The world of MotoGP is changing. Dorna sold the franchise to Liberty Media, which now own the top echelons in motorsport for both four and two wheels. The Concorde Agreement between manufacturers and Liberty has finally been signed by all parties, so the rider market will finally be confirmed going forward.
Red News
The first announcements to be made came from the factory Ducati squad. Marc Marquez is to remain with the team for a further two seasons, until the end of 2028. Pecco Bagnaia, on the other hand, will be released from the factory Ducati squad as of the end of 2026. Many of the unconfirmed transfers on the rider market are common knowledge in the paddock, however, we will wait for them to be formalised.
Marc Márquez said, “I’m red. I’m truly happy with this new agreement with the Ducati Team and to continue being part of this family. When I decided to join Ducati, I was convinced it was the most competitive project. In our first year together, we fought for the title and won it: a priceless result that confirms that the path we had chosen was the right one. I continue to compete because I love this sport and I want to achieve even more ambitious goals.”
One thing that is certain is Pedro Acosta will join Marquez in red from next year. That news came hot on the heels of Bagnaia’s departure announcement. This should be a properly spicy pairing as the Spaniards are both hard racers who have already swapped paint on more than one occasion. Acosta vacates his seat at KTM, which opens up many possibilities for others on the grid.
New Rules
New rules regarding MotoGP machinery will come into play over the next few rounds. Firstly, ‘holeshot’ devices, used to lower the motorcycle at the start of races, are banned as of the next round at Assen. While this was expected to happen for next season, some wild accidents, including that of Jorge Martin taking out a couple of riders at the first corner at Balaton, have expedited this rule change.
Another change coming into play is the distance between riders on the grid. This will increase from three metres to four metres. While this is aimed to increase safety between the riders at the start, it could increase the “gung-ho” factor under braking into Turn 1. Qualifying results will become more critical.
It has been decreed that, from 2028, each factory may field no more than six machines on the MotoGP grid. That is, a factory team and two satellite teams. This rule will remain in effect while there are five manufacturers on the grid. With the Concorde Agreement in place, this means until at least the end of the 2031 season.
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