The decline in competitiveness of Japanese manufacturers in MotoGP in recent years was evident – to the point that they did not secure any victories last year. Part of the difficulties originated in the years of the pandemic, where containment measures were much more aggressive in Japan than in Europe. In 2024, the concessions system was revised, providing significant assistance to Honda and Yamaha.
Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of Dorna, explained, as reported by Marca: ‘The Covid-19 pandemic caused much more damage in Japan. It had nothing to do with it. Japan completely stopped, and in Europe, work continued, creating differences that returned the concessions to allow them to recover lost time. I am sure that, first, they will return, and second, it is fair because Honda and Yamaha did the same at the time’.
The Spanish executive added: ‘When they won the championship, they were generous enough to provide concessions that allowed other manufacturers, first Ducati and then Suzuki, KTM, and Aprilia, to become competitive again’.