As well as announcing the basic tenets of Moto3 on the weekend (see below), the GP Commission also clarified several other points of contention.
1. They spelt out exactly the basis on which Suzuki will be allowed to have 9 engines per rider this year instead of 6 (also detailed below) and…
2. The announced an unexpected extension of this rule to apply for the first year of the 1000cc formula due to start at the beginning of 2012 to any new manufacturer joining the series (thus complying with the same caveats which they have applied to Suzuki).
3. They clarified the 1000cc rules a little more. This covers 1000cc prototypes and production-based “Claiming Rule Teams” as well as expanding further on what these terms actually mean. To re-cap. In 2012 there will be two types of 1000cc bike. Pure prototype bikes, similar to current MotoGP bikes and bikes with a production-derived engine and a custom frame, somewhat akin to the current Moto2 bikes. Apparently 800cc MotoGP bikes as per today’s specification will be also allowed to run for one more (2012) season alongside the 1000cc bikes in much the same way as the 500cc two stroke bikes were allowed in the first year of MotoGP. And here’s the 1000cc specs.
– Capacity up to 1000cc
– Four cylinders maximum
– Maximum bore 81mm
– Minimum weight for 800cc bikes 150kg. For bikes more than 800cc, 153 kgs.
– Six engines per rider for factory teams, 9 for CRT’s
– Fuel capacity. 21 litres, 23 litres for CRT’s
Basically, claiming will work on the basis that anyone can claim another team’s engine by posting a bond of a certain amount of money with the organisers. Now this whole process is fraught with problms and has never been made to work successfully, that I can recall. It means that no team can produce a “gun” engine and blow everyone else away. But enforcing it is a nightmare and it encourages wholesale chicanery as was seen in the infamous “claiming” days of AMA dirst track back in the ’70’s. I wish them luck and I can see the reason, but it plainly won’t work.
And the GP Commission, in a tacit admission that the rule is stupid and won’t be enforceable, added a codicil that states, “Modifications to this exception due to performance of the teams require the simple majority of the GP Commission.” In other words, “We know it won’t work and we’ll change it ourselves without reference to the manufacturers and the teams if we see fit.” Seems to me that it would be better to just not introduce the rule to start with.
By the way, as far as engines is concerned, Alvaro Bautista commissioned his 6th engine at Brno (no word yet as to whether his last lap accident has damaged it) but he should be OK as he has 3 more to go as well as this one. Of more concern is the revelation that Ben Spies is already up to his FIFTH engine and he DOESN’T have the concession.
