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Dorna in 2019 revolutionized the Moto2 class by ditching Honda's 600 cc 4-cylinder engines for the 765 cc 3-cylinder Triumph; for 2027, however, it has decided that MotoGP will take a step backward, reducing its displacement to 850 cc (also losing its lowering devices and decreasing its aerodynamics). Only Moto3 (unchanged technically since its inception in 2012), whose future has been under discussion for some time, is missing from the list. The idea is to have 500 cc twin-cylinder engines, even with a single supplier, at low cost project that is not attracting too much interest among manufacturers, who also are not averse to changes in the entry category to the MotoGP.
KTM has always been a key player in the smaller category, first in 125 and then in Moto3, in addition to supplying its own bikes for the Rookies Cup and other training championships. Pit Beirer, director of motorsport for the Austrian manufacturer, is pondering the future.
"We prefer manufacturer competition, we have been in Moto3 forever and it would be interesting to continue. But there is nothing decided yet, the rules for the future are not yet clear and we are not even close to the time to make a decision," he explained.
Dorna's desire was to debut the new Moto3 in 2027, along with the new MotoGP, but that probably won't be possible. For years the cadet class has become a challenge between KTM and Honda, and no other manufacturer has wanted to intervene between them (although Ducati had thought about it). The technological battle is fascinating, but it has major economic downsides.
Beirer pointed this out, "the battle between us and Honda costs a lot of money, so maybe it's time to stop it. Dorna's idea is to have a single engine with low costs - were his words - It is true that in Moto3 we sell the bikes to the teams, but it is impossible in this way to cover the development costs. The current powertrain is really good, but it is very expensive, and at the end of the day, the goal of Moto3 is to help young riders grow. Everyone wants to see the best talent emerge, and maybe no one is interested in a fight between manufacturers with costs that are too high."
The time for change seems to have come; it remains to be seen who has the will to supply these new engines.
