FIM offers financial incentives to Moto2 riders from “underrepresented” nations
A new incentive scheme in the Moto2 European Championship will reward teams and young riders from underrepresented nations, reshaping how talent reaches MotoGP.
The Moto2 European Championship is rolling out a new incentive programme aimed at getting more underrepresented nations into the paddock.
For a number of years now, the top class of bike racing has been dominated by just two nations: Spain and Italy. Except for 2021, when France’s Fabio Quartararo won the crown, we have to go back to Casey Stoner’s 2011 world title title with Honda to find the last time the MotoGP title was won by a rider not from Spain or Italy.
That, it seems, is something that the FIM Europe wants to change.
From 2026 to 2028, teams can access financial support if they sign and succeed with riders from countries with more than 100,000 inhabitants but less than 10% representation across MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 at the start of the season. The scheme applies only if the rider has never been a permanent entry before and is 18 or under on 1 January of the racing year.
If a team’s rider wins the Moto2 European Championship and bags at least four race wins, the team will receive “€100,000.” The existing prize structure is being dropped.
There is also a new incentive programme for riders. Payments will be made at each race to riders who meet the same eligibility rules and finish inside the top 10. The full breakdown of rider incentives is available through the official link.
According to the organisers, “each of these incentives is designed to strengthen the support offered to countries and riders that are underrepresented in the MotoGP World Championship.” The idea is to widen access and level up opportunities for riders, no matter where they come from.
At present, only Spain and Italy exceed the 10 per cent threshold.
Clarifying the move, a statement from the FIM reads:
“Rider incentives will be granted to riders who are nationals of countries with an officially recognised population of more than 100,000 and that, at the start of each season, have less than 10 per cent representation in the MotoGP paddock – across MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3. They are available only when the rider has not previously been a permanent entry in the Moto3 or Moto2 World Championships, and the rider must be 18 years old or younger on January 1 of the year in which they compete.”
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!