MotoGP sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta presented a first draught of measures to the five manufacturers involved in the premier class in Sepang, aimed to allow Japanese manufacturers to make up some of the ground lost to European marques this year. Honda and Yamaha are currently at the bottom of the constructors’ rankings, with the former winning just one race and losing Marc Marquez to Gresini Ducati for next year amid a difficult season, and Yamaha having only three grand prix podiums in 2023.

This first version of the concessions, which would be implemented beginning with the 2024 season, would be “acceptable” to Ducati, according to a source at the factory. These concessions will include restrictions on tyres, testing, and engines, as well as the inability to participate in wildcard races. However, neither KTM nor Aprilia are willing to accept the measures because they are pushing for additional cuts for the Bologna-based manufacturer, which Ducati is hesitant to accept.

The problem of concessions will be tough to resolve because two manufacturers are opposed to it, Honda explained. The championship’s proposed system would be based on a point system based on the classification of the constructors’ world championship, which is currently led by Ducati with 601 points, followed by KTM (326), Aprilia (287), and the two Japanese marquees, Honda and Yamaha, with 166 and 165 points, respectively. The more points there are, therefore, the larger the cuts.

Tyres would be the focal point of this new concession system. Currently, each rider is entitled to 200 units per season, which can be used for both grand prix and testing. The units available to each rider would range from 230 (for Yamaha and Honda) to 170 (for Ducati), with KTM and Aprilia in the middle. The number of wildcards would also be determined by points, leaving Ducati out and increasing the number of invitations given to Japanese manufacturers.

Although the number of private test days would stay unchanged in theory, the reduction in the number of tyres available would limit the number of test days available, reducing them for the riders of the manufacturers with the most points. While Ducati is willing to accept these terms, its European rivals are demanding far more, namely that the number of tyres is reduced to 140 every year, a figure that Bologna is unwilling to accept, especially since KTM and Aprilia can maintain 200 per season.

Another recommended point is the number of engines that each rider will have per season, which is now seven and would be higher in the case of teams with fewer points. The precise figure has yet to be determined.