- FIM wanted to ban seat winglets as early as 2026
- Manufacturers failed to reach the necessary unanimity
- Decision to be made in 2027 with the new regulations
After intense debates about the future of aerodynamic attachments to the seat, the situation in MotoGP remains unchanged. The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) had proposed an amendment to the technical regulations that would have prevented the use of aero elements from 2026 onwards. The reason for this was safety concerns. However, no critical situations were observed during the past season.
FIM proposal meets with resistance
At the end of November, the FIM issued a directive calling for a ban on winglets mounted behind the seat. The fear was that riders could get caught on the wings in the event of a crash. The plan was to limit the width to between 500 and 800 millimeters in front of the rear edge of the rear tire. Viewed from above, this area would have been limited to a width of only 450 to 500 millimeters. The only exceptions were for footrests, controls, exhaust mounts, and covers. Seat winglets would have been excluded.
At the same time, the FIM proposed an extension of the aero body homologation. In future, this would also include the tank, seat, and rear hump. A maximum width of 45 centimeters was specified for the rear end of the seat. Aerodynamic attachments would not have been allowed to exceed these limits. This proposal was also aimed at preventing the use of winglets in 2026.
Disagreement among manufacturers
A rule change would have required the approval of all five MotoGP manufacturers. However, this unanimity was not achieved. Aprilia and Honda in particular, which had already invested in the development of these aero solutions, spoke out against it. Both manufacturers already use seat winglets and see advantages in them for the stability of the motorcycle.
Although the FIM could theoretically have implemented the proposal without the manufacturers’ approval due to its safety-related background, it decided not to do so. The safety aspect alone was not considered sufficiently urgent, as no dangerous situations were documented last season.
Looking ahead to 2027: the issue remains topical
With the introduction of the new technical regulations in 2027, MotoGP will undergo comprehensive changes. The displacement will be reduced to 850 cc, ride height devices will be eliminated, and aerodynamics will be significantly restricted. In this context, the future of seat winglets could also be reviewed again. As the prototypes for 2027 are still in an early stage of development, a later adjustment would be easier to implement.
Until then, everything will remain the same. The winglets behind the seat may continue to be used. However, the issue has not been finally resolved and is likely to be back on the agenda with the new regulations at the latest.
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