Motor racing is back and it all starts in the “Land of Smiles” on Friday, February 28th. Defending Rider’s Champion Jorge Martin sits on the sidelines for at least the first two races of the campaign after suffering multiple fractures during a recent training ride. With that breaking news out of the way, here is your MotoGP season preview with dates, tips, point allocations and odds for the Thailand Grand Prix.
After reading our analysis, check out ourpartner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place your bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Thailand Grand Prix has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
MotoGP has penciled in 22 grand prix races this season, starting at the Chang International Circuit at the end of February and concluding on November 16th at the Valencian showdown. Every rider’s endurance is tested on race weekends as they battle it out in a sprint on Saturday followed by the main event on Sunday afternoon.
GP #
Dates
Grand Prix
Circuit
1
29th February – 2nd March:
Thailand Grand Prix
Chang International Circuit, Buriram
2
14th – 16th March:
Argentinian Grand Prix
Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Termas de Río Hondo
3
28th – 30th March:
USA Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas, Texas
4
10th – 13th April:
Qatari Grand Prix
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail
5
24th – 27th April:
Spanish Grand Prix
Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Jerez de la Frontera
6
8th – 11th May:
French Grand Prix
Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans
7
23rd – 25th May:
British Grand Prix
Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
8
5th – 8th June:
Aragon Grand Prix
MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz
9
19th – 22nd June:
Italian Grand Prix
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero
10
26th – 29th June:
Dutch Grand Prix
TT Circuit Assen, Assen
11
10th – 13th July
German Grand Prix
Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal
12
17th – 20th July:
Czechia Grand Prix
Automotodrom Brno, Brno
13
14th – 17th August:
Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
14
21st – 24th August:
Hungarian Grand Prix
Balaton Park Circuit, Balatonfőkajár
15
4th – 7th September:
Catalan Grand Prix
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló
16
11th – 14th September:
San Marino Grand Prix
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico
17
25th – 28th September:
Japanese Grand Prix
Mobility Resort Motegi, Motegi
18
2nd – 5th October:
Indonesian Grand Prix
Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Mandalika
19
16th – 19th October:
Australian Grand Prix
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
20
23rd – 26th October:
Malaysian Grand Prix
Petronas Sepang International Circuit, Sepang
21
7th – 9th November:
Portuguese Grand Prix
Algarve International Circuit, Portimão
22
13th – 16th November:
Valencian Grand Prix
Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia
Team Lineups
Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira hogged the transfer headlines in the offseason, jumping ship to Prima Pramac. Miller returned to his old home after Pedro Acosta was promoted from Red Bull Tech3 to the Factory team. Oliveira departs the Trackhouse outfit after they opted to recruit Moto 2 rider Ai Ogura.
Team
Riders
Aprilia Racing:
Jorge Martin (Spain)+
Marco Bezzecchi (Italy)
Trackhouse MotoGP Team:
Raul Fernandez (Spain)
Ai Ogura (Japan)
Ducati Lenovo Team:
Francesco Bagnaia (Italy)
Marc Marquez (Spain)
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team:
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Italy)
Franco Morbidelli (Italy)
BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP:
Fermin Aldeguer (Spain)
Alex Marquez (Spain)
Honda HRC Castrol:
Luca Marini (Italy)
Joan Mir (Spain)
LCR Honda:
Johann Zarco (France)
Somkiat Chantra (Thailand)
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:
Brad Binder (South Africa)
Pedro Acosta (Spain)
Red Bull KTM Tech3:
Enea Bastianini (Italy)
Maverick Vinales (Spain)
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team:
Fabio Quartararo (France)
Alex Rins (Spain)
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
Jack Miller (Australia)
Miguel Oliveira (Portugal)
+ represents an injured rider.
Points Allocations
The top placing riders in sprint and feature racers are awarded points for their efforts, but the latter event carried more weight. Winning a feature race gets you 25 points, while the same result in a sprint is worth 12 points. Only the top 9 riders receive a share of the pie in sprints, but points are handed out to the top 15 finishers in a Sunday race.
