Minimum rider salary in MotoGP could be introduced in 2027

MotoGP is reportedly close to introducing a minimum rider salary of €500,000 (around £440,000) for the 2027 MotoGP season, in a bid to close the gap between the highest and lowest earners. 

The report comes from Motorsport.com, which says MotoGP Sports Entertainment (formerly known as Dorna), has been in dialogue with teams for “some time”. It also goes on to say that the new proposal would not include performance-based bonuses. 

If the minimum rider salary does indeed get confirmed, it would apply to all full-time riders in the premier class, including rookies. 

The idea behind a minimum rider salary is to close the gap between the likes of Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo, who in recent years have been the sport’s highest earners with salaries that are believed to have exceeded €10 million (around £8.7 million), and those who are thought to have annual salaries in the region of €120,000 (roughly £105,000) or less. 

Motorsport.com says the clause is included in the draft contract between MotoGP Sports Entertainment and the teams for 2027-2031. 

Discussions regarding the commercial contract are expected to continue this week in Buriram, Thailand, ahead of the 2026 MotoGP season opener at the Chang International Circuit. 

The push for having a minimum salary in MotoGP is nothing new, as the issue was previously linked with the potential forming of a riders’ association, which ultimately never materialised. 

The proposal, should it go through, will be another new element to the championship which is already set for a massive set of technical regulation changes in 2027. That includes engines being reduced from 1,000cc to 850cc, while ride-height devices will be banned and aerodynamics will be more tightly regulated. All bikes will also use 100 per cent sustainable fuel.

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