Álex Márquez has disclosed that MotoGP riders reached a verbal agreement during the 2024 season to collectively advocate for changes to the sport’s technical and sporting regulations, aiming to improve racing quality and reduce costs for satellite teams.
The revelation came in an interview with Motorsport.com published on November 12, 2024, where the Gresini Racing rider explained that the informal pact emerged from growing frustration among competitors about the dominance of factory machines and the widening performance gap between official and customer entries.
“We had several private discussions throughout the year,” Márquez said. “It wasn’t formal, nothing written down, but there was a clear understanding that we needed to push for more equal machinery, better tire allocation, and a fairer distribution of development resources. It was a verbal agreement among riders to speak with one voice when the opportunity arose.”
The Spanish rider, brother of eight-time world champion Marc Márquez, emphasized that the initiative was not about challenging team orders or factory privileges directly, but about creating a unified rider perspective to influence decisions made by the Grand Prix Commission and Dorna Sports.
Márquez cited the 2024 Aragon Grand Prix as a turning point, where multiple riders expressed concerns publicly after the race about inconsistent tire performance and the difficulty of overtaking due to aerodynamic turbulence — issues they believe disproportionately affect satellite teams using older-spec machinery.
“After Aragon, it became clear we weren’t just talking about our own situations,” he added. “We were seeing the same patterns repeat: riders on 2023 bikes struggling to qualify in the top ten, let alone race for podiums, while factory riders had access to the latest upgrades mid-season. That’s when the verbal agreement solidified — we needed to act together.”
The Gresini rider confirmed that the discussions included representatives from various teams and manufacturers, though no formal rider’s union or collective bargaining structure exists in MotoGP as of late 2024. Instead, the coordination relied on informal channels, including team managers and the Riders’ Safety Commission, which has expanded its role beyond safety to include sporting and technical feedback.
Márquez declined to name specific participants in the verbal agreement, citing the need to protect the confidentiality of the conversations. Though, he indicated that riders from Ducati, Yamaha, Honda, and KTM-affiliated teams were involved, reflecting a cross-manufacturer concern.
“It’s not about blaming any one manufacturer,” he clarified. “It’s about recognizing that the current system favors those with the biggest budgets, and that makes the championship less competitive and less exciting for fans. We want MotoGP to stay at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, but not at the cost of having only two or three bikes capable of winning each week.”
The comments arrive amid ongoing debates about the 2027 technical regulations, which Dorna and the FIM are currently drafting. Proposals include standardized aerodynamics, a spec engine option for satellite teams, and a revised concession system to help manufacturers catch up.
Márquez expressed cautious optimism that the riders’ unified feedback could shape the final 2027 rules. “We’re not asking for special treatment,” he said. “We’re asking for a level playing field where talent and strategy matter more than the size of your budget. If we can achieve that, the racing will be better for everyone.”
As of November 2024, no official statement has been issued by the Grand Prix Commission regarding rider-led regulatory input. Dorna Sports has not confirmed receipt of a formal proposal from the riders, though Márquez suggested that elements of their discussions were relayed through team representatives during regulation workshops held in September and October.
The next opportunity for riders to influence the 2027 regulations is expected at the FIM’s annual regulations summit in December 2024, where team principals, manufacturers, and governing body officials will finalize the framework. Riders are typically consulted through their team managers, though Márquez’s comments suggest a desire for more direct representation.
For now, the verbal agreement remains an informal understanding — one that Márquez believes could evolve into a more structured rider voice in MotoGP’s governance if the current trajectory continues.
“We’re not trying to revolutionize the sport overnight,” he concluded. “But we do want to produce sure that when the rules are written, the people who actually ride the bikes have a real say in how they’re shaped. That seems only fair.”
The 2025 MotoGP season is scheduled to begin in March 2025 at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar, with testing set to commence in February. Any regulatory changes agreed upon for 2027 will not take effect before the 2027 season, leaving the current technical framework intact for at least two more years.
As riders prepare for the off-season, Márquez’s comments highlight a growing awareness among competitors that the future of MotoGP may depend not just on engineering or sponsorship, but on their ability to unite around a shared vision for the sport.
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