BMW continues its progress towards MotoGP by acquiring valuable data from the Suzuki GSX-RR, a motorcycle that retired from competition at the end of the 2022 season. According to persistent rumors, this conquest, valued at 18 million euros, would enable BMW to develop its own MotoGP machine more rapidly, with a clear objective: to be on the grid in 2027, when the new technical regulations come into force.
A return to the sport, 71 years on?
It's no secret that BMW is keen to get back into MotoGP, which would certainly please Liberty Media, the future owner of the discipline and current Formula 1 owner. Already absent from F1 since 2009, BMW, a prestigious brand, would bring an extra sparkle to the MotoGP paddock.
This acquisition of data is intended to pave the way for the German manufacturer's entry into the 2027 model year, a date marked by the arrival of new technical regulations.
The data obtained from Suzuki's GSX-RR, particularly concerning the in-line four-cylinder engine and chassis, will provide BMW with a solid basis for developing its machine. By integrating this information, even two seasons old, BMW could accelerate its project and take advantage of the Suzuki's renowned characteristics, such as its handling.
Is the Suzuki option the right choice?
Engine configuration is essential in any racing project, as it dictates the overall architecture of the bike. The agreement between BMW and Suzuki therefore suggests that the Munich-based brand has opted for an in-line four-cylinder engine for its future MotoGP machine. A configuration that only Yamaha offers today. The delicate period Fabio Quartararo's team went through with this system is not likely to reassure us. However, it has to be said that the change in engine displacement from 1000 cm³ to 850 cm³ in 2027 could play into the hands of in-line four-cylinder engines.
Although the investment of 18 million euros seems high, it could enable BMW to overcome the initial development challenges and effectively prepare its return to MotoGP after an absence of 71 years. Seven decades... BMW's last appearance in the premier class dates back to 1956, with Walter Eeller's twin-cylinder RS500 (see photo below), which finished runner-up to John Surtees in the championship.
This acquisition of data, of which we don't know everything, shows BMW's concrete interest in MotoGP. What remains unclear about this agreement is whether it includes computer modeling, a key element that Ducati has taken advantage of to optimize its performance, with familiar results. Even if the state of progress remains unclear, this is a positive signal that BMW is seriously considering the viability of its MotoGP program.
BMW in MotoGP for 2027: a synchronized entry sign of an ambitious commitment
Although Suzuki's data dates back to 2022, MotoGP's evolutions remain minimal, at least for the time being BMW seems to be setting its sights on 2027, when MotoGP will undergo a major overhaul. A challenge for Markus Flasch, CEO of BMW Motorrad, who took up his post at the end of 2023. Under his leadership, the M range of motorcycles was born, embodying the quest for ultimate performance, just like the cars in BMW's M division. It goes without saying that participation in MotoGP would fit in perfectly with this philosophy.
Meanwhile, BMW is shining in World Superbike (WSBK) with Toprak Razgatlıoğlu. Whereas the M1000RR had won just once between 2021 and 2023, it triumphed 12 times in the first 18 races of the 2024 season. However, MotoGP would offer BMW a more visible platform to reaffirm its presence in top-level motorsports, with WSBK enjoying limited media coverage outside the motorcycle world.
It remains to be seen how many bikes BMW will line up on the MotoGP grid. MotoGP organizer Dorna has long wanted to maintain a 24-bike grid, with six manufacturers lining up four machines each. Ducati's dominance has been built in part on the number of bikes on track, which will be reduced from 8 to 6 by 2025. BMW still has two and a half years to finalize these details, a timeframe that is both long and short.