The Grand Prix Commission got together today to decide and announce several rule changes which will affect the current and following season.

The most interesting bit for this season is the official allowance of 9 engines per season for manufacturers which have not won a race in the previous two seasons.

For 2010 the manufacturer members of MSMA who did not win at least 2 dry races in 2008 + 2009 seasons can use 9 engines instead of 6.

This applies to the Rizla Suzuki factory team only which means both Alvaro and his teammate Loris Capirossi will be able to use three more engines this season.

Further announcements for this season concern the official schedule for the Grand Prix at Motorland Aragon and changes to use of tyres at official post-race tests.

For these tests of 1 day duration, each rider will be restricted in the quantity and specification of tyres that they may use at a single test event as follows:

For all practice sessions, a maximum of 8 slick tyres will be allocated, specifically:
Front slick tyres: 2 of Specification “A” + 2 of Specification “B” = 4 in total.
Rear slick tyres: 2 of Specification “A” + 2 of Specification “B” = 4 in total.
During all practice sessions, a maximum of 4 wet tyres, specifically:
Front wet tyres: 2 of the standard specification
Rear wet tyres: 2 of the standard specification

In addition each rider may use 1 set of tyres (1 front + 1 rear) retained from their allocation for the preceding event. These tyres may be new or used (NB. used tyres must still be mounted on wheels from the preceding event), and the team must inform the tyre supplier which set of tyres (1 front + 1 rear), if any, they wish to retain for the test within 2 hours of the preceding race finish.

Apart from the rule changes coming into effect this season already, the most anticipated announcement was the official confirmation of the change to 1000cc in the MotoGP class from 2012 onwards as well as the change to Moto3 in 2013.

Technical specifications for MotoGP from 2012 onwards:

Capacity: Up to 1000cc
Number of maximum cylinders: 4
Maximum bore: ø81mm
Maximum weight: 150 kg (up to 800cc) and 153 kg (over 800cc)
Maximum number of engines available for use by each rider: 6
Fuel tank capacity: 21 litres

Exception for Claiming Rule Teams (CRT’s)
Maximum number of engines available for use by each rider: 12
Fuel tank capacity: 24 litres

The selecion of the Claiming Rule Teams (CRT’s) will be by unanimous decision of the Grand Prix Commission. Modification to this exception due to performance of the teams requires the simple majority of the Grand Prix Commission.

The full announcement can be read here.

Today it’s been officially announced that the MotoGP bikes will make another switch in capacity in 2012, this time back up to 1000cc. This announcement is particularly interesting for next year’s class Rookies, including Alvaro, who will only have two years on the current machinery before another change is due. Since Alvaro has a two-year contract this also means for him that the Suzuki will stay the only 800cc bike he gets to ride in competition.

Following talks between MotoGP’s governing body the FIM, series rights holder Dorna Sports and the MSMA, the Commission agreed to change the maximum engine capacity of the MotoGP class to 1000cc for the 2012 season. A limit of 4 cylinders will also be introduced, with a maximum cylinder bore measurement of 81 mm.

Mr Ippolito said: “The main changes we have decided on are new rules for the MotoGP class. We will have four cylinder engines, 4-stroke of course, with a 1000cc maximum, and the bore of the cylinders will be 81mm. This base will give all the manufacturers the opportunity to start work. At the beginning of next year we will produce the new rules in a more complete format, but that is the basis; 2012 will be the year of a new era of MotoGP.”

Mr Ezpeleta stated: “It was a very important meeting to decide the future of the MotoGP class. From 2012 the bikes will have an engine capacity of up to 1000cc, have up to four cylinders and the maximum bore will be 81mm. It’s a very important measurement because with this we can have all the characteristics of the engine. This has been approved and between now and the start of the 2010 season we will have another two meetings to define the rest of the specifications for this new class.”

Source: motogp.com