MotoGP Entry Possible, Says New Head of BMW Motorrad
BMW might have passed on the opportunity to enter MotoGP by not taking over the Suzuki grid slots. However, Markus Flasch, who was appointed as Head of BMW Motorrad at the end of last year, has left the door open for potential future involvement in the premier class.
In an interview with German publication Motorrad, Flasch stated, “BMW M has been a MotoGP vehicle partner for years. As the BMW M boss, I have attended all the races, I am familiar with the key figures, and we are a brand that has a presence there.
“However, it must make sense for us, and that’s why we are closely evaluating the situation. I wouldn’t dismiss it.”
During the February Sepang test, Aprilia’s Massimo Rivola mentioned that it would be ‘nice’ for MotoGP to welcome a new manufacturer to replace Suzuki once the technical regulations change in 2027.
Rivola even highlighted BMW, referring to the testing speed of their new star World Superbike recruit, Toprak Razgatlioglu, on the S1000RR.
Aprilia utilized its RSV4 WorldSBK machine as the foundation for their factory MotoGP return, evolving the bike into the current, successful ‘RS-GP’ prototype.
“I’ve seen BMW perform quite impressively in Superbike testing with Razgatlioglu. So, it would be a welcome addition,” Rivola remarked.
Dorna, the MotoGP promoter, is still aiming to attract a sixth manufacturer to the championship. Following Suzuki’s unexpected departure, the current manufacturers include Ducati, Aprilia, KTM, Yamaha, and Honda.
The upcoming regulation changes slated for 2027, which involve a shift to smaller engines, may serve as a catalyst to draw a significant new manufacturer into the MotoGP series.
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