Oh sure, it’s all about increasing competition
As many of you know, MotoGP is making substantial changes to the competition rules commencing with the 2027 season. Smaller engines, reduced aero, fewer engines, all synthetic fuel, banning holeshot and ride height devices, etc. Read a bit of Dorna puffery on the subject: https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2024/05/06/welcome-to-the-future-of-motogp-new-bikes-in-2027/497238 The fact that Dorna is determinedly glossing how these changes will improve competition leads me to believe that they won’t improve competition. They will simply reduce speeds and, at the margin, costs.
Observers more cynical than myself might suspect these changes are designed to make Honda and Yamaha entries less pathetic. If so, they won’t work. Someone needs to finish last. For the foreseeable future, the Japanese manufacturers appear to have a lock on this.
Oddly, the list of proposed changes omits a number of less technical reforms that will accompany the changes to hardware and data.
EXPANDED PODIUMS: Commencing in 2027, race podia will be expanded from three to nine spots. This will allow more riders to receive acclamation. All riders earning points in the Saturday Sprint races will get to spray prosecco on their rivals and teams.
MORE NATIONAL ANTHEMS: The crowds will be feted by the national anthems of all nine riders appearing on the podium. For those of you weary of hearing only the Spanish and Italian anthems week after week, you can join in the celebration of the national songs from places like South Africa, Australia and even Japan. How fun is that?!
PARTICIPATION AWARDS: Riders who fail to reach the podium will nonetheless have their efforts recognized by the granting of Participation Awards in the form of chrome-plated bracelets. Limiting prizes to only the top handful of riders is so unfair. No longer!
PRIORITY PARKING: The crew chiefs from the top three finishers will earn spots in the infield parking areas, designated “TOP MOTOGP CREW CHIEF PARKING ONLY.” No longer will it be just the riders getting recognized for their accomplishments. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work!
HATS FOR THE TOP THREE CREWS: The remaining members of the top three crews will each receive a monogrammed cap commemorating their achievement at each particular round. For example, in the upcoming French Grand Prix, the hats will be badged “Top Crew Le Mans 2024.” Even better, hats for the French tilt will be actual berets, while the swag from the Kazakh race will be authentic taqiyas. I know, right?! Tell me Dorna does not have their thumb on the pulse of racing professionals across the globe! Who doesn’t love a snappy lid?
NEW STATISTICS: Although the final details are still being worked out, a new set of track records will be generated from each round. Preliminary stats may include:
SLOWEST ELAPSED TIME, DRY RACE, SINCE (YEAR)
SLOWEST POLE LAP SINCE (YEAR)
SLOWEST RACE LAP FOR RACE LEADER SINCE (YEAR)
NEW TIRES: Given the inexorable expansion of the MotoGP calendar and increasingly remote venues, Michelin is developing two separate racing snow tires–studded and unstudded. This anticipates a new Tierra del Fuego round in February 2027 and a holiday round in December in Hudson Bay.
MotoGP is like the Ringling Brothers circus–it just gets bigger and better every year. Cheers.