer amounts to around 8 million euros (about 9 million US dollars) per factory team per season, roughly one million euros more than under the current contract. For context: Liberty Media acquired the majority of MotoGP’s commercial rights in 2025 at a total valuation of around 4.2 billion euros.
What Other Points of Contention Exist Beyond Money?
There are also disputes over the race calendar and the grid slots. The MSMA wants a say in dates and circuits, which the promoter has so far refused.
On grid slots, the question is who owns them and how much control the teams have over them, for example when an investor wants to come in.
In return for more money, MotoGP SEG expects the teams to do more to market the series. They are to expand their marketing and communications departments, provide ready-to-ride MotoGP prototypes for promotional appearances and offer better hospitality to guests at overseas races. From the teams’ point of view, these extra services already cost more than the increase on offer.
How Did MotoGP SEG React to the Boycott in Jerez?
Just a few hours after the dinner, MotoGP SEG reorganised the talks. Since then, the promoter has been dealing with each manufacturer and each team separately rather than with the MSMA as a bloc.
Honda is said to have already agreed to sign. Ducati is also reported to have moved closer, as have the customer teams VR46 and Gresini (Ducati), LCR (Honda) and Tech3 (KTM).
Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM are the most firmly opposed to the proposed agreement. This means the manufacturers are no longer presenting a united front for the first time.
What Is the Deadline for the New MotoGP Concorde Agreement?
A joint agreement is supposed to be in place by the French GP at Le Mans, around two weeks after Jerez. If that does not happen, the promoter intends to conclude a separate contract with each party.
What Does the Dispute Mean for the 2027 MotoGP Season?
No manufacturer has yet officially signed up for MotoGP from 2027, even though all five are already working on their new 850cc machines. As long as the agreement is missing, rider contracts already agreed for 2027 are not being announced either.
The manufacturers had already met Liberty’s leadership around Derek Chang at the US Grand Prix in Austin in early April. The meeting lasted about an hour and produced no agreement because the positions were too far apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
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When does the current MotoGP agreement expire?
The existing commercial agreement between the promoter and the manufacturers ends after the 2026 season. The new Concorde Agreement is intended to cover the period from 2027 to 2031.
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What is the MotoGP Concorde Agreement?
The Concorde Agreement is the commercial framework contract between the promoter MotoGP SEG (formerly Dorna) and the manufacturers and teams. It sets out for five years how money is distributed and what rights and obligations both sides have.
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How much money is Liberty Media offering the MotoGP teams?
According to Autosport, the promoter is offering around 8 million euros per factory team per season. That would be roughly one million euros more than under the current contract.
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Why are no MotoGP rider contracts for 2027 being announced?
Rider contracts already agreed for 2027 will only be announced once the new commercial agreement with the promoter has been signed. Until then, all announcements are on hold.
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Has Honda already signed the new MotoGP agreement?
Honda is said to have agreed to sign after the promoter switched to individual talks. Ducati is also reported to have moved closer, while Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM have so far rejected the agreement.
➜ More on this topic in our overview: 2027 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview.
➜ This article is part of our comprehensive overview: 2026 MotoGP Season: The Complete Overview – Teams, Riders, Calendar & Championship Standings. Find all key information on this topic in one place.