Feature Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
25
2nd Place
20
3rd Place
16
4th Place
13
5th Place
11
6th Place
10
7th Place
9
8th Place
8
9th Place
7
10th Place
6
11th Place
5
12th Place
4
13th Place
3
14th Place
2
15th Place
1
Sprint Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
12
2nd Place
9
3rd Place
7
4th Place
6
5th Place
5
6th Place
4
7th Place
3
8th Place
2
9th Place
1
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 MotoGP Season
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-175
$31.43
Francesco Bagnaia
+175
$55.00
Pedro Acosta
+900
$200.00
Marc Marquez (-175):
Veteran Marc Marquez lands in a scorching hot Thailand as the heavy favorite to clinch the race one. The Spaniard finished third in the Championship in 2024, recording three wins in the process. Chang International Circuit has been kind to Marquez in the past, giving him two victories in 2018 and 2019. The two victories make him the winningest rider in the field at this venue.
Francesco Bagnaia (+175):
Imagine winning 11 grands prix and still only finishing second in the Championship, that’s how 2024 played out for “Pecco” Bagnaia. He is back in Buriram to defend the title he won in 2024, setting the all-time lap record in the process. At +175 odds, he’s an attractive wager, giving his sublime form last year and his knowledge of this circuit.
Pedro Acosta (+900):
Wunderking Pedro Acosta stunned racing fans last season as he picked up five podiums for the proverbial Red Bull “B” team. He finished sixth overall in 2024, just behind his new teammate Brad Binder. One of his podiums was at this track towards the backend of the season.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Alex Marquez
+1600
$340.00
Marco Bezzecchi
+2200
$460.00
Brad Binder
+6600
$1,340.00
Alex Marquez (+1600):
The younger Marquez brother, Alex, had a tough campaign in 2024, picking up a single podium at the German Grand Prix. It was the first time in the MotoGP era that two brothers had shared a podium. He finished the season strong, crossing the line in fourth place in the final two races of the year.
Marco Bezzecchi (+2200):
Team Aprilla rider Marco Bezzecchi found himself outside the top 10 in the Championship race in 2025, but he’s worked hard in the offseason. The Italian recorded a solid testing run over four sessions in early February, averaging a finish of 3.25.
Brad Binder (+6600):
South African MotoGP pioneer Brad Binder claimed fifth spot on the standings in 2024, recording his fourth season inside the top six. He is a regular top 10 finisher, and is the rider you look to in tough conditions, where he isn’t afraid to take risks, as showcased in the Austrian Grand Prixwin in 2021. He rode on slicks in the pouring rain for the last five laps, while the rest of the field changed rubber.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Thailand 2025
The hype surrounds Marc Marquez who has won at Chang International twice in his career, the last one coming in 2019. However, we like Francesco Bagnaia who is the defending champion at this track and favorably priced at +175. The sportsbooks are paying approximately $55 for a $20 bet.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Visit our partner sportsbooksto access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming Grand Prix of Thailand. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
The City of Buriram welcomes the best MotoGP riders back to paradise for the 2025 season opener. Will Marc Marquez answer the punters call and win his third Thai Grand Prix or can “Pecco” Bagnaia retain the title he won in 2024? No matter the result, we are just thrilled to have the sport’s finest battling it out at high speeds.
Manufacturers have proposed limiting each premier-class rider to a single bike from 2027 as a cost-cutting measure, a plan now being assessed by the championship promoter and Liberty Media as part of negotiations for the 2027–2031 Concorde Agreement. The change would remove the current two-bike option that allows riders to run divergent set-up directions and to swap machines in flag-to-flag races, and it would likely end flag-to-flag racing in its present form. Organizers and teams have discussed alternatives to manage changing weather and tire needs, including reintroducing mandatory red-flag stops or adopting garage pit stops with mandatory minimum times similar to WorldSBK, since typical flag-to-flag bike swaps are sub-three-second operations and would be impractical under a one-bike limit.
The proposal raises safety and sporting concerns because riders would have no spare machine available in practice or qualifying if they crash, and teams would lose the instant fallback that two bikes provide. Reports cite the Catalan Grand Prix, saying Pedro Acosta and race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio would have been unable to restart after damaging their primary bikes under a one-bike rule. Comparisons have been made to Moto2 and Moto3, which have used a one-bike model since 2010, and to WorldSBK, where teams can keep an uncertified spare in the truck that requires technical-inspector authorization if a major component is damaged. It remains unclear whether teams would be allowed to assemble a backup machine from truck spares or exactly how any new pit-stop procedure would be written, and organizers have not quantified projected savings.
