World Superbike will undergo a similar performance reduction to the MotoGP class in♏ 2027 to ensure the produ♒ction category maintains its distance from the premier class.

Amid concerns over rඣecord-breaking lap times and top speeds, MotoGP will cut engine capacity from 1,000 to 850cc in 2027. The removal of ride height devices and stricter limits on aero are also expected to lower performance of the prototypes.

Dorna’s chief sporting officer Carlos Ezpelꦑeta said MotoGP manufacturers have estimated that lap times will initially increase by 1-2 seconds, with a greater impact on top speeds, which currently top 360km/h (223mph).

“From what the manu♐facturers are telling us, for the first year we could expect differences - and this depends hugely from track🦹 to track - of around 1-2 seconds,” Ezpeleta said.

“We are expecting a performance drop. That’s🔴 part of the reas🧸on why we are doing it. And we are expecting a bigger performance drop in top speeds at a number of circuits.

“Then, as alwa🌳ys with tech𒅌nology, it will build up again as we move forward.”

Wi𒆙th that in mind, the World Superbike championship, also owned by Dorna, is set for a similar performance drop to maintain its ‘rank’.

The current difference between MotoGP and Worl🃏dSBK race lap records at places like Portimao and Jerez is around 1.2-1.5s.

“Superbike will sit within the ecosystem, within the♔ sam🦂e rank as it does now,” Ezpeleta said. “We’re already doing things, which is being led by the FIM.”

FIM president Jorge Viegas confirmed: “Obviously we 🍃want to have MotoGP on top and Superbike is meant to be stock bikes with some changes.

“We have also started working two years ago in chaꩲnging the regulations in Superbike.

“Some things will happen very soon, but in a way𒀰 that we keep a distance between MotoGP and Superbike.

“We are talking with all the manufacturers. We have more manufacturers in Superbike than M🐼otoGP but it’s also great work being done.”

Another potential thr♚eat to MotoGP’s lap time superiority could come from its own intermediate Moto2 class, powered by 765cc Triumph engines, at slower circuits.

Of the four rounds so far this season, the closest Moto2 (now using Pirelli tyres) has got to the fastest MotoGP race 𒈔lap is 3.5s at Portimao and Jerez. But the differenc💝e between the slowest MotoGP rider and the fastest in Moto2 was only 1.1s

Ezpeleta explained there is much 𒀰more flexibility in terms of changing the Moto2 regulations as and when needed.

“It’s a conversation that we’ll have in due time with the FIM but the philosophy right now is that both Moto2 and Moto3 are working very well,” said Ezpeleta. “That is shown b🦩y how incredibly well the riders coming into 🔴the MotoGP class are doing.

“We don’t expect major changes in a short period of time. We will adapt when we think it’s necessary. As you know, in the Mo𝓀toGP class we have five-year terms with the same regulations🗹.

“That’s not the case in Moto2 and Moto3 where we are 𒅌more flexible.”

Speaking generally, Viegas doesn’t believe fans will n🔜otice any visual difference in MotoGP performance from 2027.

“I’m convinced the show will not lose anything, on the contrary, more overtaking will be allowed and the fans will not notice if t🎀he riders do one second more a lap or not,” he said.