Background: Costs and competition
Until now, Moto3 teams could choose between single-cylinder engines from KTM or Honda with 250 cubic centimeters. Six engines per rider per season were included in the lease, which was capped at €60,000 (approximately $63,500). Added to this were material costs for the chassis, which were estimated at €85,000 (around US$90,000). According to current information, rolling chassis now cost up to €100,000 (approximately $105,500), and the total annual expenditure for a team, including spare parts and engine participation, amounted to up to €1.5 million (approximately $1.58 million).
Since there is little scope for savings in personnel and logistics costs, the reform clearly focuses on material costs. Standardizing the technical basis through a single manufacturer is intended to significantly reduce development costs and thus also expenses for all parties involved.
Yamaha prevails over competition
In addition to Yamaha, KTM, Honda, and Chinese manufacturer CFMoto also participated in the tender for the new Moto3 motorcycles. The requirements included a prototype chassis and a two-cylinder four-stroke engine with 500 to a maximum of 700 cubic centimeters. It was also important that the engine be based on a production unit in order to keep development costs low. A price cap of less than €50,000 (approximately $52,700) was set for the rolling chassis – less than half the current cost.
Although the official agreement between Yamaha and Dorna Sports is still pending, the decision is considered a done deal among experts. Yamaha will supply not only the engine, but the complete motorcycle. The basis for this is the proven 689cc CP2 inline twin-cylinder engine from the Yamaha R7. This engine is already in use in the Women’s World Championship and will be used in the new Sportbike World Championship from 2026.
Key technical data: R7 engine at the heart
The engine used by Yamaha is a liquid-cooled, two-cylinder, four-stroke engine with four valves per cylinder and two overhead camshafts. For Moto3, this engine will be adapted to the specific requirements of the series. Yamaha is aiming for a weight-to-power ratio for the future racing motorcycle that is significantly superior to the current standard. The target value is around 90 hp (66 kW), but the exact maximum speed is not yet known. The weight limit for the motorcycle has also been set, but without precise details in the current reference texts. A switch to a production-based model should simplify maintenance and improve the availability of spare parts.
Impact on junior series and MotoGP
The technical reform initially affects only the Moto3 World Championship and the associated JuniorGP. Other junior series such as the Red Bull Rookies Cup, Asia Talent Cup, European Talent Cup, and Northern Talent Cup will continue to use the proven Moto3 bikes with 250cc single-cylinder engines. It is conceivable that the new Yamaha Moto3 machines will also be adopted in national championships in the future.
In comparison, the Moto2 class will continue to use Triumph three-cylinder engines with 765 cubic centimeters until at least 2029. In Moto2, there will also continue to be competition between different chassis manufacturers. MotoGP itself will undergo a significant technical change from 2027: the displacement will be reduced from 1,000 to 850 cubic centimeters, and aerodynamic aids and the ride height system will be eliminated.
International strategy and background
The decision to choose Yamaha as the sole supplier could have not only financial but also sporting policy reasons. It is suspected that the new direction is also aimed at making the series more attractive to international young talents, especially those from North America. There, more powerful, two-cylinder motorcycles with larger displacement are already widely used in national championships such as the MotoAmerica Junior Cup or the Twins Cup.
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