MotoGP (FIM) — Official Rules

The FIM Grand Prix World Championship is the premier class of motorcycle road racing, governed by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) and promoted commercially by Dorna Sports under the FIM Sporting Code and the FIM Grand Prix Regulations. The Championship is contested in three classes that share each Grand Prix weekend: MotoGP (the premier prototype class, 1000cc), Moto2 (a single-engine intermediate class) and Moto3 (the entry prototype class). In 2026 the calendar comprises 22 rounds (Grands Prix) worldwide. A supporting series, the FIM Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup, runs at six selected rounds but is not one of the three World Championship classes.

In each class three titles are awarded over the season: the Riders' World Championship (to the rider with the most points), the Constructors' (Manufacturers') World Championship (to the manufacturer scoring the best result of any of its riders in each race) and the Teams' World Championship (the combined points of a team's two contracted riders). The 2026 MotoGP grid fields 11 teams and 22 contracted riders. Points from both the Sprint and the Grand Prix count toward all three classifications.

2026 is the last season of the current technical era. From 2027 MotoGP switches to 850cc engines (down from 1000cc), a reduced maximum bore, lower fuel capacity, restricted aerodynamics and ride-height devices, and Pirelli as the single tyre supplier in place of Michelin. Throughout 2026 manufacturers may carry out limited development and testing of both their 1000cc bikes on Michelin tyres and their 2027 850cc prototypes on Pirelli tyres, governed by an adapted concession framework (see Chapter 7).

Every MotoGP round follows the same two-day-of-track format. Friday has two practice sessions: a free-practice session (about 45 minutes) and the key Practice session (60 minutes) whose timesheet determines who advances directly to Q2. Saturday has a short free practice, then Qualifying (Q1 and Q2), then the Sprint in the afternoon. Sunday has a brief Warm-Up (about 10 minutes) followed by the Grand Prix. The Grand Prix is the principal race; the Sprint is a separate, shorter race with its own points.

Grid order is set by qualifying, not by practice classification alone. The fastest ten (10) riders in Friday's 60-minute Practice session pass directly into Q2. The remaining riders contest Q1 (15 minutes); the fastest two (2) in Q1 progress into Q2, while those classified 3rd and 4th in Q1 start the Grand Prix 13th and 14th, and Q1 sets all grid positions from 13th backwards. Q2 (15 minutes) then contains twelve (12) riders (the 10 from Practice plus the 2 from Q1) and decides pole position and grid places 1st through 12th.

To be permitted to start a race a rider must have set, in any free practice, qualifying or warm-up session, a lap time within 107% of the fastest time set in Q2 (the Q1 fastest time is used as the reference where applicable). A rider who fails to meet the 107% requirement may still be allowed to start at the discretion of the Race Direction, for example after demonstrating a competitive and safe pace in practice or in wet conditions.

The Grand Prix distance is fixed per circuit so that the race covers a set number of laps and typically lasts around 40-45 minutes; the number of laps is published for each track. The Sprint covers approximately half the number of laps of the Grand Prix and typically lasts around 20 minutes. There are no scheduled pit stops in either race - tyres are not changed during a dry race, and refuelling is prohibited. Each rider must complete the full scheduled distance to be a finisher.

Riders are classified in the order in which they cross the finish line after completing the scheduled number of laps. To be classified a rider must complete the race on track (not via the pit lane shortcut after the final lap) and, if lapped, be running at the finish. A rider who stops and cannot continue is recorded as DNF (Did Not Finish); DNS denotes a rider who did not start and DSQ a disqualified rider. Riders who do not finish but completed a meaningful share of the race are not awarded points. The result becomes final after publication, subject to stewards' decisions and protests.

If a race is stopped (red flag) it may be restarted over a reduced number of laps, or, if at least the minimum proportion of the distance has been completed, classified as it stood. In a flag-to-flag race (changing weather), riders may swap to a second machine fitted with the appropriate wet or dry tyres in the pit lane without the race being neutralised. Full championship points are awarded for any race declared complete; specific reduced-points provisions apply only to defined short-distance cases set out in the regulations.

Championship points are awarded to the top fifteen (15) finishers of each Grand Prix on the scale 25-20-16-13-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st = 25, 2nd = 20, 3rd = 16, down to 15th = 1). Finishers 16th and below score nothing. These points count toward the Riders', Constructors' and Teams' Championships. There is no point for fastest lap.

The Sprint (run in the MotoGP class only) awards points to the top nine (9) finishers on the scale 12-9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 (1st = 12, 2nd = 9, 3rd = 7, down to 9th = 1). Sprint points are added to the same Championship totals as Grand Prix points but are tallied from a separate race. The maximum a rider can score over one weekend is 37 points (12 in the Sprint plus 25 in the Grand Prix).

If two or more riders, teams or constructors finish a Championship level on equal points, the tie is resolved by countback - the number of better individual race results (number of wins, then second places, then thirds, and so on). The same principle applies within the Sprint contribution. Where a tie still cannot be broken, the FIM may apply a further criterion set in the regulations.

MotoGP machines are prototypes powered by a four-stroke engine of a maximum 1000cc with a maximum of four cylinders and a maximum cylinder bore of 81 mm. The engine specification is frozen for the season under the concession framework. Pneumatic valve systems and seamless-shift gearboxes are permitted; the gearbox is limited to a maximum of six speeds. From 2027 the maximum capacity drops to 850cc with a reduced bore.

The minimum combined weight of the motorcycle (without rider and without fuel) is 157 kg in 2026. Fuel is restricted to a maximum tank capacity of 22 litres for the Grand Prix (a smaller fuel allowance applies for the Sprint), and from 2026 a minimum percentage of non-fossil (sustainable) fuel is mandated. From 2027 the maximum tank capacity reduces to 20 litres. Bikes must use the spec electronic control unit (ECU) and unified software supplied to all teams.

