Peter Hickman’s iconic 2019 Smiths Racing BMW S1000RR sold for £88,550 at the Bonhams Stafford Sale. The machine powered Hickman to historic victories at the Isle of Man TT, North West 200, and Ulster Grand Prix. It smashed its initial estimate of £30,000 after fierce bidding. The sale included the original winner’s cap and race medals from a legendary road racing campaign. 

Fabio Quartararo confirmed MotoGP’s helmet radio system made a big step forward at the Jerez test, saying he could hear it but that sound clarity still needs work. The system currently sends one-way pre-recorded safety messages from Race Direction directly into the rider’s helmet, with a receiver built into the leathers and a speaker inside the helmet padding. A two-way system allowing riders to respond is planned for a future phase.

The FIM Grand Prix Commission has banned MotoGP wildcards from 2027, with the rule applying to all manufacturers regardless of concession rank. Wildcards in 2026 cannot run 850cc machinery with immediate effect. The start delayed countdown procedure changes to the five minute board from the three minute board immediately. Tyre pressure monitoring continues into 2027. Heart rate monitors are now permitted in Moto2 and Moto3.

The official MotoGP 26 video game launched on April 29 with a fully reworked physics system, Dynamic Rider ratings and a deeper career management structure. The game is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S, Nintendo Switch, ROG Xbox Ally and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, featuring all official 2026 riders, teams and circuits. Dynamic Rider ratings will update in real time alongside the actual 2026 championship results.

Defending champion Kyle Ryde topped the final preseason test at Oulton Park with a 1:32.913 , setting the benchmark ahead of Round1 at the same circuit on May 2 to 4. Ryde switches from the Yamaha R1 that brought him back-to-back BSB titles to the new Ducati Panigale V4R with Nitrous Competitions Racing. Bradley Ray on the McAMS Yamaha and Scott Redding were his closest challengers across the two day test.

Aprilia became the last of the five MotoGP manufacturers to run its 850cc prototype on track, completing the first laps of the RS-GP 850 at a wet Jerez during a private test on Wednesday. Test rider Lorenzo Savadori was at the controls for the track debut, with the bike featuring 2027-spec aerodynamics including a revised nose profile and protruding front wing but no seat wings. Rain could not stop them completing several laps.

Aprilia debuted a striking new aerodynamic solution at the Jerez test, a pair of wings mounted on the upper fairing around the screen area of Marco Bezzecchi’s RS-GP. The wings are positioned much higher than Ducati’s dual-plane side wings, with the top plane curved to generate downforce and the endplates sculpted to manage airflow around the rider, potentially reducing drag while boosting the effectiveness of the leg wings.

Aprilia is among the manufacturers returning to Jerez later in the week for private testing, when the Noale factory will debut its 850cc prototype on the circuit for the first time. The 850cc machine will run under private conditions at Jerez before the paddock moves to Le Mans for Round 5 on May 8. Ducati ran their GP27 at Misano earlier this month. Aprilia are now ready to fire up their answer.

Johann Zarco was the leading Honda in the Jerez test, ending ninth overall. Luca Marini was first out on track for Honda at the start of the morning session, with the team focusing on small but important gains rather than chasing lap times. Honda has been methodically searching for incremental improvements throughout the 2026 season and used the Jerez test to continue that process ahead of Le Mans in two weeks.