Yamaha Is Taking Over Moto3. Will This Usher In a New Era?

A one-make series we go!

Photo by: MotoGP

By: Justin W Coffey

Jun 30, at 7:24am ET

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Yamaha and MotoGP have come to an arrangement, one that would see the Japanese manufacturer supply all of the motorcycles for the FIM Moto3 World Championship from 2028 until 2033.

We’re going to chalk this up as good news.

During a joint press conference ahead of the Dutch GP in Assen, MotoGP and Yamaha announced their new partnership that, according to the press release, “represents one of the most significant developments in Grand Prix motorcycle racing in recent years and reflects a shared commitment between Yamaha and MotoGP to strengthen the pathway for future generations of riders.”

The new Yamaha motorcycle won’t be unveiled, officially, until some time in 2027, following a “progressive communication program leading up to the first public appearance of the bike.” That’s marketing speak for ‘you can’t see it yet, but you’ll want to.’ And they’re right, I am curious.

The new Moto3 machine will be powered by CP2-derived engines, which have been extensively re-engineered for Grand Prix competition. Yamaha is hoping to offer a superior power-to-weight ratio compared with the current Moto3 machines, while also providing a full-size machine better suited to the size and riding style of both current and future Moto3 riders.

Full-size machine you say?

The Moto3 series is currently made up of a variety of manufacturers, with the only restriction being that the bike must be powered by a 250cc single-cylinder engine. This new six-year contract with Yamaha, however, will reshape Moto3 into a single-manufacturer series. Racers will be required to ride Yamaha prototypes powered by a twin-cylinder motor, which is based on the 689cc CP2 engine found in the R7 and Tenere 700, among other machines.

When looking at the entirety of Grand Prix motorcycle racing, these new Moto3 machines will bookend the series quite well, situated below the Triumph-supplied 765cc triple-cylinder powerplants found in Moto2, and the forthcoming 850cc MotoGP machines currently being tested at Assen.

What do you think?

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According to the press release, “the program will also support the broader rider development ecosystem through activities extending beyond the FIM Moto3 World Championship.” This includes the FIM Moto3 Junior World Championship, which, beginning in 2029, is expected to adopt a lower-spec iteration of the CP2-powered machine.

Big changes are on the horizon for MotoGP, and the introduction of a larger, more powerful Moto3 machine honestly makes a lot of sense. We’ll just have to wait until 2027 to see the thing in the flesh.