Grand Prix Commission Clarifies Flag-to-Flag Regulations

The Grand Prix Commission has introduced a range of measures at their meeting in Brno. Among the most important are the switch from selling Moto3 engines to leasing them, and changing the flag-to-flag procedure, in an attempt to improve safety in pit lane.

Starting from next year, the flag-to-flag procedure has been revised. The number of mechanics assisting has been reduced, with only four allowed to assist in the bike swap. Those mechanics must now wear approved helmets, which will also make them easier to identify.

There has also been a clarification of the rules on having the bike in neutral. At the Sachsenring, Race Direction introduced a rule that the bike the rider is swapping too must be in neutral, and only the rider is allowed to put it into gear.

To avoid accidents, however, mechanics are allowed to hold the clutch of the bike in, just in case the rider accidentally kicks the gear lever while swapping bikes.

The penalty for the mechanic putting the bike in gear is now disqualification, with Race Direction verifying that the bike was in neutral by checking the data from the second bike.

The change to the Moto3 engine arrangements is an interesting twist. So far, the manufacturers have been forced to sell their bikes, both chassis and engine, to the teams. Some manufacturers, however, have been reticent to sell the engines, asking them to be returned at the end of the year.

The Grand Prix Commission has now made this situation more amenable to the manufacturers. From 2017, the factories will no long have to sell the engines, but will be able to lease them to the teams instead. The teams will then have to return the engines and gearbox at the end of the season, but keep the chassis.

This article was originally published on MotoMatters, and is republished here on Asphalt & Rubber with permission by the author.