MotoGP expects to reach a new commercial agreement with its manufacturers for the 2027-2031 cycle, but the deal is not done. Carmelo Ezpeleta, speaking to Autosport, projected confidence after nearly a year of talks between the series promoter and the manufacturers, while the core business structure of MotoGP’s next era remains under negotiation. The issue sits at the center of MotoGP’s next commercial checkpoint.
From 2027, the championship enters a major rules reset, and the business terms around that period will help define how manufacturers commit money, technology, political capital, and long-term planning to the series. The promoter, now operating as MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, wants alignment before that cycle begins. The manufacturers want clarity on what they are buying into.
Autosport reported on May 6, 2026, that negotiations between the promoter and manufacturers have been running for nearly a year. Ezpeleta said MotoGP is confident it will “reach an agreement” over the next commercial cycle, which is planned to cover 2027 through 2031. That confidence matters, but it should not be confused with completion.
The article makes clear talks are still ongoing, and key aspects of the championship’s future structure have not yet been settled. That distinction is the story. MotoGP is not presenting a crisis.
It is also not announcing a breakthrough. The promoter is trying to secure the commercial foundation for the first five years of the new technical era, while manufacturers assess the costs, influence, and strategic value of remaining deeply embedded in the championship. The public message from Ezpeleta is reassurance.
The practical reality is that the agreement still has to be finished. The 2027-2031 window carries extra weight because it lines up with MotoGP’s next rules era. Manufacturer agreements are never just paperwork around participation.
They influence the economics of the paddock, the confidence behind factory programs, the balance of power between rights holder and competitors, and the long-term shape of the product sold to fans, broadcasters, sponsors, and host markets. When a promoter says it expects agreement, the market hears stability. When the deal is still unresolved after nearly a year, the market also hears leverage being tested.
Autosport’s report identifies the promoter as MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, reflecting the commercial entity now handling the series. That detail is more than corporate housekeeping. MotoGP’s commercial framework has to satisfy multiple parties with different incentives: the promoter wants a coherent championship with predictable participants and sellable growth; manufacturers want value, influence, and rules that justify the scale of factory investment; teams need continuity; and the wider business around the series needs to know what MotoGP is becoming from 2027 onward.
Ezpeleta’s confidence gives MotoGP a useful public posture. It signals that the parties remain engaged, that the promoter sees a path to agreement, and that the championship does not want the commercial talks to overshadow the sporting product. But the longer talks run, the more each unresolved term matters.
A five-year cycle from 2027 to 2031 would cover the opening phase of the new regulations, so the agreement will likely shape not only participation but also governance leverage and commercial expectations during a critical transition. The manufacturer side is central because MotoGP’s identity is still built around factory involvement. A championship can survive many forms of tension, but it needs credible manufacturer commitment to maintain technical prestige, competitive depth, and global business relevance.
That is why the unresolved nature of these talks matters even with Ezpeleta’s optimistic line. Confidence is a signal. Signatures are the event.
- The outcome will affect manufacturer commitments, governance leverage, and the commercial model around the championship’s next phase. The implications are straightforward and significant. MotoGP has public confidence from its long-time leadership, but not yet the formal settlement that would turn confidence into commercial certainty.
That leaves the series in a familiar but delicate position: the sporting calendar moves on, the technical reset approaches, and the business architecture has to catch up. For manufacturers, the agreement will help define the value of factory involvement. For the promoter, it will define how much control, continuity, and commercial momentum it can carry into 2027.
What's next: The next marker is not another expression of optimism. It is the actual agreement. Until MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group and the manufacturers complete the 2027-2031 framework, the championship remains in negotiation mode.
Ezpeleta’s comments, as reported by Autosport, suggest the promoter expects a deal. The unresolved details will decide how strong that deal is, how much buy-in it commands, and how firmly MotoGP enters its next rules era. Read at Autosport
Why this matters
The next commercial cycle will help decide what MotoGP looks like at the start of the 2027 rules era. Manufacturer deals shape more than grid presence: they affect governance influence, factory spending, technical credibility, and the promoter’s ability to sell a stable global product. Ezpeleta’s confidence gives the paddock a steadier signal, but the lack of a completed agreement keeps the real business question open. MotoGP needs commitment, not just optimism, before the reset begins.
Frequently asked
What is MotoGP trying to agree with manufacturers?
MotoGP is working on a commercial agreement with its manufacturers for the 2027-2031 cycle. According to Autosport, the talks involve the future structure of the championship and have been ongoing for nearly a year. The exact terms have not been finalized, so the public position is confidence rather than confirmation.
What did Carmelo Ezpeleta say about the talks?
Carmelo Ezpeleta told Autosport that MotoGP is confident it will reach an agreement with manufacturers over the next commercial cycle. His comments present the negotiations as moving toward a deal, but Autosport also reported that talks remain ongoing and key aspects are still unresolved.
Why does the 2027-2031 cycle matter so much?
The cycle begins with MotoGP’s 2027 rules era, so the commercial framework will shape the early years of a major technical reset. It can influence manufacturer commitment, investment levels, governance leverage, and how the promoter positions the championship commercially through 2031.
Is the manufacturer agreement already completed?
No. Based on Autosport’s report, the agreement has not yet been completed. MotoGP is confident it will reach a deal, but negotiations between MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group and the manufacturers are still ongoing after nearly a year of discussions.
