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OPINION: Why A Budget Cap In MotoGP Is A Terrible Idea

David Emmett — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 17:18:23 +0000

OPINION: Why A Budget Cap In MotoGP Is A Terrible Idea

In a recent interview with Motorsport.com's Oriol Puigdemont, the Chief Sporting Officer of the MotoGP group, Carlos Ezpeleta, proposed introducing a budget cap in MotoGP. "From the organization's side, we absolutely want to pursue a budget cap, and we've been very clear with the manufacturers about that," Ezpeleta told Puigdemont. "It is important to bring a degree of rationality to the way we do things."

"It is going to be very difficult to get there," Ezpeleta acknowledged. "It is also very ambitious because the manufacturers are extremely connected to their factories, and all of them have different realities, different origins and different organizational structures. It is something we have to study, but where there is a will, there is a way."

It is going to be difficult to get to a budget cap because it is a spectacularly bad and unnecessary idea. Ezpeleta rightly points out that the manufacturers all have different realities and organizational structures. And he then goes on to undermine his own argument. "We have never had a budget cap in MotoGP because there has never been a need for one."

Controlling costs

Ezpeleta is exactly right here. There has never been a budget cap because there has never been a need for one. And there still isn't a need for one. Because since the 2008 financial crisis, Ezpeleta's father, Carmelo Ezpeleta, working with IRTA and MotoGP technical director has found much more effective ways of controlling costs.

David Emmett Fri, 14/Aug/2026 - 17:18

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Friday MotoGP News Round Up: Rio Launch, Ezpeleta Interview, Qatar Date, Rider Transfer Window

David Emmett — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 16:00:23 +0000

Friday MotoGP News Round Up: Rio Launch, Ezpeleta Interview, Qatar Date, Rider Transfer Window

Silverstone was a busy period for MotoGP. After the summer break, there was time for meetings, discussions, and announcements. In those meetings some interesting, remarkable, and downright unworkable ideas got bandied around. Here's a round up of the latest news items that caught my eye, including the 2027 MotoGP launch, an interview with MSEG Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta, and proposals for a rider transfer window and a budget cap.

Riding in Rio - 2027 MotoGP Launch

The 2026 MotoGP season launch in Kuala Lumpur was judged a major success. Huge crowds turned out to watch the MotoGP riders ride their actual race bikes - freshly shipped in from the Sepang MotoGP test - down the streets of the Malaysian capital.

David Emmett Fri, 14/Aug/2026 - 16:00

Stephen McClements Shoots Silverstone - The Weekend Noale Ruled

David Emmett — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 17:12:16 +0000

Stephen McClements Shoots Silverstone - The Weekend Noale Ruled

There was a time that Raul Fernandez seemed like a waste of a MotoGP seat. The turnaround in the last 18 months has been spectacular. That was an unstoppable win at Silverstone.

David Emmett Thu, 13/Aug/2026 - 17:12

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Silverstone MotoGP Sunday Subscriber Notes: The Redemption Of Raul Fernandez

David Emmett — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 08:30:46 +0000

Silverstone MotoGP Sunday Subscriber Notes: The Redemption Of Raul Fernandez

Are Aprilia the new rulers of MotoGP? An all-Aprilia podium at Silverstone suggests they are. I wrote why they are so good here on Friday. Then I wrote about it again on Saturday. So to save you having to read reruns, here's the short version: Aprilia have built a very balanced bike that turns exceptionally well through fast corners thanks to its ground effect aerodynamics, which they simply do better than anyone else. They have fixed the problems they had previously with braking stability, so now they just have a really, really good motorcycle. Maybe even a better motorcycle than the Ducati Desmosedici GP24.

David Emmett Tue, 11/Aug/2026 - 08:30

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Steve English: New rules, new reason for optimism in WorldSBK?

Steve English — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:30:00 +0000

Steve English: New rules, new reason for optimism in WorldSBK?

With a few days to assess the new rules package outlined for the future of WorldSBK, our expert Steve English gives his rundown on why it’s good news for production racing

Superbikes need to be slowed down! MotoGP can't be slower than WorldSBK! Bring in Superstock regulations! Supersport should be the premier class!

If you've followed WorldSBK for any length of time, you've heard every one of those arguments. We've heard those arguments almost exclusively from outside the WorldSBK paddock. Inside the paddock, though, the conversation has never really been about slowing the bikes down. It's about ensuring more manufacturers continue to invest.

The success of Next Generation Supersport points to what the future can hold for Superbike racing. Bikes with different capacities and different configurations lining up with more or less the same chance to win races. The new Superbike rules won't be as aggressive as the balancing seen in Sportbike and Supersport. But the philosophy is the same, with the goal to create conditions that encourage more manufacturers to invest in WorldSBK.

Steve English Mon, 10/Aug/2026 - 13:30

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Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 573: Aprilia Rule At Silverstone

David Emmett — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:13:13 +0000

Paddock Pass Podcast Episode 573: Aprilia Rule At Silverstone

Silverstone was clearly Aprilia country. But is that because of the bike, the riders, or did a mistake by Alex Marquez flatter to deceive? Adam, Neil and David talk through a brilliant performance by Raul Fernandez, Jorge Martin consolidating his grasp on the championship, Marco Bezzecchi's redemption, and why Ducati's "short blanket" is causing the problems. Plus moments, winners and losers, and more!

Please join our merry band of supporters by signing up to the Paddock Pass Podcast Patreon to get access to our Discord server and a host of exclusive content. Show you are listening to the world's smartest racing podcast by getting your t-shirts, caps, hoodies and more from our merch store. Enjoy the show!

David Emmett Mon, 10/Aug/2026 - 07:13

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2026 Motomutterers Standings After Round 12, Silverstone, United Kingdom

spongedaddy — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 16:30:59 +0000

2026 Motomutterers Standings After Round 12, Silverstone, United Kingdom

1. nh_painter - 1155	M. Mar - 200	M. Bez - 209	F. Bag - 143	A. Mar - 106	J. Mar - 240	A. Ogu - 203	D. Mor - 54
2. desmonator - 1078	M. Mar - 200	M. Bez - 209	F. Bag - 143	A. Mar - 106	P. Aco - 163	A. Ogu - 203	D. Mor - 54
3. mikedufty - 1078	M. Mar - 200	M. Bez - 209	A. Mar - 106	F. Bag - 143	P. Aco - 163

spongedaddy Sun, 09/Aug/2026 - 16:30

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2026 Moto3 Championship Standings After Round 12, Silverstone, United Kingdom

Zara Daniela — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:45:26 +0000

2026 Moto3 Championship Standings After Round 12, Silverstone, United Kingdom

Moto3 standings after Silverstone:

Zara Daniela Sun, 09/Aug/2026 - 14:45

Round Number

Year

2026

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2026 Silverstone Moto3 Race Result: Survival Of The Fittest

Zara Daniela — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 14:39:34 +0000

2026 Silverstone Moto3 Race Result: Survival Of The Fittest

Results and summary of the Moto3 race at Silverstone:

Zara Daniela Sun, 09/Aug/2026 - 14:39

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2026 MotoGP Championship Standings After Round 12, Silverstone, United Kingdom

Zara Daniela — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 13:27:31 +0000

2026 MotoGP Championship Standings After Round 12, Silverstone, United Kingdom

MotoGP standings after Silverstone:

Zara Daniela Sun, 09/Aug/2026 - 13:27

Round Number

Year

2026

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