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.

Toprak Razgatlioglu showed clear progress adapting to MotoGP on Yamaha’s updated M1 at the post-race Barcelona test. He completed 45 laps, the most of any rider, and said he really liked the new chassis because it improved corner entry, rear grip and consistency. Pramac team principal Gino Borsoi said the data show Toprak is learning to ride like Fabio Quartararo in many corners. The team ran the updated chassis and aerodynamic upgrades during the test, and Razgatlioglu said he is likely to race the updated package at Mugello on May 29-31.

Significant weaknesses remained on one lap and in race trim. Razgatlioglu could not unlock peak pace on Michelin’s soft tire, a dedicated soft-tire time attack left him 19th and last on the timesheets, about 1.257 seconds off the top. He crashed in Q1 at the Catalan GP and race officials demoted him from 15th to 16th after a tire-pressure penalty that cost him points. His race best lap was 0.630 seconds slower than the race winner, Fabio di Giannantonio, though it was within 0.2 seconds of teammate Fabio Quartararo’s best. Pramac and Razgatlioglu trace the shortfall to muscle memory from his World Superbike style, which biases him toward demanding exit grip rather than holding corner speed on the soft compound. After six rounds he sits 22nd in the championship.

Yamaha and Pramac said they will continue developing the M1, but straight-line speed remains a clear limitation. Yamaha managing director Paolo Pavesio warned Razgatlioglu is at “rock bottom” with the YZR-M1, but said the rider can adapt over time and must internalize adjustments. There is no confirmed engine update to fix the V4’s top-speed deficit, and the team said they hope to address straight-line issues with further updates and setup work. Feedback on Yamaha’s aerodynamic package was mixed, Jack Miller and Fabio Quartararo responded positively while several riders disliked the new front aero and said it needs more development. The Barcelona test was interrupted by a midday rain shower that limited running; Pedro Acosta set the fastest lap at 1:38.767 and Quartararo was second on 1:38.831.

Fabio Di Giannantonio overtook Pedro Acosta after the final restart to win a chaotic Catalan Grand Prix at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The race was stopped twice after two heavy crashes. On lap 12 Acosta’s KTM lost drive on the back straight and Alex Márquez slammed into the stranded bike, a collision that destroyed Márquez’s machine, sent debris across the track and prompted an immediate red flag. A later first-corner pileup on the restart involved Johann Zarco, Luca Marini and Pecco Bagnaia and produced a second stoppage.

Di Giannantonio, who was hit by debris and suffered a left-hand injury, rejoined for the final restart, moved up through the field and made the decisive pass for the lead with two laps remaining to take the win for Pertamina Enduro VR46. The result was reshaped by post-race sanctions: Ai Ogura received a three-second penalty for contact that took Pedro Acosta out on the final lap, and stewards applied tire-pressure penalties that demoted several riders including Joan Mir and reshuffled the official podium, promoting Fermin Aldeguer and Francesco Bagnaia in the revised classification. The victory was Di Giannantonio’s second MotoGP win and his first for VR46, a result that moved him up the championship order. He missed the official post-race test on Monday to recover from his hand injury, and Alex Márquez underwent surgery to stabilize a fractured right collarbone and treatment for a marginal C7 vertebra fracture.

The weekend intensified debate about rider safety and restart protocols. Pedro Acosta and Jorge Martin publicly questioned the decision to restart the race after two red flags, saying rider welfare should come first, and commentators on the Oxley Bom podcast called the restart unsafe and raised concerns about holeshot devices. Calls followed for track and procedural changes, with voices urging reassessment of Turn 1 and the race start geometry. On-track tensions spilled into heated exchanges after Raul Fernandez tangled with Jorge Martin on a restart and limped home, and Aleix Espargaro described Fernandez’s subsequent public comments blaming Martin as “a joke.”

Alex Marquez beat pole-sitter Pedro Acosta to win the Catalan MotoGP sprint at Barcelona. Marquez took the lead on lap four and used the extra power of his Gresini Ducati GP26 to open a gap of roughly six tenths of a second at one stage.

Acosta mounted a late charge and steadily reduced the deficit in the closing laps, finishing extremely close to Marquez. Secondary reports give conflicting final margins: some outlets list 0.041 seconds, with one describing that as the closest sprint finish on record, while others list 0.118 seconds. One account appears to contain a likely typo calling the gap “four-thousandths.”

