Section 4: Players & Officials
4.1 Riders
To compete in any FIM Grand Prix class, a rider must hold a valid FIM International Racing Licence issued by their national federation and endorsed by the FIM (Article 10.1 of the Regulations). Riders must also be registered with Dorna and hold a valid contract with a participating team.
- Minimum age — MotoGP class: Riders must be at least 18 years of age before competing in the MotoGP premier class (Article 10.2).
- Minimum age — Moto2: 16 years of age.
- Minimum age — Moto3: 16 years of age (as of the year of competition).
- Riders must have demonstrated sufficient competitive experience, as assessed by the FIM and Dorna, before being granted a MotoGP licence. Promotion from lower classes or comparable international series is typically required.
- Each rider competing in the World Championship is assigned a permanent race number. Numbers 1–99 are available; the reigning World Champion may elect to use number 1 for the following season (Article 11). Number 88 is reserved as a tribute number. Numbers are registered with Dorna and retained for the rider's career unless they retire for more than two consecutive seasons.
4.2 Teams & Constructors
- A maximum of 2 riders per team may be entered in the MotoGP class at any one event.
- Teams must be registered with both the FIM and Dorna and hold valid Team and Constructor registrations for the relevant season.
- Factory teams are those directly operated or substantially supported by a registered Constructor. Satellite (independent) teams may run machinery supplied under agreement with a Constructor.
- Constructors registered in MotoGP for 2025 include (but are not limited to): Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki (if re-entered), Aprilia, and KTM. Each Constructor is subject to the Concession system rules based on their recent competitive results.
4.3 Race Direction
The Race Direction panel is the supreme authority at each Grand Prix event. It is composed of three members (Article 1.3):
- The FIM Grand Prix Steward (FIM appointee)
- The Dorna MotoGP Safety Officer
- The Dorna MotoGP Race Director
Race Direction has authority to: start, interrupt, neutralise, or stop any session or race; impose penalties; declare wet conditions; deploy the Safety Car or Virtual Safety Car; and make all sporting decisions during the event weekend. Decisions of Race Direction during an event are final and not subject to appeal, except for technical matters referred to the Technical Director.
4.4 Technical Director & Stewards
- The FIM Technical Director oversees all technical scrutineering and compliance with the Technical Regulations. Decisions on technical matters may be appealed to the FIM Stewards within specified time limits.
- FIM Stewards (a panel of three, separate from Race Direction) handle appeals against Race Direction sporting decisions that are within the scope of appeal, and adjudicate disciplinary matters referred by Race Direction.
- Scrutineers conduct pre-event, pre-race, and post-race technical inspections of motorcycles, including weight checks, fuel samples, and component verification.
4.5 Wild Card Entries
Wild card entries (riders not competing in the full World Championship) may be permitted at individual Grands Prix subject to approval by Race Direction and Dorna. Standard constructors are limited in the number of wild card entries per season; Concession manufacturers receive additional wild card allocations as part of the Concession benefit package (Article 5.3).