The FIM has instituted a ban on 2027-spec MotoGP bike testing until the conclusion of the 2025 season, a decisive step towards shaping the future of premier-class motorcycle racing.
The move, announced by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) in late April, arrives as the championship prepares for a sweeping technical overhaul set to take effect in 2027.
The new regulation change prohibiting 2027-spec MotoGP bike testing before the conclusion of the current campaign is a direct response to the rapid pace of prototype development among manufacturers some of whom have already made significant progress on their next-generation machines.
By enforcing this moratorium, MotoGP aims to ensure a level playing field and maintain competitive balance as the sport transitions into a new era defined by sustainability, safety, and closer racing.
The new ban specifies that no manufacturer may conduct on-track testing of motorcycles built to the forthcoming 2027 regulations during the 2025 season.
Testing of next-generation prototypes will only be permitted from November 17, 2025, following the conclusion of the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix which is scheduled for November 16.
According to the FIM announcement: “An agreement has been made between the manufacturers that they will not test 2027 specification machines during the 2025 season. This means testing a motorcycle of 2027 specification will only be allowed from 17 November 2025.”
This timing ensures that all manufacturers regardless of their current rate of development will enter the crucial final phase of preparation for the 2027 season on equal footing.
The first official pre-season test for 2026 will take place at the same Valencia circuit just two days later further emphasizing the tightly controlled nature of the testing window.
The rationale behind this unprecedented ban is rooted in the magnitude of the technical changes coming in 2027. MotoGP will bid farewell to its current 1000cc engines, which have powered the grid since 2012, in favor of downsized 850cc units.
MORE MOTOGP:
MotoGP to introduce 850cc engines ban ride height in 2027 regulations
Pirelli confirmed as MotoGP tyre supplier starting 2027
FIM confirms MotoGP engine specification freeze for 2025 and 2026 seasons
The decision to ban 2027-spec MotoGP bike testing until the end of 2025 was reached during a meeting at the recent Spanish Grand Prix.
It reflects a consensus among manufacturers that allowing early on-track development of the new machines could create an uneven playing field particularly given the scale of the technical regulation changes ahead.
By synchronizing the start of prototype testing MotoGP hopes to avoid a scenario in which wealthier or more advanced manufacturers gain an insurmountable advantage before the new regulations even take effect.
