MotoGP takes next shift towards F1 with aim to end factory and independent team disparity

MotoGP teams and series promoter Dorna are discussing the desire to eliminate the current differences between independent and factory squads.

The championship is entering a particularly intense period, as wile the buzz caused by Marc Marquez’s return to the top has been described as one of the most remarkable comebacks in sports history, the purchase of Dorna by Liberty Media has put everyone in the paddock on constant alert.

Some changes have already come into effect, such as the modification of the pre-race national anthem ceremony. Others are still to come, and among those, several take inspiration from the operational model used in Formula 1, whose commercial rights are also owned by Liberty Media.

This period is therefore crucial, as the teams are currently negotiating with Dorna the contract that will define the legal framework for the next five-year cycle, from 2027 to 2031.

In addition to a fairer revenue distribution among teams, one of the points under discussion - and one that is practically a done deal - is the elimination of the distinction between factory and independent teams.

From 2027, all teams will be considered independent, in a move that mirrors F1's structure. The goal is for every team to receive the same financial support from Dorna, though the exact amount has yet to be agreed upon as the process is proving to be far from simple.

Fabio Di Giannantonio, VR46 Racing Team, Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Team

Photo by: Andreas Solaro / AFP via Getty Images

At present, each private team receives €5million, which covers the cost of leasing motorcycles from the manufacturers. The constructors, in turn, receive €3m for renting out their prototypes, a practice that currently applies across the board.

This shift is also intended to encourage new investment into the championship - companies looking to acquire all or part of existing teams, following a strategy already common in F1, where most competitors have multiple shareholders rather than a single owner. Mercedes's grand prix team, for instance, is equally owned by Mercedes-Benz Group AG, the INEOS group, and team principal Toto Wolff.

In MotoGP, the most recent case is that of former Haas F1 team principal Guenther Steiner and the investment group accompanying him, who just over a month ago completed the acquisition of Tech3.

According to information obtained by Autosport, KTM has also been exploring the possibility of selling a percentage of its racing division, which was previously spun off as a separate entity and now operates from Switzerland rather than Austria.