After the controversial departure of Suzuki from the MotoGP grid from the 2023 season, the premier class has announced another factor to be taken into account by all teams.
Due to the recent expansion of the calendar, which runs from March to November with a total of 21 grand prizes, this course has become the longest in history.
The fatigue accumulated with so many trips around the planet is not only accused by the pilots, mechanics and the press, but the mechanics also suffer, and a lot. For this reason, with the inclusion of new appointments, such as the one in Finland in July, the FIM has decided to allow the use of an extra engine.
This means that the world championship teams can use a total of 8 units, 10 in the case of manufacturers with concessions, that is, Aprilia . However, there is a condition, and that is that this additional element can only be mounted from the 19th round of the year, which in 2022 would be the Australian GP on Philip Island.
On May 8, the Grand Prix Commission made up of Carmelo Ezpeleta, Paul Duparc, Herve Poncharal and Biense Bierma , in addition to Mike Trimby and Corrado Cecchinelli , held a virtual meeting in which they discussed this matter.
“Currently, MotoGP rules allow manufacturers to use a maximum of seven engines during the season (nine in the case of manufacturers with concessions),” the statement read. “This regulation was established when the calendar was compressed in less than 20 races.”
“Due to the increase of 21 tests for 2022, it has been approved to allow the use of an extra engine, if there are 19 races or more. This element can only be used from the 19th appointment or the following ones,” he continued.
In this way, the teams will be able to enjoy a tense calm regarding the wear of such an important part in MotoGP as the propellant and, although only six races have been held to date, fatigue is expected to have an effect on all the paddock members and bikes.
