MotoGP confirms testing changes

As rumoured, MotoGP is to place new limits on private testing in 2018, with one of the three official pre-season tests also being dropped in 2019.

The changes follow concerns that teams were using their five days of private testing to gain a set-up advantage for a circuit ahead of the race weekend, rather than for pure bike development. Testing will also be banned during the summer break next season.

The decision to drop one of the official pre-season tests for 2019 is mainly in response to the growing number of races; Thailand is joining the calendar in 2018 and Finland in 2019, with others also showing interest.

The 2018 pre-season test line-up is Sepang, Buriram and Losail. Buriram has replaced Phillip Island in order to gather data (especially tyre data) ahead of October's inaugural Thai MotoGP. However once the Buriram venue is 'known', it is perhaps the most logical venue to be dropped from the 2019 test schedule.

The full wording of the testing changes can be seen below:

MotoGP Class Testing Restrictions – Effective Season 2018

Current arrangements for official tests are unchanged being a two day test after Valencia, three of three days tests at the beginning of 2018 at circuits outside of Europe and three, one day tests on Mondays after events.

Teams are restricted to five days of private tests with their contracted riders. After the winter test ban period only three days of testing are permitted prior to events and other tests can only take place on a circuit where the event has already taken place. No testing can take place within 14 days of the event at the same circuit.

No testing with contracted riders is permitted in the “summer break”. In 2018 this means between Monday 16 July and Thursday 02 August.

Test teams of Manufacturers may nominate three current Grand Prix circuits at which they may test at any time except within 14 days of the event at that circuit. They may also test during the three days preceding the first official test after the winter test ban period. Such teams may also participate at all official tests.

MotoGP Class Testing Restrictions – Effective Season 2019

Regulations will be as per season 2018 above with the following changes:

The number of official, three day tests outside of Europe is reduced to two.

Teams will continue to be restricted to five days of private tests with their contracted riders. However, at least two days of private testing must take place between the last event of the season and 30 November. Remaining tests can take place at any time but not within 14 days of the event at the same circuit.

Other amendments agreed during the Motegi weekend, all effective from the 2018 season, were as follows:

Airbag Systems

All rider’s race suits must be fitted with an Airbag system designed with the purpose of minimising injuries. The technical specifications of the systems and the testing methods were also approved.

Moto2 Testing with Triumph Engines

Each manufacturer of Moto2 chassis who is supplying teams in the 2018 season may test chassis fitted with Triumph engines for a maximum of ten days per manufacturer. Testing may be conducted using any rider and the number of riders who may participate on each test day is not limited.

MotoGP Class Wild Card Machines

Each wild card entry is restricted to the use of three engines for their exclusive use. The technical specifications of the engine, ECU hardware, other electronics. etc., must be as those for the manufacturer of the machine.

Wild Card Entries in the MotoGP Class 

Each Manufacturer is permitted to enter a maximum of three wild cards per season. With the exception that Manufacturers who benefit from concessions are permitted to enter a maximum of six wild card entries per season. Entries from any single Manufacturer cannot be at consecutive events.