BMW M2 with xDrive Roars Into MotoGP as Award Winner

The all-new BMW M2 with xDrive has taken centre stage in MotoGP, claiming its place as the prize car for the 2026 BMW M Award. This coupé made a world premiere at the Grand Prix of Hungary, marking the first time the global public laid eyes on it. The reveal took place at the Balaton Park Circuit, where the latest creation from BMW M turned heads from the moment its covers came off.

What sets this machine apart is a landmark first for the model line. The BMW M2 with xDrive is the first in the BMW M2 family to carry all-wheel drive. Carlos Ezpeleta, Chief Sporting Officer at MotoGP, and Zsuzsanna Pócs, Head of Marketing at BMW Group Hungary, handled the unveiling. Soon after, Becky Evans and MotoGP rider Jorge Martín climbed aboard to put the coupé through its paces during the BMW M Racing Balance challenge on the tarmac.

Beneath the bonnet sits an inline six-cylinder engine fitted with BMW M TwinPower Turbo technology, built specifically for this derivative. The all-wheel-drive system grips firmly across any surface and in every season, letting drivers tap into the car’s full potential whenever they please. The sprint from 0 to 100 km/h takes just 3.7 seconds, shaving 0.3 seconds off the comparable rear-wheel-drive variant. Wrapped in a striking BMW Individual Borusan Turkish Blue finish, it becomes the first BMW M2 offered in this exclusive shade.

Once the wraps came off, the focus shifted to the track itself. The BMW M Racing Balance challenge tested both nerve and finesse. As the driver chased the quickest possible lap, the passenger cradled a bowl filled with balls, working hard to keep every single one from tumbling out. Evans and Martín used the run to feel out the coupé’s poised handling and the sure-footed pull of its all-wheel-drive setup.

With this latest winner’s car, BMW M GmbH carries on a long-standing tradition of rewarding the season’s standout MotoGP riders. Since 2003, the BMW M Award has been a fixture of the brand’s role as the Official Car of MotoGP, handed over at the season finale. Points mirror the race scoring system across every qualifying session, and the rider topping the tally after the final session takes the prize. Marc Márquez leads the way with eight wins, the most recent arriving last year, while Francesco Bagnaia has lifted the honour three times. Past recipients include Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, Fabio Quartararo, Sete Gibernau, and Nicky Hayden.