Moto2: Rule change for engine covers

In order to avoid a repeat of the red-flagged Jerez Moto2 race, a rule change for this weekend's French round means the sides of engines must be better protected.

The Spanish race had to be restarted after Shoya Tomizawa fell, with oil from his motorcycle then spreading across the track after a hole was ground in the clutch cover, bringing down other riders.

"In the Moto2 class, lateral engine covers containing oil and which could be in contact with the ground during a crash, must be protected by a second cover made from composite materials, e.g. type carbon or Kevlar (R)," read the rule change. "Plates and/or bars from aluminium or steel are also permitted. All these devices must be designed to be resistant against sudden shocks and abrasion and must be fixed properly and securely."