Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/282881
IN THE WIND P20 MOTOGP: RULES, RULES, RULES A fresh and highly significant package of MotoGP rule changes were announced only two days before the start of practice for the opening 2014 Grand Prix, rejigging the "Facto- ry 2" proposals made barely two weeks before. At the same time, the GP Commission officially confirmed that from 2016 all MotoGP bikes will use mandatory control elec- tronics. Dorna had spoken of 2016 only as "a target." Getting it cast in stone is a major landmark for CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta in his battle to bring the factories to heel. The 11th-hour change to this year's rules was the outcome of post-test "Ducati Sanction" proposals from Ezpeleta. These were twisted around in a full week of wrangling among the GP Commission, before final agree- ment at the 11th hour in yet an- other teleconference. The new rules ended the brief existence of the notional "Facto- ry 2" category; and also Ducati's short spell in the "Open" catego- ry, which was the major trigger for the last-minute flurry among the lawgivers. But a second reclassi- fication back to "Factory" status still left the canny Italians with all the technical privileges that had prompted their renegade move, at the same time regaining the right to use their own software rather than the control unit man- datory in the "Open" category. Ducati's self-demotion gave them access to 12 rather than five engines with the possibil- ity for mid-season development, among other advantages. Then the latest control software turned out to have been all but tailor- made. Another "Open" threat came from Aleix Espargaro, on a 2013 factory Yamaha. Their fast times caused bitter complaint from Honda on one side and the disadvantaged rival "Open" teams on the other, and a quick rethink. Ezpeleta's first proposal was aimed especially at Ducati: too much success (measured in ros- trum finishes) would see "Open" bikes reclassified as "Factory 2," losing 1.5-liters of fuel and three engines. With goalposts being moved to and fro as the commission – comprising Dorna, FIM, MSMA (manufacturers) and IRTA (teams) – debated by teleconference, final agreement saw his plans ditched in favor of a rewording of "Factory" technical regulations. In fact, the end result was some- thing similar, though the names had changed. Ducati were back as "Factory" bikes, but with the same con- cessions as the "Open" class, thanks to no wins in the past year (actually three years)… unless or until they achieve success: one dry win, two second places, or three thirds. Then they will get docked two liters, and (per FIM rule book though not mentioned PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE A Ducati "Factory" technician pores over the information on the computer screen.