MotoGP Engine Freeze Proposed for 2025
Dorna bosses have proposed an engine freeze for MotoGP 2025, but only for some manufacturers
An engine freeze on the current 1000cc MotoGP motorcycles has been proposed by Dorna for next season, but it comes with a twist.
New regulations will be enforced in 2025 and one of those will see the engine size drop from the current 1000cc-spec to 850cc, marking a new era for MotoGP.
However, the proposed engine freeze is not aimed at every brand currently in MotoGP, only those that are not the lowest concession ranking manufacturers.
In other words, Honda and Yamaha, both of whom fall under the lowest concession category, would be allowed to develop both their current 1000cc and future 850cc engines until the start of the new regulations in 2027.
But Ducati, Aprilia and KTM would have a freeze on engine developments starting from 2025 until the end of 2026, if approved.
The concession system in MotoGP is there to allow struggling brands to try and catch their opponents by having more opportunities to develop the bike.
There are four concession brackets including A: 85 per cent or more of total points available, B: Between 60 per cent and 85 per cent of total points available, C: Between 35 per cent and 60 per cent of total points available and D: Fewer than 35 per cent of the total points available (that’s where Yamaha and Honda sit currently).
Dorna Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta was quoted by TMCBlog as saying: “As you know, we freeze the specification of the engine at the first GP and the engine spec has to stay [the same] for the whole year for manufacturers that don’t have concession [ranking D].”
“This would be the same [concept], but basically extending for two seasons. So for ‘25 and ’26.”
Ezpeleta then added: “It’s a proposal that Dorna has submitted. It still hasn’t got final approval from the manufacturers. [The freeze] will be for manufacturers not in rank D of the Concessions [Ducati, KTM and Aprilia].
”We think it’s a very good strategy. It’s a good proposal to make sure that the manufacturers can focus on the new engines, and that completely new bikes are being developed for 2027… We hope that it’ll be approved soon.”
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After graduating with a sports journalism degree, Robert joined Crash.net to lead the WorldSBK coverage in 2021, while also providing MotoGP coverage. Fulfilling that role for over three years, Robert was able to put his knowledge about all things racing to the test.
