Yamaha and MotoGP have come to an agreement that will see the Japanese manufacturer supply all motorcycles for the FIM Moto3 World Championship from 2028 to 2033.
We will consider this as good news.
During a joint press conference before the Dutch GP in Assen, MotoGP and Yamaha announced their new partnership, According to press release“The Grand Prix represents one of the most significant developments in motorcycle racing in recent years and reflects the shared commitment between Yamaha and MotoGP to strengthen the path for future generations of riders.”
The new Yamaha motorcycle will not be officially unveiled until sometime in 2027, following a “progressive communication program for the bike’s first public appearance.” This is the marketing equivalent of ‘You can’t see it yet, but you’ll want to.’ And they’re right, I’m curious.
The new Moto3 machine will be powered by a CP2-derived engine, which has been extensively re-engineered for Grand Prix competition. Yamaha is hoping to offer a better power-to-weight ratio than current Moto3 machines, as well as a full-size machine better suited to the size and riding style of current and future Moto3 riders.
Full size machine you say?
The Moto 3 series is currently made up of different manufacturers, with the only restriction being that the bikes must be powered by a 250 cc single-cylinder engine. However, this new six-year contract with Yamaha will turn Moto3 into a single-manufacturer series. Racers will need to ride a Yamaha prototype powered by a twin-cylinder motor, which is based on the 689 cc CP2 engine found in the R7 and Ténéré 700, among other machines.
Given the entirety of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, these new Moto 3 machines will bookend the series quite nicely, slotting below the Triumph-supplied 765 cc triple-cylinder powerplant found in Moto 2 and the upcoming 850 cc Moto GP machines currently being tested at Assen.
According to the press release, “The program will also support the wider rider development ecosystem through activities beyond the FIM Moto3 World Championship.” This includes the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship, which will begin in 2029, which is expected to adopt a lower-spec iteration of the CP2-powered machine.
Big changes are on the horizon for MotoGP, and the introduction of a bigger, more powerful Moto3 machine honestly makes a lot of sense. We’ll have to wait until 2027 to see this thing in person.
