FIM announces MotoGP cost cutting measures
The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Hervé Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Messrs Vito Ippolito (FIM President), Ignacio Verneda (FIM Sport Director), Javier Alonso (Dorna) and M. Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), in a meeting held on 18th February 2009 at the FIM Headquarters in Mies, Switzerland, unanimously decided to introduce the following amendments to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations – with immediate application.
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.
FIM President gives reaction to cost reduction moves
Following some significant updates to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix regulations for the 2009 season FIM President Vito Ippolito gave his views on the rule changes.
An important meeting of the Grand Prix Commission took place in Switzerland on Wednesday (18th February) leading to the ratification of proposals put forward and agreed on unanimously by the MSMA earlier this year to help reduce costs in the World Championship in 2009.
The new rules include the removal of Friday morning practice sessions from the Grand Prix time schedules, the reduction in length of all MotoGP practice sessions, limitation of the use of certain electronics and launch systems on MotoGP bikes, the restriction on the number of engines which can be used in the second half of the 2009 season and the reduction of the amount of post-race tests to two dates.
FIM President Vito Ippolito explained the reasoning behind the updates to the regulations, stating, “We have made some important decisions today to reduce the costs involved in Grand Prix racing and we were all in agreement about the changes. Our organizers Dorna, our manufacturers and our teams all helped make the decisions."
He continued, “The important reduction in the amount of practice sessions and the reduction in length of practice sessions will significantly reduce costs, as will the banning of certain launch control systems and the reduction in the amount of engines that can be used later in the year."
Mr. Ippolito added, “These are the final decisions relating to this year and we believe they will help everybody. They are the first steps taken with a view to the future and we will meet again in the coming weeks to discuss further reducing costs in 2010."
Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of Dorna, commented, “We have had a meeting of the Grand Prix Commission today where we introduced some significant measures to guarantee the future of MotoGP. These decisions for 2009 will help to make participation in the World Championship more affordable and we will now look ahead to 2010 as well. This is an important day for the MotoGP World Championship which will now be both cheaper and more exciting."