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The Grand Prix Commission issued a formal statement in a press release dated April 30, 2026 after meetings held in March and April 2026. The announcement contains a cluster of regulatory changes that affect the top tier of grand prix motorcycle racing and the operational rules used during race weekends. The most prominent decision is that wildcards in the MotoGP class will be discontinued from the start of the 2027 season, while wildcard entries will continue to be permitted in the lower categories, Moto2 and Moto3. The release also sets out immediate restrictions on what machinery wildcard riders may use in 2026, plus a number of procedural and safety clarifications.
The Commission that adopted these measures included representatives from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme and industry stakeholders: Paul Duparc (FIM), Mike Webb (IRTA), Biense Bierma (MSMA) and Carmelo Ezpeleta (MotoGP SEG, Chairman), with the presence of Jorge Viegas (FIM President) and technical and regulatory staff. This collective body reviewed current sporting and technical risks and decided to unify the approach to entries and on-track procedures to maintain competitive fairness as new technical regulations approach. The document specifies which measures are effective immediately and which are scheduled for implementation in the next season.
Major technical and entry changes
The headline change is the removal of MotoGP wildcards from 2027: no manufacturer will be allowed to nominate wildcard riders in the premier class regardless of their Concession Rank. The intention is to standardize participation and to limit pathways that previously allowed extra factory or development riders to appear in race weekends. At the same time, the Commission clarified that wildcard entries for Moto2 and Moto3 will remain intact, preserving opportunities for talent exposure and development in the feeder categories. These moves keep the top class more tightly controlled while retaining flexibility in junior classes.
Immediate restriction on 2027-spec machinery
In an immediate operational step, the Commission prohibited any 2026 wildcard entry from using 2027-spec 850cc machinery. This applies to all wildcard entrants regardless of manufacturer status and is intended to prevent an early release of technology or setup data that could provide an unfair advantage before the new regulations are fully introduced. By blocking the use of next-year specification engines and packages by wildcards, the rule aims to keep development testing within the bounds set for official team programmes and homologation windows.
Procedure and safety updates
Several changes focus on clarity of race operations and ongoing safety measures. When a Start Delayed is declared on the grid, the countdown to the warm-up lap will now resume from the 5-minute board rather than the previous 3-minute board. That adjustment is effective immediately and designed to give teams and riders more predictable time to address last-minute issues and tyre or setup adjustments prior to the Warm Up lap. Separately, the Commission confirmed that the tire pressure monitoring system currently used in MotoGP will be retained into 2027, reinforcing continuity in the championship’s safety and technical monitoring toolkit.
Biometric sensors and electronic clarifications
The technical bulletin also authorises the optional use of heart-rate monitors in both Moto2 and Moto3, allowing teams to add physiological telemetry for rider development and fitness monitoring. In addition, the Commission implemented wording clarifications related to extra testing allowances for motogp riders returning from injury and refined the electronics homologation rules, specifically those concerning the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit). These editorial updates aim to remove ambiguities and ensure consistent application of test permissions and electronics standards across teams.
What this means for teams and fans
For manufacturers and teams, the removal of MotoGP wildcards changes how test riders and development programmes can be validated in race conditions: the fewer wildcard runs that can contribute to development, the more condensed and controlled official testing and race data will become. For race officials, the revised Start Delayed timing and continued use of the tire pressure monitoring system simplify enforcement of safety protocols. Fans can expect a more regulated entry list at premier-class events from 2027, while junior series retain their role as accessible talent platforms through ongoing wildcard allowances. The Commission’s package balances competitive integrity, safety, and a clear path for technical regulation rollouts.