MotoGP eliminates wildcard riders from 2027 season

A raft of changes to the MotoGP regulations have been announced following a meeting of the Grand Prix Commission this week, including an end to wildcard riders in the series.

After a series of meetings by the commission through March and April, updates to the MotoGP regulations were approved. Some of the changes will take effect immediately, while others will roll out in 2027 alongside the new technical regulations.

One of the changes drawing the most attention is that, starting next season, the wildcard figure will disappear from MotoGP.

“Wildcards in the MotoGP class will no longer be permitted from the 2027 season onwards,” the Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme said in a statement. “This will apply to all manufacturers, regardless of their concession rank.”

The measure will come into force in 2027 and mean that championship legend Dani Pedrosa will be forced into retirement – although he stated a few days ago that he was never going to race again. However, hope had remained that he could be seen on a bike once again as a guest at KTM, with Pol Espargaro, his team-mate, being the replacement rider.

Now, the rider-turned-TV commentator will only be able to compete again in replacement for an injured rider.

Dani Pedrosa could be forced off the grid by the move

Photo by: KTM Images

Another announcement, which in this case is not a regulatory change, is that no manufacturer, regardless of its concessions rank, will be allowed to compete with any wildcard rider in the 2026 season using 2027 prototype bikes.

“2026 MotoGP wildcards not permitted with 2027 machinery – effective immediately,” FIM added in its statement. “Wildcard entries in the MotoGP class in 2026 are not permitted to run 2027-spec 850cc machinery, regardless of a manufacturer’s concession rank.”

Another decision taken by the Grand Prix Commission is to maintain the tyre pressure monitoring system for next season. The confirmation comes despite the fact that it had been announced, unofficially, that with the arrival of the new tyre supplier, Pirelli, this controversial system would come to an end.

The Grand Prix Commission is made up of Paul Duparc (FIM), Mike Webb (IRTA), Biense Bierma (MSMA) and Carmelo Ezpeleta (president of MotoGP SEG), in the presence of Jorge Viegas (president of the FIM), Carlos Ezpeleta (MotoGP SEG), Corrado Cecchinelli (technology director), Paul King (FIM CCR director) and Dominique Hebrard (FIM CTI technical director).