While it seems like it is time to bid farewell to the iconic YZF-R6, Yamaha has bigger news incoming. Yamaha will become the exclusive motorcycle supplier for the FIM Moto3 World Championship from 2028 through to 2033, marking the biggest technical shake-up for Grand Prix racing’s lightweight class since Moto3 replaced the 125cc two-stroke category in 2012.
The announcement was made during the Dutch Grand Prix at Assen, where Yamaha and MotoGP organisers confirmed a new single-supplier project aimed at reducing costs, improving parity and placing greater emphasis on rider talent rather than machinery.
Rather than developing an all-new engine from scratch, Yamaha’s new Moto3 machine will be based on its proven CP2 parallel-twin platform. Although the production engine is already used across several of Yamaha’s road-going motorcycles, it will undergo extensive modifications to meet the demands of Grand Prix competition. The finished race bike is expected to be unveiled in 2027 before making its championship debut the following season.
The move signals the end of Moto3’s current multi-manufacturer era. Since the class was introduced, teams have competed using machinery supplied primarily by Honda and KTM, with Honda’s NSF250R and KTM’s RC250GP serving as the benchmark race bikes for more than a decade. From 2028, however, every rider on the grid will compete aboard Yamaha machinery, creating a true one-make championship where results are expected to depend even more heavily on rider ability, team strategy and racecraft.
MotoGP organisers say the new regulations are designed to improve sporting integrity, simplify technical regulations and create a more sustainable future for the championship. By eliminating equipment advantages between manufacturers, organisers hope the series will continue to serve as the ideal proving ground for young riders before they graduate to Moto2 and eventually MotoGP.
For Yamaha, the agreement also strengthens its long-term presence across Grand Prix racing. With factory programmes already established in MotoGP and Moto2, the Japanese manufacturer will now have a complete pathway through the championship ladder, allowing it to play a key role in developing future racing talent from the very first step of Grand Prix competition.
