BMW admits 2027 MotoGP entry “not viable” as it weighs up options

With three major European manufacturers already on the MotoGP grid – Ducati, KTM and Aprilia (from the Piaggio Group) – the absence of German giant BMW has always felt like an anomaly. More so given its current presence and success in the WorldSBK production bike series with Toprak Razgatlioglu.

BMW has flirted with the idea of entering MotoGP since its birth in 2002, when the new 990cc prototype era began. Back then, the project never progressed beyond a life-sized mock-up.

Another opportunity arose in 2022, when Suzuki announced its withdrawal. At that time, several paddock figures tried to convince the German manufacturer to purchase the Hamamatsu-based team’s structure, but the attempt was blocked by Dorna.

The latest move, carried out in complete secrecy, was an attempt to acquire KTM’s racing division earlier this year. However, the sale never materialised as Bajaj, which took over KTM, ultimately gave the Austrian company the green light to continue its racing project.

After this most recent setback, BMW seemed to have shelved any short-term plans to enter MotoGP – particularly in light of Razgatlioglu’s decision to move to Yamaha for his own MotoGP debut next season. A key part of the envisioned MotoGP entry revolved around the Turkish rider being the centrepiece of the effort.

“2027 is not viable for BMW”

Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, nonetheless left the door open in an interview with Australian Motor Cycle News in late July. “We haven’t made a final decision yet,” said Flasch when asked whether BMW would enter MotoGP along with the upcoming regulation changes in 2027 – a deadline that would already be tight for an all-new project.

“The topic of MotoGP has been under discussion at BMW for a long time and I can assure you that no definitive answer has been given,” said the German, leaving a glimmer of hope as the company continues to weigh up its “strategic decision”.

Toprak Razgatlioglu, BMW Motorrad

Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / LAT Images / via Getty Images

With the 2027 introduction of 850cc engines, reduced aerodynamics, the elimination of ride-height devices and a new tire supplier, the series presents a near-clean slate – an ideal scenario for a new manufacturer like BMW to enter.

However, Flasch admitted that BMW has yet to begin any technical development for a MotoGP bike. “First, we’ll make the strategic decision, and then we’ll define the technical path to follow. 2027 is definitely not viable for us,” he stated, cooling any rising expectations.

“We’re constantly working on our motorsport strategy: GP is one option, off-road is another and, besides, WSBK is doing fairly well – it’s just very European. So please give us a few more months, and we’ll give you an answer,” he concluded, leaving the door slightly ajar for a last-minute entry.

What’s holding the German manufacturer back?

Beyond Razgatlioglu’s departure, another likely reason BMW is hesitant to commit is Dorna’s decision, following Suzuki’s exit, to cap the MotoGP grid at 22 bikes, meaning the current 11 teams. Of those, five are factory teams and six are satellite teams. All manufacturers have a partner team except Ducati, which has two: Gresini and VR46.

In conversations with Dorna, CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has consistently maintained that if BMW wants to join MotoGP, it must do so by partnering with one of the existing private teams – similar to how Aprilia initially entered with Gresini in 2015. The Italian brand was finally granted its own grid slots in 2022.

Therefore, even though BMW Motorrad’s CEO firmly states that “2027 is definitely not viable for us,” the possible sale of Herve Poncharal’s Tech3 team to an investment group led by Guenther Steiner could represent a way for BMW to enter MotoGP with the upcoming rule changes in just 18 months. That said, the timeframe now seems nearly impossible.