The plan has prompted pushback and controversy during negotiations. Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM reportedly boycotted a factories meeting at Jerez, several rider announcements for 2027 have been delayed, and fans voiced strong criticism on social media, with some saying “this isn’t F1” and others drawing parallels to Formula 1’s 2008 spare-car ban. Any amendment to the two-bikes-per-rider rule would need a formal vote and approval by the Grand Prix Commission, and manufacturers’ objections and ongoing talks mean the proposal remains contested and could change before any adoption for the 2027–2031 period.
Yamaha will become the exclusive motorcycle supplier for the FIM Moto3 World Championship starting in 2028, in a six-year deal through 2033 that will replace the current multi-manufacturer format. The announcement came Thursday at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen. Moto3 currently uses 250cc four-stroke prototype machines from Honda and KTM, but the class will be standardized around a Yamaha bike under the new plan.
MotoGP chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta said the change is aimed at improving safety, creating more equal competition and lifting racing quality, while also cutting costs to about half of current levels. He said the move should not weaken Moto3’s status as a world championship, pointing to Moto2 as an example that a spec-engine formula can still produce a respected and competitive series. The new Yamaha prototype is expected to weigh 120 kilograms and produce about 90 horsepower, with one report saying it will be built around Yamaha’s R7 engine.
Yamaha said the new Moto3 machine will be a racing prototype based on its CP2 production platform and re-engineered for Grand Prix competition with a better power-to-weight ratio and a full-size chassis for young riders. Prototype testing is scheduled for later in 2026, with a formal unveiling planned for 2027. A lower-spec version is expected to be introduced in the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2029, and MotoGP and Yamaha are also discussing possible use of the platform in other regional championships as part of the development path for young riders.
MotoGP officials and riders moved to overhaul start-line procedures and grid formation after a string of first-corner pile-ups culminated in a five-rider crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Jorge Martín admitted sole responsibility for the Balaton Park collision that collected Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Raúl Fernández and Fermín Aldeguer, and he was handed a double long-lap penalty for the next race. The incident followed an earlier violent turn-one crash in Barcelona that required Johann Zarco to undergo surgery, and the sequence of accidents has reignited debate about start-line safety, including whether holeshot and ride-height devices should be banned and whether resurfaced low-grip asphalt at Turn One contributed to the pileups.
Series officials and teams have opened several concrete proposals to reduce first-corner risk. Organizers agreed to increase the distance between the three starting positions on each row by three meters, a change scheduled to take effect at the German Grand Prix before the summer break. Trials have already been held of a two-rider-per-row formation, and Sky Italia and others have suggested testing an F1-style staggered start to give riders more room into Turn One. Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta said holeshot devices “will not be here in 2027” and indicated officials are discussing whether action on starting devices can be taken this year, with further formal decisions expected from governing bodies and race directors.
Stakeholders remain divided on causes and remedies. Jack Miller publicly urged the immediate removal of the front start device, saying Martín’s bike “jumped” when he tried to remove it and pointing to slippery new asphalt and higher approach speeds at Balaton as factors. Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola rejected the device theory and blamed rider error. Observers warned that wider grid separation could disproportionately disadvantage Martín because qualifying has been his biggest weakness this season. Former rider Virginio Ferrari cautioned that rule changes alone will not solve the problem and called for a broader safety effort through rider education, while officials continue investigations into the recent crashes and weigh a mix of procedural, technical and cultural responses.
Jorge Martin is stealing the headlines this week as the defending World Champion returns to competitive racing for the first time this year. The reigning title holder finds himself down the pecking order in the 2025 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix pre-event odds, relegated by the Marquez brothers and Francesco Bagnaia. After reading our analysis, …
Best Bets: MotoGP Thailand & 2025 Season Preview
Motor racing is back and it all starts in the “Land of Smiles” on Friday, February 28th. Defending Rider’s Champion Jorge Martin sits on the sidelines for at least the first two races of the campaign after suffering multiple fractures during a recent training ride. With that breaking news out of the way, here is your MotoGP season preview with dates, tips, point allocations and odds for the Thailand Grand Prix.
After reading our analysis, check out our partner sportsbooks to get valuable promotions and place your bets.
In addition to traditional sports betting on MotoGP, the Thailand Grand Prix has Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) Real Money Gaming available in a Pick’Em style on Underdog. Although “fantasy games” might seem misleading, DFS is a significant and growing category within legal sports wagering. MotoGP fans are allowed to legally make better/worse picks with real money gaming in 30 states, including California, Texas & Wisconsin, where traditional sports betting is currently illegal.
