MotoGP to Introduce One-Way Radio Communication in 2025

After previously trialling the rider communication system during a test following the Spanish MotoGP at Jerez earlier this season, where riders such as Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo tested the new system, Dorna has confirmed that it will introduce the new radio communication in stages next season.

The new comms system will be introduced gradually, with new race director for 2025, Simon Crafar, the only person able to communicate with riders. Messages are also expected to be short and concise, Autosport reports, in order not to distract riders and maintain the highest level of safety at all times. 

Dorna held a meeting with the riders last Thursday ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix, which was won by Marc Marquez, but it’s the second part to this which is the most fascinating. As early as 2026 MotoGP could introduce the second phase of radio communication, which will see both race direction and riders communicate thanks to a two-way system, replicating Formula 1.

If you watch Formula 1 you will know that some of the best entertainment comes from radio messages between drivers and their teams, or teams and race direction. This would be similar for MotoGP riders but not everyone is a fan.

Certainly a fan is Aleix Espargaro, who admits he’s been pushing to have the new radio communication system for over three years: “We've been working on it for three years, especially to improve communication in the event of an accident,” he said.

“I was one of the riders who pushed the most for the radio to be introduced, but it's not easy, especially from a GPS point of view.”

The system was again tested during Monday’s post-Misano test, but two-time reigning champion Bagnaia is not a fan of the earpiece and claims it’s painful to wear after just 30 seconds.

“I think I will get fines at every game like Michael Jordan” [referring to the NBA legend who would repeatedly get fined for wearing red shoes, which at the time violated league policy], “because I will not use anything like that,” Bagnaia told GPOne. 

“I tried the systems and they press on an area of the bone that starts to hurt just by applying pressure with your fingers for 30 seconds, let alone riding for 40 minutes. It is something that makes no sense.”

But Espargaro, who will retire at the end of this season to become Honda’s new MotoGP test rider, believes it will improve the show. “On some circuits, it will be complicated to be able to speak, but you have to get used to the new technologies. The sooner it's ready, the better it will be for the show.”

“We need to try, to fail, to try again and see where we can go. But I think one of the most fun things about Formula One are the radios.

“Imagine in yesterday’s [Misano] race, me asking the team ‘I stop or I don't have to stop? What do you want me to do?’ And Antonio” [Jimenez] - Espargaro’s race engineer - “shouting to me and I was talking to him. It can be fun for the people I think.”

The final phase to this will be implementing stage three which, to Espargaro’s point, would allow riders to talk to their teams and not just race direction for safety matters. There is no current date or time set for when stage three could take place.

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