Manufacturers may use aerodynamic fairings (wings), the homologated specification of which may be updated only a limited number of times per season according to concession rank. Front and rear ride-height devices that lower the bike for acceleration are currently permitted but will be banned from 2027. Each manufacturer homologates one aero body at the start of the season; major changes during the year are restricted by the concession tiers in Chapter 7.

Michelin is the single (control) tyre supplier for MotoGP in 2026 - the last season before Pirelli takes over in 2027. Each rider receives a fixed allocation per Grand Prix of around 22 slick tyres (front and rear, in soft/medium/hard compounds chosen from the weekend allocation) plus wet (rain) tyres for use in declared wet conditions. Tyres are assigned by barcode and may not be modified; only the supplied specifications may be fitted.

A real-time tyre-pressure monitoring system enforces a minimum front tyre pressure of 1.80 bar (lowered from 1.88 bar). The pressure must stay at or above the minimum for at least 60% of a Grand Prix distance and 30% of a Sprint distance. Breaching the minimum results in a post-race time penalty of 16 seconds in a Grand Prix and 8 seconds in a Sprint (a first offence in earlier seasons drew a warning; the time penalty now applies). The rule addresses safety as low pressure under aero and ride-height loads stresses the tyre.

Manufacturers are placed in one of four concession ranks (A, B, C, D) based on the percentage of available championship points scored, reassessed at defined checkpoints. Rank A (the most successful, above 85% of available points) faces the tightest restrictions; Rank D (the least successful) receives the most development freedom. For 2026, Ducati sits in Rank A, Aprilia and KTM in Rank C, and Yamaha in Rank D; Rank B remains empty.

The rank sets development freedom. The standard engine allowance is 7 engines per rider per season (raised to 8 when the calendar has 21 or 22 rounds), while a Rank D manufacturer such as Yamaha may use up to 9 engines (10 in a 21-22 round season) and may keep developing its engine and test with race riders. Higher ranks have fewer aero updates (Rank A is most restricted; Rank D may take two aero updates), fewer wildcards and far fewer test tyres (Rank A reduced to 75 sets for the season versus 115 for Rank D). For 2026 the system is adapted to allow limited dual development of 1000cc (Michelin) and 2027 850cc (Pirelli) machinery.

Trackside and light-panel signals control the race. A yellow flag marks danger ahead - riders must slow and overtaking is prohibited within the zone. A white flag indicates rain so riders may pit to switch machines (flag-to-flag). A red flag stops the session - all riders return slowly to the pit lane. A black flag with a rider's number orders that rider into the pits. A black flag with an orange disc signals a technical/mechanical problem and the rider must leave the track. A blue flag warns a rider being lapped, and the chequered flag ends the session.

MotoGP races are normally stopped by red flag (there is no rolling Safety Car as in some four-wheel series; track cleanup is done under yellow or stoppage). When Race Direction stops a race, riders return to the grid or pit lane. A race may be restarted over the remaining or a reduced number of laps; the grid for the restart is normally taken from the order on the last completed lap before the stoppage. Quick-start procedures and a sighting/warm-up lap precede a restart.

The signature in-race sanction is the Long Lap Penalty: the rider must, within a set number of laps, ride through a designated extended run-off route at a corner, losing roughly 2-4 seconds without rejoining ahead of the line. It is used for incidents such as irresponsible riding, causing a collision, or exceeding track limits in the race. A more serious offence draws multiple Long Lap Penalties. A jump start (moving before the lights) is penalised with a double Long Lap Penalty.

Race Direction and the FIM MotoGP Stewards may also impose: a Ride-Through Penalty (enter the pit lane and rejoin without stopping), a time penalty added to the rider's race time (up to a maximum), position penalties (drop one or more places in the result), grid penalties for a subsequent race, disqualification from the session, fines (up to about €50,000), warnings, and withdrawal of points. Most disciplinary penalties are served in the Sunday Grand Prix rather than the Sprint. Exceeding the pit-lane speed limit also draws a penalty.

A penalty that cannot be served in the race in which the offence occurred must be served at the next event of the Championship in which the rider participates, normally in the Grand Prix. New for 2026, an unserved Long Lap, Ride-Through or grid-position penalty is cancelled after 365 days if circumstances (such as injury or absence) prevent the rider from serving it within that period. The Moto3 class typically receives harsher penalties for the same infraction to create comparable race impact and discourage dangerous riding.

For 2026 the regulations tighten the rules on rejoining after a crash. A rider who falls is subject to stricter conditions on remounting and continuing - effectively a 'soft ban' on dangerous crash restarts - to prevent riders rejoining the track in an unsafe manner or position that could endanger others. Marshals and Race Direction control whether and how a fallen rider may continue, and unsafe rejoining is penalised.

Each MotoGP team enters two contracted riders for the season, giving a grid of 22 riders across 11 teams in 2026. If a contracted rider is injured or absent, a team may field a substitute (replacement) rider with the approval of Race Direction and the organisers; a substitute may score championship points. Teams and manufacturers may also enter a limited number of wildcard entries (extra one-off riders), the number depending on concession rank.

Riders must wear homologated safety equipment: a full-face helmet meeting the required standard, a leather suit with back, chest and elbow/knee protection, an airbag system (mandatory) that deploys in a crash, gloves and boots. The bike must carry an approved transponder for timing and the spec ECU. Machines and equipment are subject to scrutineering; non-compliant equipment prevents the rider from taking part.