MotoGP Schedule 2025
MotoGP has penciled in 22 grand prix races this season, starting at the Chang International Circuit at the end of February and concluding on November 16th at the Valencian showdown. Every rider’s endurance is tested on race weekends as they battle it out in a sprint on Saturday followed by the main event on Sunday afternoon.
GP #
Dates
Grand Prix
Circuit
1
29th February – 2nd March:
Thailand Grand Prix
Chang International Circuit, Buriram
2
14th – 16th March:
Argentinian Grand Prix
Autódromo Termas de Río Hondo, Termas de Río Hondo
3
28th – 30th March:
USA Grand Prix
Circuit of the Americas, Texas
4
10th – 13th April:
Qatari Grand Prix
Lusail International Circuit, Lusail
5
24th – 27th April:
Spanish Grand Prix
Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, Jerez de la Frontera
6
8th – 11th May:
French Grand Prix
Bugatti Circuit, Le Mans
7
23rd – 25th May:
British Grand Prix
Silverstone Circuit, Northamptonshire
8
5th – 8th June:
Aragon Grand Prix
MotorLand Aragón, Alcañiz
9
19th – 22nd June:
Italian Grand Prix
Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello, Scarperia e San Piero
10
26th – 29th June:
Dutch Grand Prix
TT Circuit Assen, Assen
11
10th – 13th July
German Grand Prix
Sachsenring, Hohenstein-Ernstthal
12
17th – 20th July:
Czechia Grand Prix
Automotodrom Brno, Brno
13
14th – 17th August:
Austrian Grand Prix
Red Bull Ring, Spielberg
14
21st – 24th August:
Hungarian Grand Prix
Balaton Park Circuit, Balatonfőkajár
15
4th – 7th September:
Catalan Grand Prix
Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Montmeló
16
11th – 14th September:
San Marino Grand Prix
Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Misano Adriatico
17
25th – 28th September:
Japanese Grand Prix
Mobility Resort Motegi, Motegi
18
2nd – 5th October:
Indonesian Grand Prix
Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit, Mandalika
19
16th – 19th October:
Australian Grand Prix
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Phillip Island
20
23rd – 26th October:
Malaysian Grand Prix
Petronas Sepang International Circuit, Sepang
21
7th – 9th November:
Portuguese Grand Prix
Algarve International Circuit, Portimão
22
13th – 16th November:
Valencian Grand Prix
Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia
Team Lineups
Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira hogged the transfer headlines in the offseason, jumping ship to Prima Pramac. Miller returned to his old home after Pedro Acosta was promoted from Red Bull Tech3 to the Factory team. Oliveira departs the Trackhouse outfit after they opted to recruit Moto 2 rider Ai Ogura.
Team
Riders
Aprilia Racing:
Jorge Martin (Spain)+
Marco Bezzecchi (Italy)
Trackhouse MotoGP Team:
Raul Fernandez (Spain)
Ai Ogura (Japan)
Ducati Lenovo Team:
Francesco Bagnaia (Italy)
Marc Marquez (Spain)
Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team:
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Italy)
Franco Morbidelli (Italy)
BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP:
Fermin Aldeguer (Spain)
Alex Marquez (Spain)
Honda HRC Castrol:
Luca Marini (Italy)
Joan Mir (Spain)
LCR Honda:
Johann Zarco (France)
Somkiat Chantra (Thailand)
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing:
Brad Binder (South Africa)
Pedro Acosta (Spain)
Red Bull KTM Tech3:
Enea Bastianini (Italy)
Maverick Vinales (Spain)
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team:
Fabio Quartararo (France)
Alex Rins (Spain)
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP:
Jack Miller (Australia)
Miguel Oliveira (Portugal)
+ represents an injured rider.
Points Allocations
The top placing riders in sprint and feature racers are awarded points for their efforts, but the latter event carried more weight. Winning a feature race gets you 25 points, while the same result in a sprint is worth 12 points. Only the top 9 riders receive a share of the pie in sprints, but points are handed out to the top 15 finishers in a Sunday race.
