MotoGP will ban wildcards from 2027 onwards.

The romanticism of the Wildcard in MotoGPIt's over. On Thursday, April 30, 2026, the Grand Prix Commission met, making several decisions regarding the future of the World Championship. Representatives from the FIM, MotoGP, and other affiliated bodies were present in large numbers to organize this meeting and prepare for the new era of the category. The most radical and noteworthy decision of this meeting was the complete elimination of the Wildcard rule.

In practical terms, alongside the transition from the 1000cc to the 850cc era, all factories must cease considering the use of wildcard entries from the start of the 2027 season. Furthermore, wildcard entries will also be prohibited during 2026 for the use of 2027 generation motorcycles, for testing purposes, for example. This applies with immediate effect.

What is a wildcard entry in MotoGP?

Similar to several other categories – particularly in motorsport – the Wildcard involves bringing a guest rider onto the grid on a one-off basis. In fact, when a factory called upon an additional rider in such a context, a motorcycle was added to the grid, at the expense of the manufacturer deciding to enter its Wildcard entry. The benefit was twofold. In addition to providing riding opportunities for a rider generally drawn from the team's pool of test riders, it allowed the rider in question to gain experience while also conducting a sort of full-scale test within the context of a Grand Prix weekend.

Why this ban?

The biggest technical upheaval in MotoGP in the last 20 years, the switch from 1000cc to 850cc is marked by several major changes. In practice, the aerodynamics of the motorcycles are intended to be reduced, while ride height control systems are banned. Presumably, the aim of this ban is to provide more regulation for the sport during this transition.

Furthermore, although related, the underlying goal would be to limit costs for the less wealthy teams in the paddock and to better control a form of one-upmanship by the richest. Finally, in line with these new regulations, all manufacturers will start on an equal footing (Rank B). The aim being, like the F1that only permanent pilots are involved in the discussions.

On the bright side for those feeling nostalgic, the Moto2 and Moto3 categories are not affected by this ban on Wild Card entries. For these championships, everything will remain as it is today. Finally, it's important to clarify that replacing permanent riders, particularly in case of injury, does not fall under the Wild Card system. A non-permanent rider could therefore join the grid on a temporary basis, but only within this limit. The question will inevitably arise regarding the justification and effectiveness of this ban, particularly concerning its expected consequences in MotoGP.

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