MotoGP ready to rebound with 21-rider grid

MotoGP News
Date: 16/December/2011

The FIM, governing body for the MotoGP World Championship, has announced that nine new ‘Claiming Rule Teams’ have been accepted for the 2012 season.

CRTs are a new grade of privateer constructor created in response to perilously small grids of fully-fledged prototypes.

Just 17 factory-built bikes from Honda, Ducati, Yamaha and Suzuki were entered for the full 2011 season - and absences through injury meant riders were all but guaranteed a world championship point if they simply finished some races.

With the cash-strapped factories unable to respond, commercial rights holders Dorna Sports have championed the new CRT category to put more bikes on the grid.

It came just in time.

Suzuki pulled out its single entry at the end of the 2011 season, while the remaining three manufacturers are fielding a total of just twelve bikes for 2012 - two for each factory team, plus two ‘satellite’ bikes from each brand.

Twelve bikes would not be enough to justify world championship status, but the news that a further nine CRT bikes - plus one reserve - have been “approved” means that MotoGP should have at least 21 full-time riders next year.

These new entries are likely to be a poor competitive replacement for the ‘lost’ factory-built bikes, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Two established MotoGP riders - Colin Edwards (Forward) and Randy de Puniet (Aspar) - will be switching to CRT next year. They will be joined by three returning premier-class riders - Aleix Espargaro (Aspar), James Ellison (PBM) and Anthony West (Speed Master) - while Moto2 race winner Michele Pirro with ride a CRT bike for Gresini. The three other CRT places are still to be confirmed.

CRT bikes will be able to use more fuel and engine changes relative to the factory-built bikes. They will consist of modified Superbike engines in a prototype chassis, with Italian manufacturer Aprilia causing controversy by assisting in development of both an engine and chassis package.

CRT status is decided by the Grand Prix Commission and can be removed at any time while engines can be ‘claimed’ for a fixed price by any of the MotoGP manufacturers - a move designed to limit costs.

Other rule changes announced by the GPC were the opening up of in-season testing - now restricted only by the number of tyres - plus the announcement that a rider can effectively qualify for a race if he sets a lap time within 107% of pole during the Sunday morning warm-up session.

Bikes in all three classes - MotoGP, Moto2 and Moto3 - will need to run a red rear light to aid visibility in wet races, plus a widening of Race Direction’s powers to “impose penalties was extended to cover failure by any party to ensure the efficient running of events or for serious breaches of the regulations”.