Feature Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
25
2nd Place
20
3rd Place
16
4th Place
13
5th Place
11
6th Place
10
7th Place
9
8th Place
8
9th Place
7
10th Place
6
11th Place
5
12th Place
4
13th Place
3
14th Place
2
15th Place
1
Sprint Races
Position
Points Allocated
1st Place
12
2nd Place
9
3rd Place
7
4th Place
6
5th Place
5
6th Place
4
7th Place
3
8th Place
2
9th Place
1
Best Bets and Picks for the 2025 MotoGP Season
Top Picks and Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Marc Marquez
-175
$31.43
Francesco Bagnaia
+175
$55.00
Pedro Acosta
+900
$200.00
Marc Marquez (-175):
Veteran Marc Marquez lands in a scorching hot Thailand as the heavy favorite to clinch the race one. The Spaniard finished third in the Championship in 2024, recording three wins in the process. Chang International Circuit has been kind to Marquez in the past, giving him two victories in 2018 and 2019. The two victories make him the winningest rider in the field at this venue.
Francesco Bagnaia (+175):
Imagine winning 11 grands prix and still only finishing second in the Championship, that’s how 2024 played out for “Pecco” Bagnaia. He is back in Buriram to defend the title he won in 2024, setting the all-time lap record in the process. At +175 odds, he’s an attractive wager, giving his sublime form last year and his knowledge of this circuit.
Pedro Acosta (+900):
Wunderking Pedro Acosta stunned racing fans last season as he picked up five podiums for the proverbial Red Bull “B” team. He finished sixth overall in 2024, just behind his new teammate Brad Binder. One of his podiums was at this track towards the backend of the season.
Outsider Bets
Driver
Event Winner
$20 Payout
Alex Marquez
+1600
$340.00
Marco Bezzecchi
+2200
$460.00
Brad Binder
+6600
$1,340.00
Alex Marquez (+1600):
The younger Marquez brother, Alex, had a tough campaign in 2024, picking up a single podium at the German Grand Prix. It was the first time in the MotoGP era that two brothers had shared a podium. He finished the season strong, crossing the line in fourth place in the final two races of the year.
Marco Bezzecchi (+2200):
Team Aprilla rider Marco Bezzecchi found himself outside the top 10 in the Championship race in 2025, but he’s worked hard in the offseason. The Italian recorded a solid testing run over four sessions in early February, averaging a finish of 3.25.
Brad Binder (+6600):
South African MotoGP pioneer Brad Binder claimed fifth spot on the standings in 2024, recording his fourth season inside the top six. He is a regular top 10 finisher, and is the rider you look to in tough conditions, where he isn’t afraid to take risks, as showcased in the Austrian Grand Prix win in 2021. He rode on slicks in the pouring rain for the last five laps, while the rest of the field changed rubber.
Expert Pick for MotoGP Thailand 2025
The hype surrounds Marc Marquez who has won at Chang International twice in his career, the last one coming in 2019. However, we like Francesco Bagnaia who is the defending champion at this track and favorably priced at +175. The sportsbooks are paying approximately $55 for a $20 bet.
Where to Bet on MotoGP
Visit our partner sportsbooks to access special deals that will elevate your betting experience as you anticipate the upcoming Grand Prix of Thailand. If you’re a newbie in the world of MotoGP betting, our comprehensive MotoGP Betting Guide is a must-read. Remember to enjoy the race and make your betting choices wisely. Betting responsibly ensures the fun lasts all season long.
The City of Buriram welcomes the best MotoGP riders back to paradise for the 2025 season opener. Will Marc Marquez answer the punters call and win his third Thai Grand Prix or can “Pecco” Bagnaia retain the title he won in 2024? No matter the result, we are just thrilled to have the sport’s finest battling it out at high speeds.
Related Posts
MotoGP manufacturers push one-bike-per-rider rule for 2027, sparking safety and sporting concerns
Manufacturers have proposed limiting each premier-class rider to a single bike from 2027 as a cost-cutting measure, a plan now being assessed by the championship promoter and Liberty Media as part of negotiations for the 2027–2031 Concorde Agreement. The change would remove the current two-bike option that allows riders to run divergent set-up directions and to swap machines in flag-to-flag races, and it would likely end flag-to-flag racing in its present form. Organizers and teams have discussed alternatives to manage changing weather and tire needs, including reintroducing mandatory red-flag stops or adopting garage pit stops with mandatory minimum times similar to WorldSBK, since typical flag-to-flag bike swaps are sub-three-second operations and would be impractical under a one-bike limit.
