
Steiner's framing is worth taking seriously because it acknowledges the short-term cost of a regulation reset rather than selling it as pure progress. The 850cc move is a deliberate performance reduction, and his language signals that insiders expect a transitional dip before the gains materialise. What it tells the attentive fan is that the paddock is not expecting immediate spectacle — patience is being built into the narrative from the start. Whether the formula actually delivers those two steps forward will depend on how manufacturers respond to the tighter displacement envelope.
Guenther Steiner says MotoGP’s new 850cc bikes will be “a step back to make two forward”.