Marco Bezzecchi
The premier class of Grand Prix motorcycle racing will see a massive shake-up of the current technical regulations, with a swathe of changes occurring in every aspect of the prototypes we see racing in MotoGP today.
The 2027 MotoGP season is set to trigger the most significant technical transformation in the sport’s modern history.
While the current era delivered record-breaking speeds and unprecedented advancements in technology, officials are hitting the reset button to prioritise rider safety and promote more exciting racing.
As the paddock prepares for a more sustainable future and the removal of automated devices, the following changes will redefine Grand Prix racing while keeping the DNA of what makes MotoGP the greatest motorcycle competition on the planet.
MotoGP bikes will feature 850cc engines and 100% sustainable fuels
Despite the engine size of the premier class remaining at 500cc for the best part of five decades, the 2027 MotoGP regulations will mark the fourth change since the start of the current millennium.
They will be downsized from 1000cc to 850cc, in a bid to reduce the top speeds of the prototypes to make the sport safer and more sustainable for the riders who compete.
The maximum bore (the inside diameter of the cylinder in which the piston moves) has also been reduced from 81mm to 75mm, which will also limit performance, while also making the engines more road-relevant.
The fuel that will power the new engines is also changing. Prototypes will now run off 100% sustainable fuels, which will, in turn, see the size of fuel tanks being reduced from 22 litres to 20.
What are your thoughts on MotoGP bikes getting slower in 2027?
Let us know in the comments below!
Aerodynamics will be reduced as MotoGP clamps down on ‘dirty air’
As well as the power units, the chassis of each prototype will also be going through a complete overhaul to comply with the new regulations.
The effect of aerodynamics will be controlled through a reduction in the width of the front fairing by 50mm, as well as the nose, which will be pushed backwards by 50mm.
The main idea behind the changes is to minimise the effects of the dirty air that is emitted from the rear of the bikes on the trailing riders in a bid to promote closer racing with more overtakes on display.
Rear aerodynamic elements will also be part of the homologation process from 2027, and teams will only be allowed to update the area once per season in order to control costs.
All ride-height and holeshot devices will be banned in a bid to improve safety
Purists will be rejoicing at ride-height and holeshot devices being completely banned from the start of 2027.
The redundancy of the devices will see the skill of riders being added back into the fold, with officials hoping that the new motion will improve safety during race starts, as well as during every other aspect of racing.
Riders will now depend entirely on their own clutch control and throttle management to get a fast start, with the devices being seen to have made race starts too automated and reliant on the available technology.
MotoGP legend Dani Pedrosa has teased that the ban will make racing less predictable after Ducati pioneered the ride height device in 2018, just two years prior to the start of their current dominance in the sport.
What impact will Pirelli’s plan have on MotoGP in 2027?
Pirelli will take over from Michelin as MotoGP’s tyre supplier
One of the more high-profile changes that will be occurring in 2027 is the tyre supplier swap from Michelin rubber to Pirelli.
The French manufacturer earned exclusive status in 2016, but Pirelli will become the sole tyre supplier for the premier class next year, having already taken over duties in Moto2 and Moto3.
It will be paramount for teams to design their new chassis around the characteristics of Pirelli rubber, and there is likely to be an adaptation period that Marc Marquez has already voiced concerns about.
The change has been suggested to help the riders who move up the Grand Prix motorcycle racing ladder.
Now that all three categories use the same calibre of materials, it should aid any youngsters who previously faced the monumental challenge of adapting to MotoGP machinery, as well as a new compound of tyre.
Factory and satellite MotoGP teams will receive equal status from 2027
The 2027 campaign will also mark the end of any disparity between factory and satellite outfits, with MotoGP moving to treat every team as an independent franchise, similar to the Formula 1 team structure.
This could see the once-satellite teams secure an engine deal from a factory, and develop their own chassis to house it, opening up the possibilities of the private outfits being closer than ever in performance.
Officials are hoping that the change results in an equal distribution of finances, which will ensure that satellite teams are as commercially viable as the factory squads.
How will concessions be determined for MotoGP’s new era of regulations?
The concessions rankings will completely reset at the end of the 2026 term, with every team beginning the new era of regulations in rank B.
Rankings will then be reassessed halfway through the 2027 season based on performance, akin to how they have been since the new system was put into place in 2023.
In the event that a new manufacturer joins the grid, they will automatically be placed into rank D, which will allow them more testing and engine development to catch up to the rest of their rivals on the grid.
Receive racing news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