Because the secondary figures disagree, verify the final margin against the official MotoGP timing sheet for the authoritative result.

Tech3 confirmed at the Catalan MotoGP that it will remain partnered with KTM into MotoGP’s new 850cc/Pirelli era beginning in 2027, ending speculation the French-based squad would switch to Honda. The team announced a new multi-year agreement, the length of which was not disclosed, that commits Tech3 to KTM for the foreseeable future. Guenther Steiner, Tech3’s CEO and the leader of the consortium that acquired the team earlier in 2026, announced the deal in Barcelona after qualifying for the Catalan Grand Prix. Steiner and team principal Richard Coleman said the decision followed months of discussions under the new management. Steiner said, “in motorsport the strongest links are often those you already know inside out.”

Tech3 credited Hervé Poncharal and existing staff for building the foundation that made the extension possible, and noted continuity with KTM, a partner since 2019, will help the squad adapt quickly to the regulatory and technical reset in 2027.

KTM framed the deal as a continuation of an established factory relationship, describing Tech3 as a key extension of its factory effort with technical and operational support aligned to the works team. KTM motorsports director Pit Beirer said the factory was pleased to extend the relationship and that both parties will focus on competing “at the very highest level” from 2027 and beyond. Beirer also told reporters in Catalunya that KTM “will also definitely fight for them” and that KTM and Tech3 are “stronger together.” The announcement did not name Tech3’s riders or a title sponsor for 2027. Sources noted that Enea Bastianini and Maverick Vinales are contracted directly to KTM with options for 2027 and that KTM is waiting to finalize the team’s machinery deal before confirming those riders’ futures. There is ongoing speculation over Red Bull’s future backing of all four KTM RC16 machines, and the five MotoGP manufacturers are still negotiating a next five-year commercial contract with MotoGP SEG, a matter that could influence sponsorship and factory commitments going into the 850cc era.

Multiple reports say Pramac and Yamaha are preparing to promote Moto2 rider Izan Guevara to MotoGP for 2027. The move is described as provisional but close to being signed and is expected to be finalized before the summer break. Federico Zamagni reported Guevara’s Blu Cru contract contains a clause that could allow or compel a move to Pramac if he delivers “the right result” at the Catalan Grand Prix, a threshold Zamagni describes as securing the points needed to take the Moto2 championship lead. If activated, that scenario would likely displace Jack Miller at Pramac and leave Miller’s immediate future uncertain.

Reports give Guevara’s age as either 21, turning 22 next month, or 22. He extended his Yamaha contract through the end of 2027 and has built momentum on track: he won the 2025 Valencia Moto2 Grand Prix, and this season he has taken three podiums in the opening five rounds including a victory at Le Mans, leaving him second in the Moto2 riders’ standings. An impressive private test on a Yamaha M1, earlier Yamaha YZR-M1 testing and his involvement in Yamaha’s Moto2 project, backed by Pramac manager Gino Borsoi, are cited as factors behind the planned promotion.

Coverage of Yamaha’s intended 2027 reshuffle, reportedly overseen by managing director Paolo Pavesio, says Guevara would join Pramac alongside Toprak Razgatlioglu, with Jorge Martin and Ai Ogura in factory Yamaha seats. Some reports add that Alex Rins could leave and former factory rider Fabio Quartararo might move to Honda. That coverage also notes Jack Miller’s dip in competitiveness, no wins since 2022, currently last among full-time riders and outscored 5-0 by rookie teammate Toprak, though Miller posted one of his strongest Friday practice sessions at Catalonia and said, “I’m sick and f**king tired of being at the back.”

Pedro Acosta topped Friday practice at the Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona, setting a 1:38.710 aboard his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing RC16 and taking a direct spot in Q2. He shaded Álex Márquez by 0.018 seconds to lead a tightly packed top order, with the top five split by 0.079 seconds and the top ten within 0.269 seconds, a parity many teams attributed in part to the spec Michelin tires used by the grid.

Francesco Bagnaia finished 12th, 0.350 seconds behind Acosta, saying he “couldn’t even think of getting into Q2,” and complaining of a lack of grip and setup issues. Team manager Davide Tardozzi reported Bagnaia had suffered unusual vibration and “no grip at all” on corner exit. Jorge Martín crashed twice on Friday, was assessed as slightly concussed and finished 17th, which will force him into Q1 on Saturday.

