MotoGP introduces cost cutting measures

From motogp.com

Electronic systems will be partially limited in MotoGP and Friday morning practices removed from Grand Prix schedules as of the 2009 season following a GP Commission meeting in Geneva on Wednesday.

At the headquarters of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of FIM president Vito Ippolito, the Grand Prix Commission ratified proposals put forward and agreed on unanimously by the MSMA in meetings held earlier this year in Japan and Malaysia.

The amendments to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations address issues raised over the cost of competing in the championship with regards to the 2009 MotoGP season and beyond.

As of the 2009 season Friday morning free practice sessions for all classes have been removed from the Grand Prix schedules and all MotoGP practice sessions (including qualifying) have been reduced to 45 minutes in length.

Electronic and hydraulic launch control systems and electronic suspension systems have been banned.

Furthermore, in the eight 2009 MotoGP World Championship races which follow the summer break, commencing with the Aug. 14-16 trip to the Czech track of Brno, each MotoGP rider will be restricted to the use of a maximum of five engines until the end of the season.

“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," Ippolito said. "Our organizers Dorna, our manufacturers and our teams all helped make the decisions.

“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.

“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, “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.”