Ducati and Aprilia were placed on equal footing in MotoGP’s concession system following the mid-2026 reassessment after the German Grand Prix, officials said Wednesday. Ducati dropped from the top-tier Rank A to Rank B after scoring 84.56% of available points, while Aprilia was promoted from Rank C to B due to improved performance under the series’ points-based ranking system.
Ducati’s drop from Rank A to Rank B marks the end of its top-tier concession status that had been in place since the introduction of the current system in 2024, officials confirmed. This reassessment, conducted at the mid-season checkpoint, reduces Ducati’s development privileges, including limits on test tyres, wildcards, and engine development allowances compared to its previous elite standing, sources said.
The manufacturer scored 84.56% of the available constructors’ points through the first 11 rounds of the 2026 season, falling just short of the 85% threshold required to remain in Rank A, according to records reviewed after the German Grand Prix.
At the same time, Aprilia earned a promotion from Rank C to Rank B following a sustained improvement in performance over the preceding 12 months. The manufacturer reached 72.20% of available points, surpassing the 60% threshold for Rank B, officials reported. This advancement places Aprilia on the same concession footing as Ducati for the remainder of the 2026 season, granting it fewer technical concessions than before but aligning its development opportunities with those of the Italian rival. Sources noted that Aprilia’s rise reflects its growing competitiveness in the MotoGP championship.
The equalization of Ducati and Aprilia at Rank B represents a significant shift in the MotoGP hierarchy, officials said. Both Italian manufacturers will now operate under the same development allowances, which include mid-level access to additional test tyres and a moderated number of wildcard entries. This realignment is part of a broader reshuffling of the concession system that also saw Honda relegated to the lowest tier, Rank D. Honda’s drop reflects its ongoing difficulties in accumulating points, placing it below the 35% threshold for Rank D, according to MotoGP officials.
The concession system, introduced in 2024 to replace the previous binary on/off model, ranks manufacturers across four tiers—A, B, C, and D—based on the percentage of total constructors’ points earned. Rank A is designated for those scoring at least 85%, Rank B covers 60% to 85%, Rank C includes 35% to 60%, and Rank D applies to manufacturers below 35%. The system determines the allocation of benefits such as additional test tyres, in-season testing opportunities, wildcard entries, and engine development freedoms, according to technical regulations released by MotoGP.
Under the current framework, Rank B manufacturers receive fewer concessions than those in Rank C, particularly regarding wildcard flexibility and testing allowances. Aprilia’s promotion to Rank B entails a reduction in some privileges previously available at Rank C, sources confirmed. Conversely, Ducati’s demotion from Rank A to B limits its previously extensive development advantages, narrowing the gap between it and other manufacturers. Officials described these changes as a recalibration of the competitive balance among the series’ leading factories.
The concession rankings are reassessed at half-season intervals, with the latest adjustment occurring after the German Grand Prix, the 11th round of the 2026 season. This system’s periodic evaluations aim to reflect manufacturers’ current performance levels more accurately than the prior model, which was based solely on podium finishes. The points-based approach considers the overall share of constructors’ points, providing a more nuanced measure of competitiveness, according to MotoGP technical directors.
Looking ahead, the concession hierarchy is scheduled to reset for the 2027 season, coinciding with the introduction of the new 850cc engine regulations. All manufacturers will start the 2027 season at Rank B, establishing a fresh baseline for competition. The rankings will then be reassessed at the mid-season checkpoint in 2027, based on results from the first half of that year. This reset aims to level the playing field as MotoGP transitions to the new technical regulations, officials said.
The 2026 concession adjustments, including Ducati’s downgrade and Aprilia’s promotion, will influence the final phase of the current 1000cc era but will not affect the structure of the upcoming 850cc cycle. Meanwhile, Honda’s continued struggles have resulted in its placement in the lowest concession category, reflecting its ongoing challenges to match the pace of the leading manufacturers, according to MotoGP sources.