Brad Binder recovered from a small crash to sit third, with Raúl Fernández fourth and Johann Zarco fifth. Fabio di Giannantonio was the leading Ducati in sixth, and Marco Bezzecchi and Joan Mir also secured direct Q2 spots. Each manufacturer placed multiple riders into Q2 and eight teams booked at least one place. Acosta said the chassis was working well and his team would analyze data overnight, adding he planned to work more with a medium rear tire after running a soft rear last year. Binder said the Le Mans setup translated well to the low-grip Barcelona surface, “the bike felt more planted at the front and allowed more corner speed at the rear.” Friday’s times set the stage for an intense qualifying day, with Q1 offering the two remaining slots to Q2 and small improvements or mistakes able to reshuffle the front rows for Sunday’s race.

In Moto2, Celestino Vietti set the pace at the Catalan Grand Prix, topping both morning and afternoon practice sessions. He led FP1 with a 1:42.028 lap on the Beta Tools SpeedRS Team Boscoscuro and was fastest again in the afternoon with a 1:41.611, both runs on Pirelli control tires. Senna Agius finished second in FP1 with a 1:42.453 on the Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex and was runner-up in the afternoon with a 1:41.625. Alex Escrig was third in FP1 with a 1:42.567, and Alonso Lopez moved into third in the afternoon with a 1:41.637.

Other Moto2 session highlights included Izan Guevara fourth in FP1 (1:42.608) and fifth in the afternoon (1:41.827), Manuel Gonzalez fifth in FP1 (1:42.706), and Daniel Holgado fourth in the afternoon (1:41.815). The two 27-rider sessions showcased Boscoscuro and Kalex machinery and produced early weekend benchmarks. American Joe Roberts was 20th in the morning (1:43.786) and 21st in the afternoon (1:42.742). Xabi Zurutuza was slowest in FP1, 27th on 1:44.936.

Alex Marquez topped the MotoGP FP1 timesheets at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with a lap of 1:39.950. Jorge Martín had led for much of the session before finishing 0.349 seconds adrift in second and suffering a heavy crash at Turn 12 after earlier brushing his shoulder at Turn 5 and returning to the Aprilia garage. Pedro Acosta and Marco Bezzecchi completed the FP1 top five, 0.438 seconds and 0.472 seconds off the pace respectively. KTM rider Brad Binder also suffered a crash during FP1.

Reigning champion Marc Marquez was absent from the Catalan weekend after shoulder surgery to remove two damaged screws and a bone fragment that had compressed his radial nerve, and his Le Mans foot fracture was reported as stabilized. Tech3’s Maverick Viñales returned to action after missing three grands prix, and Yamaha test rider Augusto Fernández made a second MotoGP wildcard appearance at the Catalan round.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, 27, confirmed he will join KTM’s factory MotoGP team for the 2027 season and will race alongside Alex Marquez. He finalized the deal Saturday night in the Le Mans paddock. He had set a Friday deadline during the French Grand Prix weekend for Ducati and VR46 to meet his financial demands, and accepted KTM’s offer when they requested more time.

The signing fills KTM’s two factory seats for 2027 as the team concentrates on developing its 850cc prototype and gives KTM a settled pairing ahead of the regulation change. Multiple outlets, including Sky Italia and MotoGP journalist Rosario Triolo, reported the transfer, and reports said Di Giannantonio beat late advances from Honda. KTM’s need for riders was underlined by reports that Pedro Acosta is due to join Marc Marquez at the official Ducati team.

Di Giannantonio’s departure opens a VR46 vacancy that incoming Fermin Aldeguer is expected to occupy, leaving VR46 to name a teammate. Nicolo Bulega and Luca Marini have been identified as the main candidates. Bulega is a Ducati WorldSBK factory rider and a MotoGP test rider with a promised promotion to MotoGP. Marini’s situation at Honda is described as unsettled, and reports differ on who would cover salaries, with one account saying VR46 would need to cover Marini’s salary and pay Ducati for a full bike and another saying Ducati covers VR46 riders’ salaries. Official 2027 rider announcements remain on hold as manufacturers negotiate with MotoGP’s commercial rights holder SEG.