A very positive and fruitful electronic meeting between MotoGP™ manufacturers and representatives of the organisation was recently held in order to share views and discuss a range of topics, from calendar revisions to proposed changes to the technical regulations for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
After approval by all teams across the three classes, the majority of the manufacturers and no votes against, the following proposals for changes to the technical regulations were then made to the Grand Prix Commission and subsequently accepted.
These changes are designed to reduce the costs incurred by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis whilst maintaining fairness and equality in order to conserve the entertainment value of the sport and the integrity of the competition.
MotoGP™ CLASS:
Currently, all manufacturers that don’t qualify for concessions have to homologate an engine specification for the whole season. Manufacturers are allowed to homologate a different specification for riders in Independent teams.
Until now, manufacturers with concessions didn’t have this limitation and could change specification during the year.
In addition, all manufacturers were allowed two aero body designs per rider per season; the one they started with at Qatar plus one upgrade.
The GPC has approved the following changes, effective immediately:
2020 SEASON:
There will be no update of any homologated parts during the 2020 season. This applies to all manufacturers, both Non-Concession and Concession.
2021 SEASON:
Both Non-Concession and Concession manufacturers must start the 2021 season using March 2020 homologated parts. Thereafter, normal upgrade regulations will apply for the rest of the 2021 season as per current regulations meaning no engine evolution for non-concession manufacturers and only one aero-body update per rider for all manufacturers.
For the first event of 2021 riders will be allowed to choose between any engine or aero-body specification that the manufacturer homologated in 2020.
Moto2™ CLASS:
- The organisers supply all Moto2 Class riders with equal Triumph 765cc engines.
- Until now, the only limitation in terms of allocations of technical parts was the allowance of one upgrade to the Aero Body per manufacturer.
- The GPC has approved the following changes, effective immediately:
Aero Body:
The current 2020 Aero Bodies as homologated by the chassis manufacturers at the 2020 Qatar GP, plus any version homologated in 2019, will be frozen until the end of the 2021 season. No further upgrades are permitted.
Frame and Swingarm:
- Each chassis manufacturer may submit any current or previously used frame or swingarm for homologation. These designs will be frozen until the end of the 2021 season, with no further specifications permitted.
- Each Team will then be required to declare a maximum of 2 specifications of frame and swingarm per rider from their chassis manufacturer homologation list. Any replacement or substitute rider will be required to use only the declared parts for the rider they are replacing.
Moto3™ CLASS:
Currently in the Moto3™ class, the manufacturers must provide all their riders with the same full bike. Until now, riders were allowed to choose two gear ratios per season.
The GPC has approved the following changes effective immediately:
- Bike specification, as declared by each manufacturer at the Qatar GP 2020, will be frozen for the 2020 and the 2021 seasons, meaning no further upgrades will be permitted on any listed performance parts, chassis, swingarm, engine, aero body, gearbox or throttle body.
- The GPC has also approved the number of engines each rider is allowed to use with respect to possible revised calendars for both 2020 and 2021. These will be published within the revised regulations.
Moto2™ AND Moto3™ CLASSES:
Ride height devices banned:
Ride height devices, to aid the rider during the start of the race, are permitted within the current rules for MotoGP™. However, due to possible high development cost that these devices could require, it is felt that this technology does not fit within the ethos of both Moto3™ and Moto2™ of a cost-effective Championship. Therefore, the such technology is banned for these two categories, with immediate effect.
The use of any device that modifies or adjusts the motorcycle’s ride height while it is moving is forbidden, with the only exception being mechanical/hydraulic suspensions spring preload adjusters, directly operated by the rider.