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MotoGP’s plan to freeze engine development for the final year of its current regulations in 2026 has been approved by the Grand Prix Commission – here’s everything you need to know
The Grand Prix Commission has approved MotoGP’s plan to freeze engine development for the final year of the current regulations in 2026. This freeze aims to control costs by halting spending on current engines as the championship gears up for a major rules reset in 2027, which includes a switch to 850cc engines. While leading teams will carry their 2025 engines through to 2026 without further development, some manufacturers with concessions will still have engine development freedom. The concessions system ranks manufacturers from A to D, with the engine specification freeze affecting ranks A-C for the entire 2026 season. Honda and Yamaha, ranked D, can continue changing engine specifications if they choose, pending any improvements that could bump them up in the concessions table. Dorna sporting chief Carlos Ezpeleta believes the freeze is wise ahead of the 2027 changes, drawing on the success of a previous engine freeze during the COVID pandemic that led to a more competitive racing landscape.
