MotoGP faces a total development freeze until 2022, CEO of the IRTA – International Road Racing Teams Association -Hervé Poncharal revealed Crash.net. Over the past few weeks they have decided to homologate the engines and fairings for the 2020 season, even though they haven’t had a single race yet. Now they want to take another step in this direction.
Manufacturers are the first to agree to this proposal as factories closed due to the coronavirus outbreak need to cut costs for everyone.
“We unanimously decided to keep the technical specifications for 2020. The development of engines and aerodynamics will be frozen until the end of 2021“Said Poncharal.
This allows teams to significantly reduce costs and has a positive effect on satellite teams who can use the same bikes for two years, with a lower lease price. These are all measures that are required to face a crisis that is not only health-related but also economic.
On paper, Aprilia and KTM are exempt from this provisionas they can use the concession system. Therefore, they have no limits when it comes to developing their motorcycles.
“They wouldn’t do it even if they could“Hervé intervened. “I’m pretty sure it’s the least of her problems. Right now the question is not how to spend the money, but how to save your business. “
“Stopping development does not mean that the entertainment on the track will decrease,” said Poncharal. And we can agree on that.
“”We have incredible bikes. The test rankings in Malaysia and Sepang were incredibly close,“he said.” So we don’t have to spend any money in this area. We already have incredibly technological and powerful motorcycles. “