Picture from MotoGP
Whilst the testing was going on in Sepang, Carmelo Ezpeleta was having meetings off track with the motorcycle manufacturers regarding future regulations in an aim to reduce the costs of the sport.
He started off by talking to the manufacturers individually then collectively as a group. He is hoping to get reduce the costs of the sport for the teams who are participating in the premier class of MotoGP.
There were a few proposals drafted onto the table:
- A two bike lease allowance
- Maximum number of bikes per rider
- CRT and Factory balance
Two Bike Lease Allowance
This would mean that the factories would be able to lease two satellite bikes out each. This would also have a cap on the amount that the factories could charge for leasing the bike for the year. This would help some of the satellite teams as well as maybe help Suzuki break back into the sport. The meeting that will discuss the maximum cost of leasing a bike will be held at the Jerez test in March.
Maximum Number of Bikes
This would mean that rather than riders having two bikes for the weekend they would only be allowed one. This has been discussed and would affect this year but there are no plans to carry this over into 2013.
This would be an interesting addition to the rule book as many riders may crash out in practice and run for their spare bike. This wouldn’t happen but as a result of damage to the bike the grid may be reduced if the teams cannot repair the bikes. This may also help with the number of engines used as there wouldn’t be two engines in use at one time.
Bringing Balance Between CRT and MotoGP Factories
He also expressed that the work to bring balance between the CRT and factory bikes will continue.
“Proposals to reduce costs will be sent to the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers’ Association with the hope that decisions will be possible before June. Our aim in all of this is to give other teams the chance to participate in MotoGP,”
This is a key for the success of the CRT as Edwards, the quickest of the CRT prototypes in Sepang this week was still over 2.504 seconds behind the slowest satellite bike of Abraham.
