Following an announcement that outlined a handful of changes to the current regulations, MotoGP is also putting an end to wildcard entries for teams and manufacturers starting in 2027. And people are none too happy about it.
This decision puts an end to a rule that provided manufacturers with the chance to test new materials or develop future prototypes. And according to the press release from MotoGP, it "will apply to all manufacturers, regardless of their Concession Rank."
What this rule change does is that it ends the long-standing practice of guest riders and test pilots appearing at Grand Prix races across the calendar. Yamaha, for example, had several wildcard entries towards the end of the 2025 season in an effort to develop its new V4 powerplant. And over the last few seasons, we’ve seen factory test riders like Dani Pedrosa (KTM) and Aleix Espargaro (Honda) make cameo appearances on the MotoGP grid.
This change puts a halt to non-injury-replacement entries for MotoGP manufacturers, which means that test riders can only enter future races if they are replacing an injured rider. Wildcards will still be permitted for the Moto2 and Moto3 classes, however, which seems weird...
Moreover, the press release from MotoGP also stated that wildcard entries with 850cc-powered machinery will not be permitted during the current 2026 season. No explanation as to why wildcard entries have been scrapped starting in 2027, but the decision is almost certainly going to have an impact on racers seeking a test riding position in the hope of using their wildcard outing to secure a full-time MotoGP seat.
Wildcard entries have remained a consistent part of the MotoGP season and have given past and future racers alike the opportunity to try their hand at Grand Prix machinery. One such wildcard stands out to me – Ben Spies.
Before he was a full-time MotoGP racer, Spies made his Grand Prix debut for Suzuki, competing in two rounds of the 2008 season. His first wildcard appearance occurred at the British Grand Prix at Donington Park as an injury replacement for Loris Capirossi. Spies finished 14th, which convinced Suzuki to offer the American rider two more wildcard opportunities later in the season at Laguna Seca and Indianapolis, where he finished 8th and 6th, respectively.
Did these wildcard appearances kickstart Ben Spies’ MotoGP career? Who is to say? But what's certain is that, without wildcard entries, opportunities like the ones given to Spies are now a thing of the past. And that’s unfortunate.
