MotoGP Rules Cut Costs and Practices

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

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Rossi turned the first lap with the lead through the corkscrew - Laguna Seca

New rules from the Grand Prix Commission have been announced, cutting the MotoGP practice sessions and implementing new technical restrictions.

The Grand Prix Commission has announced significant rules changes for the upcoming 2009 season. The amendments are twofold, including new bike restrictions and a reduced track schedule at each round.

First the schedule change. Friday morning practice sessions have been dropped altogether. Instead there will be one afternoon practice session, followed on Saturday by a morning practice and afternoon qualifying session. The traditional hour-long session time has also been trimmed to 45 minutes. All told, 105 minutes have been stripped out of the MotoGP program. The 20-minute Sunday warm up is unchanged.

MotoGP machines are not permitted brake disc or pads made of “ceramic composite materials.” And internal electronics have been stymied, with electronic suspension control and launch control forbidden. Other tech modifications include a new rule that only five engines may be used during the season’s final eight races (beginning with the August round at Brno).

Although it is not explicitly stated in the FIM release announcing the rule changes, the move has been made to trim competition costs.

The official FIM rule changes are listed below:

1. Standard time schedule
Friday
13:05-13:45 125cc Free Practice 1
14:05-14:50 MotoGP Free Practice 1
15:05-15:50 250cc Free Practice 1
Saturday
09:05-09:45 125cc Free Practice 2
10:05-10:50 MotoGP Free Practice 2
11:05-11:50 250cc Free Practice 2
13:05-13:45 125cc Qualifying Practice
14:05-14:50 MotoGP Qualifying Practice
15:05-15:50 250cc Qualifying Practice
Sunday
08:40-09:00 125cc Warm Up
09:10-09:30 250cc Warm Up
09:40-10:00 MotoGP Warm Up
11:00 125cc Race
12:15 250cc Race
14:00 MotoGP Race

2. From Czech GP, maximum 5 engines can be used in 8 races. No changing of parts will be permitted except daily maintenance.

3. Ceramic composite materials are not permitted for brakes disc or pads.

4. Launch control system is not permitted.

5. Electronic controlled suspension is not permitted.

6. Only 2 post race tests at Catalunya and Czech GP for development purposes using test riders only are permitted.

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Comments

JSH -Sequential Transmissions February 19, 2009 12:07 PM
The current edition of BIKE magazine has an article about alternative transmissions and it discusses the sequential double-clutch systems used in F1: "What's the problem with double-clutch boxes? While there aren't any real downsides to the system, provided you're happy to give up that old gear lever, it's not he best solution. It may be used in Formula One, the supposed pinnacle of engineering development, but only because the sport bans the use of an even better solution, constantly variable transmissions...." (BIKE Magazine, March 09) ----- It's really kind of sad. A racing organization bans a technology and forces race teams to use an inferior technology. Road cars aren't limited by rules but buyers insist on having the inferior technology because that is the technology used in race cars. Odd.

Dan The Canadian -Let them be............. February 19, 2009 11:36 AM
Well with SuperBike having traction control, without them having it on the production bike, and MotoGP loosing some Techno Gizmo, plus some bike like the new R-1 getting more technology, engin, from M-1, they are getting closer....... I personnaly think they should remove traction control from SuperBike, unless it`s on the production bike. Then let MotoGp have all the gizmo, then maybe one day we will see a real F-1 sequential transmission on a productionbike.... Just like a Ferrari Enzo, F430 Scuderia, or Nissan GT-r...........

JSH -MotoGP February 19, 2009 05:18 AM
So MotoGP is going to try the same method as F1; strip out the technology from a prototype class. In the end there comes a point that manufacturers have no incentive to spend the huge amount of money in a prototype class if they don't get a chance to develop new technology. Electronics are key technologies for the future. --------------- In the end I see this as helping production based classes. Look at WSB. While the MotoGP grid shrinks WSB will have 33 riders and 2 new manufacturers fielding factory teams.