MotoGP™ riders and their teams must be extremely precise with fuel consumption. Have you ever wondered specifically how much fuel a MotoGP™ bike uses in a race? The answer is that they can only use a limited amount of fuel – never more than 22 litres for Grand Prix races or 12 litres for a MotoGP Sprint – and teams must manage its usage carefully.
Fuel of at least 40% non-fossil origin powers the stunning prototype bikes used in MotoGP which can reach speeds of over 360km/h and cover distances of 110–120km in 40–43 minutes of racing. However, fuel also affects the bike’s weight and race pace, so the teams’ race strategies need to factor in precise use of fuel.
In this article we’ll explore what the fuel limit is and how riders manage their usage across a race to give themselves the best chance of victory.
Is There A Fuel Limit In MotoGP™?
The MotoGP fuel limit is stated in the FIM Grand Prix World Championship Regulations: “The fuel tank capacity limit in the MotoGP Class is a maximum of 22 litres for Grand Prix races, and 12 litres for the MotoGP Sprint.”
This rule is in place for fairness and cost control. From 2027 the rules of MotoGP will change in line with the sport moving to using 100% sustainable fuel - up from 40% currently. In addition, the amount of fuel permitted to be used in a Grand Prix will be reduced to 20 litres, with a limit of 11 litres for the Saturday Sprint.
How Much Fuel Is Used In A Full MotoGP™ Race?
So exactly how much fuel does a MotoGP bike use in a race? This is carefully calculated because the bikes need exactly enough fuel in the tank to complete the distance, but not so much that the excess fuel weighs the bike down.
There are fine margins at work and it’s not just a case of a bike having a ‘full tank’ at the start of the race. No teams want a rider to run out of fuel just short of the finishing line because not enough was put in.
The actual amount of fuel used varies depending on the circuit and specific race conditions, but it will typically fall within a precisely controlled range, with every drop accounted for.
What Affects Fuel Consumption In MotoGP™?
There are many factors that affect how a MotoGP bike consumes fuel during a race. One is the layout of the track itself. For example, one with extended straights will increase consumption because riders will be at full throttle for longer. Also, stop-and-go tracks with many hairpins require heavy acceleration on corner exit, which eats up fuel.
MotoGP tracks vary considerably in length, so this also affects consumption and needs to be factored in by the team. At the Red Bull Ring in Austria, the MotoGP race is contested over a total distance of just under 122km (121.744km), with the riders lapping the 4.34km track 28 times in total.
Meanwhile at the tight and twisty 3.67km Sachsenring track in Germany, the bikes only cover 110.13km in a 30-lap race.
The rider’s own individual style is a factor too when pondering how much fuel a MotoGP bike uses in a race. If they are more aggressive, this will use more fuel than a controlled strategy with less throttle and sharp braking. Use of slipstreaming and drafting during the race also impacts consumption based on air resistance.
The same goes for the weather conditions on the day in MotoGP, as temperature affects engine efficiency. Likewise strong winds affect consumption, depending if they are gusting into the rider head on (headwind), which will cause more fuel to be used, rather than from behind them (tailwind).
Finally, the set-up of the bike is crucial for fuel consumption, including the tyre choice. More grip allows for harder acceleration, which uses up more fuel. MotoGP bikes also use electronic systems to control engine performance and fuel delivery, helping balance the power output with fuel efficiency across the race.
Fuel Strategy: Why Riders Can’t Go Full Gas All Race
In terms of MotoGP race strategy, fuel plays a huge part. Sometimes, a MotoGP rider cannot go full throttle for the whole race, otherwise they’d wear down their tyres and run out of fuel. So they need to ride in a way that maximises what they have available.
This is why you will often see riders happy to sit in a group in the early stages of a race, because it helps them save fuel by slipstreaming, while staying in contention for a late charge.
Being out in front can mean facing greater wind resistance, meaning riders use up more fuel, so this is another calculation they need to make as the race progresses. Saving fuel (and tyres) until later in the race means riders can sometimes be more aggressive when overtaking or fighting for position.
These strategic battles are what we love about MotoGP and are part of what makes it the most exciting sport on earth.
Sprints Vs Grand Prix Races: Is Fuel Usage Different?
In the regulations, it’s clear that there is a big difference in fuel allowance between a Sunday Grand Prix race and a MotoGP Sprint, with much less fuel allowed for Sprints, which are much shorter races (typically around half distance).
They’re also much more aggressive and intense, as there’s less requirement to strategically plan for the longer term in the way that riders and their teams do in a Grand Prix race.
The introduction of the Sprint to race weekends has meant that engineers and crew chiefs now need to have two very different strategies for fuel usage.
What Happens If A MotoGP™ Bike Runs Out Of Fuel?
There’s a lot of expertise, data and calculations involved in working out how much fuel a bike needs in a MotoGP race, so it’s incredibly rare that a rider does run out - but it can happen.
Whether it’s caused by a miscalculation or unusual race conditions, if a bike starts to run out of fuel, the rider will have to slow down or even retire from the race - resulting in them losing points and position, often dramatically so.
Fuel Vs Performance: Does Less Fuel Make The Bike Faster?
The trade-off between fuel and performance is one of the key considerations made when setting up a bike for a race. Having less fuel onboard does generally make a MotoGP bike faster because it is lighter, giving it better acceleration and braking as well as making it more agile.
But teams need to stick within the rules of the race and plan carefully for the fuel consumption. Having a quick and agile bike is no use if it runs out on the last lap and the rider has to coast home or fail to finish at all.
During qualifying sessions when the objective is to produce just one or two super fast laps per run, the teams will also make precise calculations, putting just enough fuel into the tank for the length of the run.
Let’s wrap this up and seal the tank
As you can see, understanding how much fuel a MotoGP bike uses in a race is not as simple as just filling up a bike and sending it out onto the track. Fuel consumption is a key part of every team’s race strategy that affects performance, pace and even the outcomes of each race.
This will continue to be the case as new regulations and fuel limits come into place in 2027, so we can all enjoy looking out for how each team manages its consumption in the new era.
If you’ve learned a lot from this post, check out some more of our MotoGP technical articles here:
What Is MotoGP Engine Braking?
What Electronics Are Used in MotoGP Bikes?