Problems on the grid? The regulations are changing...

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Paul Duparc (FIM), Herve Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in an electronic meeting held on 11 April 2019 made the following decision:

Sporting Regulations

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
Grid Procedure, stalled bike at start of the Warm Up lap, and after Race start

Background

Currently the regulations forbid trying to start a stalled bike on the grid at the end of the warm up lap, i.e. before the start of the race. A rider needing assistance must go into pit lane.

However, if a rider stalls his bike at the start of the warm up lap he is allowed to receive assistance to try to restart it “for a short period”, in order to try to join the warm up lap. The same applies for a stalled bike after the race start, assistance is allowed to try to restart it on the grid.

The current rules for each situation (start of the warm up lap, start of the race, and after the race start) leads to some confusion for the teams and grid marshals who must make a decision at a critical time as to what they are allowed to do. There is also potential unfairness as a rider may have marshals nearby who are able to assist him, whilst another stalled rider may not have marshals nearby to assist. In all classes the bikes are now difficult to push-start, leading to the risk that team mechanics may attempt to re-enter the grid with starter engines to assist their rider which, for obvious safety reasons, cannot be permitted.

Agreed Changes to Regulations

To make the procedures safer, clearer and fairer, the same procedure will henceforth apply for all situations:

At the start of the warm up lap a stalled bike may not be restarted, it must be taken immediately to pit lane for assistance. If the rider can exit before pit lane is closed, he may still join the warm up lap and start the race from the back of the grid. 

Before and after the race start if a bike is stalled on the grid it must be removed to the pit lane for assistance. 

Team personnel and equipment may not return to the grid after it has been cleared for either the warm up lap or the race.