MotoGP | Poncharal (IRTA) “Engine and aerodynamic developments frozen until 2022”

MotoGP Coronavirus Motorcycle World Championship – The 2020 MotoGP world championship has not yet started (only the Moto3 and Moto2 classes already present on site for testing had raced in Qatar, ed.) due to coronavirus and in addition to health, we are also starting to think about the future and the possibility of non-disputes no Grand Prix.

On the economic side, Dorna has made it known that it will continue to help the teams and pay them the months due, but there is also the question of development. The news is not yet official, but as reported by Crash.net the developments of the current MotoGP bikes will be stopped until the end of 2021. Dorna Sports, MSMA (Manufacturers Association), FIM and IRTA have unanimously agreed to stop the development of engines and aerodynamics until 2022 in response to the coronavirus crisis.

Statements Herve Poncharal President of IRTA, freeze on MotoGP developments

“We have unanimously decided to maintain the 2020 specifications, which essentially means that the bikes we will send to Doha to start the championship, their engine and aerodynamic specifications will be frozen until the end of 2021. This measure will reduce the investments that they have to be done by the manufacturers, because most of the research and development for next year has already been done. This will help them in this difficult situation, but it will also help the teams, because the leasing of the complete motorcycle, which is their main expense, will have to be reduced, because the 2021 bike will be the same as 2020. Freezing the specifications will not hurt the show because we have some amazing bikes for this year. During testing in Malaysia and Qatar, the lap times were incredibly close. So we don't need to spend in this department because we already have high-tech, high-performance bikes. Let's continue like this!”