Story Highlight
– BMW considers MotoGP entry but timeline is tight.
– Ducati, KTM, Aprilia currently represent European manufacturers.
– Failed attempts to join MotoGP since 2002.
– Razgatlioglu’s move to Yamaha complicates BMW’s plans.
– Tech3 sale may offer BMW a 2026 opportunity.
Full Story
BMW is continuing to explore opportunities for entering the MotoGP, but faces significant challenges including timing, availability of starting spots, and structural requirements. A potential deal could offer the solution the company seeks.
Although Ducati, KTM, and Aprilia currently represent Europe in the MotoGP, there has been a notable absence from BMW, which has been eyeing a MotoGP entry for many years. The Bavarian manufacturer has made a mark in the Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK), particularly with rider Toprak Razgatlioglu, yet their aspirations in the premier motorcycle racing event remain unfulfilled.
BMW’s attempts to break into the MotoGP have been met with hurdles over the years. A prototype was developed in 2002, but it never raced, and various efforts since then have also fallen short. In 2022, after Suzuki’s withdrawal, there were attempts to persuade BMW to acquire Suzuki’s structure, which were ultimately blocked by Dorna, MotoGP’s governing body. More recently, in early 2024, BMW explored the possibility of acquiring KTM’s racing division, but this plan collapsed when Bajaj opted to continue operating the Austrian team.
With Razgatlioglu set to switch to Yamaha in 2025, BMW’s timeline for entering the MotoGP has been further complicated, although CEO Markus Flasch remains optimistic. In a conversation with Australian Motorcycle News in July, Flasch stated: “We have not made a final decision yet.” He acknowledged that participation under the new regulations set for 2027 would be “definitely not feasible” unless strategic decisions are made first to outline their technical approach.
The prospect of 2027 does present enticing possibilities, as new regulations will include 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamic requirements, and the elimination of ride-height devices, alongside a new specification tire. These changes might create an ideal environment for a fresh start, but without an ongoing development program, even this “restart button” could prove too late for BMW.
Currently, the MotoGP grid is capped at 22 bikes, with eleven teams—including five factory teams—confirmed. Any new entrants will need to take over existing private teams, a route successfully taken by Aprilia with Gresini in 2015, before finally securing their own spots in 2022.
Amidst this backdrop, there are rumours regarding a potential sale of the Tech3 team to an investor group led by former Haas F1 team principal Günther Steiner. If this acquisition proceeds, it could enable BMW to enter the competition via Tech3 in 2026 under the new rules. However, Flasch cautions, “Please give us a few more months, and then we will provide an answer.”
