Grand Prix Commission changes test regulations for 2012 season – MotoGP news
The Grand Prix Commission held a meeting at Valencia just ahead of the season finale event in Spain. The meeting was organised to rearrange the testing schedule and restrictions for the test sessions that will be followed by the MotoGP teams.
The commission included Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta, FIM Executive Director Sport Ignacio Verneda, IRTA representative Herve Poncharal and MSMA representative Takanao Tsubouchi. Dorna’s Javier Alonso and secretary of meeting Paul Butler were also in presence
at the meeting.
After the GP Commission meeting, FIM stated, “agreed that with effect from 2012 private testing of MotoGP class machines may be carried out by any rider, subject to a limit on the total number of tyres being supplied by the official MotoGP tyre supplier.”
Previously in the 2011 MotoGP season, the MotoGP teams were only allowed to test their machines with factory riders or team’s test riders.
Due to many cases of injured riders, the test session was missed. In some cases, the test was conducted with factory’s test rider to help continue the development of the bike.
During the recently ended season several riders, such as Dani Pedrosa (Repsol), Cal Crutchlow (Tech3), Colin Edwards (Tech3), Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) and other riders sustained serious injuries that sidelined them for the races and post-race test session.
The GP Commission also agreed that the MotoGP team may use any rider for the completion of the 2011 official test session that was due on following the season finale event.
Teams as LCR Honda, Rizla Suzuki, Repsol Honda, San Carlo Honda Gresini and few other teams called in riders to conduct the test session.
Moto2 World Champion for 2011, Stefan Bradl was called in by LCR Honda and Bautista was given opportunity to test the RC213V for Gresini team.
Though Suzuki stepped out of the MotoGP World Championship, but it completed its test session with Randy de Puniet at Valencia.
Further details for the testing regulations will be decided and declared following the next GP Commission meeting due in December 2011.
Few other changes in the regulations have also been reported, as the bikes in all three MotoGP classes will be fitted with brake protectors in 2012. It is decided to prevent future accidents due to close contacts of the riders.
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