Marco Bezzecchi
Francesco Bagnaia does not understand why MotoGP is now discussing only allowing teams to build one bike per rider from 2027, as he suspects it will create more issues.
MotoGP is currently the only class in the world championship that allows teams to have two bikes prepared at all times in the garages for each rider. But talks are now ongoing about the idea of mandating a one-bike rule from 2026, which Moto2 and Moto3 have had since 2010.
Reports emerged in May that MotoGP has suggested changing the regulations next year as a cost-saving measure, given the series is introducing 850cc bikes and some teams might at least start the year low on spare parts. It is also possible that teams could cut their numbers.
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Francesco Bagnaia does not ‘understand’ why MotoGP would ban second bikes from 2027
Bagnaia sees a raft of flaws in MotoGP’s idea to remove spare bikes, and few fans also think it would make a positive difference to the championship. Fans have branded MotoGP’s idea “ridiculous”, especially if it risks riders not being able to compete in a race following a crash.
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The threat of having to sit out a race because of an earlier crash is not lost on Bagnaia, who suspects that any move to only having one race-ready bike would even force him to change how he manages a race weekend. Currently, the Italian can push the limits whenever he is on the track because there is a safety net, but it would be impossible without a spare bike.
“To be honest, I don’t agree with any of the new proposals,” Bagnaia told Motorsport.com. “The only thing I think is right is starting without the height-adjustment devices.
“Having just one bike will be strange. Because if you’re competing in qualifying [and crash], then you’ll need to use the spare bike for the races without having done a single lap on it.
“So, it’s strange, like having fewer people in the garage. I don’t understand it. But that’s the way it is, and luckily it’s not me who has to make the decisions.
“It’ll change the way I work a lot, because you won’t be able to push as hard as you want, like you do right now.
“It’s true that, if you know you’ve got two bikes, you push to the limit. If you’ve only got one, you know you’ll need it for qualifying and the Sprint Race just a few hours later. And if you have a big crash, you won’t have the bike.
“You’ll have another one you haven’t done a single lap on. So, it’s a bit strange the way they’re approaching MotoGP at the moment. We’re taking huge steps backwards in terms of what MotoGP is all about.”
Pecco Bagnaia backs MotoGP banning ride height devices for race starts
The only rule change that MotoGP is now about to introduce and that Bagnaia agrees with is a move to banning ride height devices at the start of races. It is reported that MotoGP teams have agreed to ban ride height devices for race starts from the British Grand Prix in August.
Crunch talks on the matter followed the huge Turn 1 crash that Aprilia’s Jorge Martin caused at the start of the Hungarian Grand Prix. It is essentially a stopgap solution, as MotoGP will ban ride height devices completely next year as part of the new regulations on the horizon.
“I do think getting rid of the height-adjustment devices is a good thing,” he added. “Because Ducati’s devices are a masterpiece but if you look at other bikes, sometimes they need to do different things to deactivate them.
“The front devices break in the first corner, so I think for safety’s sake it’s good to remove them all.”
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