The Grand Prix Commission—MotoGP’s rule-making body—released its list of changes adopted for 2012, including the already well-known lifting of testing restrictions by contracted MotoGP riders. But also included with the list were some detail changes that could have some impact on many race teams for the future.
In lifting the previous ban on testing by contracted MotoGP riders, the GPC put a cap on the testing by limiting the amount of tires provided to each team. Each manufacturer is limited to 240 tires for the year, while each non-factory team (satellite and CRT) is given 120 per rider. This presumably allows the non-factory teams to be allowed a suitable amount of tires to test with, as the manufacturers would obviously be very hesitant to share their factory team allocation with the satellite squads, nevermind the CRT teams that would happen to be using that manufacturer’s engine. It also allows the factory teams to continue testing with their test team riders in lieu of the contracted riders wherever possible.
The GPC’s announcement also included the statement that “a list of nine entries including one reserve entry” from the CRT category was approved, “on the understanding that the granting of CRT Status was subject to review by the Grand Prix Commission at any time.” There was no specified list of entries, indicating that the majority of entries are still in flux, whether by riders or funding—as well as whether the bike itself will be deemed legal for the CRT class. There is already a controversy developing over the Aspar Aprilia CRT team, which is using a version of the Aprilia RSV4 superbike engine and chassis; just how far the CRT bike is from the superbike is the question that is causing consternation between the established manufacturers and Dorna.
Another addition that was likely inserted to help keep the grid as full as possible is a “last chance” qualifying rule that allows a rider who is unable to gain a spot on the grid during the official qualifying session to use the best time obtained in the morning warmup as a qualifying time. If the rider is within 107% of the pole position lap in qualifying, they will be granted a grid position based on that warmup time.
When Ducati was forced to go beyond the six-engine season allotment last year with Valentino Rossi and start from pit lane at the Aragon MotoGP, the previous rule was the rider could start 10 seconds after the official start of the race. However, there are some circuits where even 10 seconds after the start, a rider could conceivably enter the race within the tail end of the pack, so the rule was changed to starting 10 seconds after the pitlane signal goes green (which doesn’t occur until the last rider has passed the pitlane exit). This ensures that any rider who does start from pitlane due to engine allotment infraction does so at a definite disadvantage.
With all classes now being four-stroke (the Moto3 class debuts in 2012, replacing the 125cc GP two-stroke class), starter engines are now permitted on the grid since four-strokes are more difficult to bump-start than two-strokes. Generators to power tire warmers are permitted in all classes now (helped by the change in grid from four per row to three, allowing more room for support equipment), although they must be removed when the three-minute board is displayed.
Another interesting move is a requirement for all MotoGP classes to have a red rear taillight in rain conditions. While not an actual brakelight, a taillight improves the ability of riders in the back to see and sense the distance between them and a machine ahead of them through the spray thrown up by tires of the bikes in front. This can be a definite factor in races where the ambient light is fairly dark, and especially at the start where a number of bikes will be occupying a smaller portion of track at the same time, creating a thick water spray that can be difficult to see through.
The GPC also gave Race Direction the authority to immediately impose penalties “to cover failure by any party to ensure the efficient running of events or for serious breaches of the regulations.” This is surely to cover the incident at Sepang, where a failure by corner marshals to display a rain flag at one section of the circuit resulted in several riders crashing hard, including Moto2 rider Marc Marquez, whose eye injury caused by the crash forced him to miss the final two races of the season, ruling him out of title contention (he was leading the championship at the time).
Finally, the minimum weight limit for the MotoGP class was increased for 2012 and 2013. Next year, the weight limit increases to 157 kilograms (346 pounds) from 153 kilograms (337 pounds), with the limit then increasing to 160 kilograms (353 pounds) in 2013. The rim measurements for the Moto3 class were also confirmed as 2.50 x 17 inches for the front, and 3.50 x 17 inches for the rear.