Ducati drops from rank A in latest MotoGP concessions update

MotoGP is entering the final stage of its current concessions system before the new technical rules arrive in 2027. From that season, every manufacturer will begin again from the same starting point as the championship moves into a new era with 850cc bikes and Pirelli tyres.

The concessions system is designed to help manufacturers improve their performance. Every six months, MotoGP looks at the points each factory has scored over the previous 12 months. The results decide which concessions rank each manufacturer will have for the next six months. These rankings affect testing, engine development and wildcard entries.

After the German Grand Prix, which was the halfway point of the 2026 season, there were several important changes.

Ducati has dropped from Rank A to Rank B for the first time since the current concessions system was introduced in 2024. The Italian manufacturer scored 84.5% of the available points over the last 12 months. To stay in Rank A, a manufacturer must score at least 85%, so Ducati missed the target by only half a percentage point.

Aprilia has made good progress by moving up from Rank C to Rank B. The Italian factory collected 72% of the available points, putting it comfortably inside the Rank B range, which is between 60% and 85%. KTM remains in Rank C after scoring 49.8% of the available points, which was not enough to reach Rank B.

Honda has moved back down to Rank D after spending only half a season in Rank C. The Japanese manufacturer scored 31.8% of the available points over the past year, below the 35% needed to stay in Rank C. Yamaha also remains in Rank D after collecting 23.5% of the available points.

Ducati will now enjoy some extra benefits thanks to its move to Rank B. The factory can use three wildcard entries during the next six months after being unable to enter wildcard riders for more than two years. These appearances could be given to long-time test rider Michele Pirro or World Superbike Championship leader Nicolo Bulega, who is widely expected to join the VR46 team on a factory-supported deal next season.

Ducati will also receive 190 test tyres instead of 170 while keeping one aerodynamic update during the season.

For Aprilia, the move to Rank B brings only a small change. The factory's number of test tyres is reduced from 220 to 190, while the rest of its concessions remain largely the same.

Honda gains the biggest advantage by returning to Rank D. The factory can once again test with its full-time race riders, receives 40 extra test tyres and has open engine development. These benefits are designed to help manufacturers close the gap to the front of the field more quickly.

The current concessions system will end after the 2026 season. When the new technical regulations begin in 2027, every MotoGP manufacturer will start in Rank B, giving all factories the same concessions as they begin work with completely new motorcycles.

Many manufacturers have already shifted their attention away from developing the current 1000cc machines. Instead, engineers are focusing on the new 850cc prototypes that will race from 2027. Some riders have already tested these bikes at Brno, and further testing is planned after the Austrian Grand Prix. The first official test where every team is expected to run the new motorcycles together will take place in Valencia on 1 December, marking another important step towards MotoGP's next generation.