Marco Bezzecchi
Dorna are facing more tension behind the scenes over the next MotoGP Concorde Agreement, as Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM are completely opposed to the latest proposal.
The new agreement secures all manufacturers’ place on the grid for the next five years, as well as their share of commercial revenue. With Liberty Media’s takeover, the factories have been negotiating for a bigger cut, but no deal has been reached.
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It is the reason why MotoGP teams are not announcing their 2027 signings, as they want to ensure that their future is secure. Several transfers are expected to go through, including Pedro Acosta to Ducati, Pecco Bagnaia to Aprilia, and Fabio Quartararo to Honda.
But the teams and Dorna have failed to agree on anything in recent months. Things got even more intense at the Spanish Grand Prix, as three manufacturers were utterly against the latest proposal.
Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM are ‘steadfast’ in opposition to Dorna’s latest 2027 proposal
As per a report from Motorsport Espana, Dorna invited the five factories for a special event, with Carmelo and Carlos Ezpeleta in attendance. However, there were no senior executives or figures present from any team, with Ducati sending Davide Tardozzi and Honda sending Alberto Puig.
Much to the surprise of Dorna, and ‘without prior notice’, Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM did not turn up at all. It was a response to ‘MotoGP’s latest counterproposal’ of the Concorde Agreement, which ‘did not sit well’ with the new owners.
Following Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM’s no-show over the negotiation, the organisers are now resorting to ‘separate negotiations individually with each manufacturer and team’. Honda have ‘guaranteed’ their participation, and Ducati have ‘also made overtures’.
However, Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM are ‘steadfast’ in their opposition to the proposed agreement. According to the report, the French Grand Prix has been set as the deadline for a joint agreement, with separate agreements set to be made if this is not achieved.
READ MORE: Everything to know about Yamaha from the MotoGP team’s riders to hierarchy
MotoGP’s latest proposal for 2027 agreement was ‘deemed unsuitable’
Journalist Adam Wheeler notes via Race19 that the MotoGP paddock currently has a ‘sense of stalemate, and the stench of impasse.’
Negotiations have been going on for months and no agreement has yet been made between the manufacturers. The latest offer in Jerez was ‘deemed unsuitable’ as the situation drags on even more.
It is a critical matter, as it ultimately decides the future investment of the teams. Wheeler mentions how ‘at least two of the brands’ rely almost entirely on motorcycle sales to keep their MotoGP projects going.
Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM’s absence from the event at Jerez was not a coincidence, but a clear sign things are getting intense behind the scenes. The longer this goes unresolved, the more uncertain things get, especially with the 2027 rider transfers.
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