Grand Prix Commission make important changes to 2019 rules

In a meeting held in Madrid on 30th November 2018, Dorna Chairman Carmelo Ezpeleta was joined fellow Grand Prix Commission Messrs. Paul Duparc (FIM), Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA) and Mike Trimby (IRTA), as well as Carlos Ezpeleta (Dorna), Corrado Cecchinelli (Director of Technology), Mike Webb (Race Director) and Danny Aldridge (Technical Director) being present to decide important changes to the 2019 MotoGP™ rules.

Previously, in order to be qualified as a finisher, the rider had to be in contact with his machine when crossing the finish line. There have been situations when, due to a crash, the rider and machine have crossed the line separately. In future, the finish time will be determined by the first part of the rider or his motorcycle, whichever crosses the finish line last.

On occasions a Moto3™ or Moto2™ team will substitute an injured with a rider contracted to participate in another Championship, for example, FIM CEV. In future, such riders will be permitted to fulfil their entry obligations in the other series and track activity at such events will not count as rider test days for the GP class and may take place within 14 days of a GP event at the same circuit.

To establish clearer criteria on which riders may restart an interrupted race certain clarifications to the regulations were approved. It is confirmed that riders may obtain assistance from marshals to restart the machine or to move the machine on track, trackside or in the service road.

For the purposes of the regulations covering this matter “active” and “actively competing” are defined as the rider riding on track, or attempting to repair/restart the machine, or to re-join the track or return to pit lane. The FIM MotoGP™ Stewards will be the sole judge of whether a rider is actively competing and such judgements are not subject to appeal.

When a change of position penalty is imposed for passing under a yellow flag, or for any other infringement, the information will be communicated via the dashboard display and on the finish line during a maximum of three laps. (Previously five laps).

For Safety reasons, it is not permitted to start the engine of a racing motorcycle inside the pit box at any time. Engines must be started in the pit lane.

New official titles were approved for the following circuit records:

– “All Time Lap Record” – The fastest lap time in history including all Grand Prix sessions.
– “Best Race Lap” – The fastest lap time in history made during a race

When a Manufacturer gains sufficient concession points to lose concessions then the right for test riders to test at any GP circuit is cancelled. The regulation has been clarified to specify that this applies to testing in the following season when the manufacturer must nominate three current GP circuits for testing.

In order that a manufacturer who only accrued concession points on a spasmodic basis did not lose concessions after several years, it has been decided that concession points will expire on the two-year anniversary of the date on which the points were gained.

Currently, regulations limit the use to a hand-carried generator with a maximum output of 2 kW. Current practice is for generators to be incorporated into a service cart with toolboxes, spare wheels and other equipment.

To recognise the change of engine supplier from Honda to Triumph the technical regulations for this class have been modified. Full details will be available within the next days in the official regulations published on line by the FIM.

MotoGP™ Class

The standard allocation of rain tyres will increase from 11 to 13 being six front and seven rear tyres.

Moto3™ and Moto2™ Classes

In these classes, the number of rain tyres is not limited. However, the official supplier must now have available of a minimum of four sets of rain tyres per rider.

The Disciplinary Code contains a list of penalties that are not subject to appeal, usually those penalties given during a race. However, the FIM Stewards may also impose a time penalty in lieu of another penalty, typically when the standard penalty (e.g. change position, ride through, etc.) cannot be complied with because there is insufficient time left in the race. The regulation covering such matters has now been changed so that when a time penalty is given in lieu of any non-appealable penalty, the time penalty also becomes non-appealable.