Yamaha to become exclusive Moto3 supplier in 2028 deal

Yamaha will become the exclusive motorcycle supplier for the FIM Moto3 World Championship starting in 2028, in a six-year deal through 2033 that will replace the current multi-manufacturer format. The announcement came Thursday at the Dutch Grand Prix in Assen. Moto3 currently uses 250cc four-stroke prototype machines from Honda and KTM, but the class will be standardized around a Yamaha bike under the new plan.

MotoGP chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpeleta said the change is aimed at improving safety, creating more equal competition and lifting racing quality, while also cutting costs to about half of current levels. He said the move should not weaken Moto3’s status as a world championship, pointing to Moto2 as an example that a spec-engine formula can still produce a respected and competitive series. The new Yamaha prototype is expected to weigh 120 kilograms and produce about 90 horsepower, with one report saying it will be built around Yamaha’s R7 engine.

Yamaha said the new Moto3 machine will be a racing prototype based on its CP2 production platform and re-engineered for Grand Prix competition with a better power-to-weight ratio and a full-size chassis for young riders. Prototype testing is scheduled for later in 2026, with a formal unveiling planned for 2027. A lower-spec version is expected to be introduced in the Moto3 Junior World Championship in 2029, and MotoGP and Yamaha are also discussing possible use of the platform in other regional championships as part of the development path for young riders.