Dorna’s Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta has revealed MotoGP has no plans to extend the present grid dimension and any new producer – equivalent to BMW – would subsequently have to merge with an current staff.
Suzuki’s sudden exit on the finish of 2022 dropped grid numbers from 24 to 22 riders.
Whereas preliminary curiosity was expressed in taking on the grid slots for one more Unbiased venture, operating satellite tv for pc bikes, it was made clear the Suzuki grid locations may solely be inherited by a sixth producer.
Nevertheless, Ezpeleta has advised Speedweek.com that the ex-Suzuki locations are now not being reserved for a brand new venture and MotoGP will stay at 22 riders.
“Ultimately, what issues to us is the standard of the eleven groups,” Ezpeleta mentioned. “Whether or not they’re supplied by 5 – 6 producers is one other matter. However it’s no secret that our precedence in the mean time is 5 producers.
“That doesn’t imply that we need to forestall a sixth producer from coming into – but it surely does imply that one other producer must work with one of many eleven groups.
“Eleven groups – 22 riders, that is fastened.”
These phrases imply BMW, at the moment main the WorldSBK championship with Toprak Razgatlioglu and rumoured to be contemplating a MotoGP entry, would wish to hitch forces with one of many six Unbiased groups (as Aprilia beforehand did with Gresini).
The upside of a Manufacturing unit-Unbiased partnership is that the brand new producer positive aspects prompt entry to a totally functioning MotoGP staff, somewhat than having to construct the race staff from scratch.
A much less possible state of affairs is that one other of the prevailing producers departs, through which case BMW may step in and have its personal grid locations.
The change of technical guidelines for 2027, together with smaller 850cc engines, is probably the most logical second for a brand new producer to enter the premier class.