The proposal raises safety and sporting concerns because riders would have no spare machine available in practice or qualifying if they crash, and teams would lose the instant fallback that two bikes provide. Reports cite the Catalan Grand Prix, saying Pedro Acosta and race winner Fabio Di Giannantonio would have been unable to restart after damaging their primary bikes under a one-bike rule. Comparisons have been made to Moto2 and Moto3, which have used a one-bike model since 2010, and to WorldSBK, where teams can keep an uncertified spare in the truck that requires technical-inspector authorization if a major component is damaged. It remains unclear whether teams would be allowed to assemble a backup machine from truck spares or exactly how any new pit-stop procedure would be written, and organizers have not quantified projected savings.
The plan has prompted pushback and controversy during negotiations. Yamaha, Aprilia and KTM reportedly boycotted a factories meeting at Jerez, several rider announcements for 2027 have been delayed, and fans voiced strong criticism on social media, with some saying “this isn’t F1” and others drawing parallels to Formula 1’s 2008 spare-car ban. Any amendment to the two-bikes-per-rider rule would need a formal vote and approval by the Grand Prix Commission, and manufacturers’ objections and ongoing talks mean the proposal remains contested and could change before any adoption for the 2027–2031 period.
Yamaha to become exclusive Moto3 supplier in 2028 deal
Yamaha will become the exclusive motorcycle supplier for the FIM Moto3 World Championship starting in 2028, in a six-year deal through 2033 that will replace the current multi-manufacturer format. The announcement came Thursday at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen. Moto3 currently uses 250cc four-stroke prototype machines from Honda and KTM, but the class will be standardized around a Yamaha bike under the new plan.
MotoGP chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta said the change is aimed at improving safety, creating more equal competition and lifting racing quality, while also cutting costs to about half of current levels. He said the move should not weaken Moto3’s status as a world championship, pointing to Moto2 as an example that a spec-engine formula can still produce a respected and competitive series. The new Yamaha prototype is expected to weigh 120 kilograms and produce about 90 horsepower, with one report saying it will be built around Yamaha’s R7 engine.
Yamaha said the new Moto3 machine will be a racing prototype based on its CP2 production platform and re-engineered for Grand Prix competition with a better power-to-weight ratio and a full-size chassis for young riders. Prototype testing is scheduled for later in 2026, with a formal unveiling planned for 2027. A lower-spec version is expected to be introduced in the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2029, and MotoGP and Yamaha are also discussing possible use of the platform in other regional championships as part of the development path for young riders.
Ezpeleta: holeshot devices out by 2027, action could come sooner
MotoGP officials and riders moved to overhaul start-line procedures and grid formation after a string of first-corner pile-ups culminated in a five-rider crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Jorge Martín admitted sole responsibility for the Balaton Park collision that collected Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Raúl Fernández and Fermín Aldeguer, and he was handed a double long-lap penalty for the next race. The incident followed an earlier violent turn-one crash in Barcelona that required Johann Zarco to undergo surgery, and the sequence of accidents has reignited debate about start-line safety, including whether holeshot and ride-height devices should be banned and whether resurfaced low-grip asphalt at Turn One contributed to the pileups.
Series officials and teams have opened several concrete proposals to reduce first-corner risk. Organizers agreed to increase the distance between the three starting positions on each row by three meters, a change scheduled to take effect at the German Grand Prix before the summer break. Trials have already been held of a two-rider-per-row formation, and Sky Italia and others have suggested testing an F1-style staggered start to give riders more room into Turn One. Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta said holeshot devices “will not be here in 2027” and indicated officials are discussing whether action on starting devices can be taken this year, with further formal decisions expected from governing bodies and race directors.
Stakeholders remain divided on causes and remedies. Jack Miller publicly urged the immediate removal of the front start device, saying Martín’s bike “jumped” when he tried to remove it and pointing to slippery new asphalt and higher approach speeds at Balaton as factors. Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola rejected the device theory and blamed rider error. Observers warned that wider grid separation could disproportionately disadvantage Martín because qualifying has been his biggest weakness this season. Former rider Virginio Ferrari cautioned that rule changes alone will not solve the problem and called for a broader safety effort through rider education, while officials continue investigations into the recent crashes and weigh a mix of procedural, technical and cultural responses.
Best Bets: 2025 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix Pre-Event Odds Analysis
Jorge Martin is stealing the headlines this week as the defending World Champion returns to competitive racing for the first time this year. The reigning title holder finds himself down the pecking order in the 2025 MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix pre-event odds, relegated by the Marquez brothers and Francesco Bagnaia. After reading our analysis, …