GP Commission Modifies 2011 Rules

The GP Commission has seen it fit to modify the rules for MotoGP, Moto2, and 125GP during the 2011 season, with perhaps the biggest alteration coming in the form of FP3 being reinstated to the Saturday schedule. For MotoGP, all practice and qualifying sessions will be returned to their one hour format (up from 45 minutes), which should make the sessions more useful for teams who has to scramble to make changes during the 45 minute format (Moto2 and 125GP will remain at 45 minute session). All the classes will see a three-wide grid format, which should be especially interesting in the compacted Moto2 field. All teams will also be allowed the use of generators on the starting grid.

Special for MotoGP, Dorna seems intent on limiting the level of electronics being used in the premiere class, and has inserted a provision that says that “in MotoGP, only the GPS provided by Dorna is permitted.” Currently MotoGP teams employ GPS systems that know which turn, and where in each turn, the bike is, and adjusts the bike’s suspension, engine map, and other settings for that corresponding section of the track.

While hyper-precise GPS systems could shave tenths of seconds off lap times, they also create an arms race in electronic controls, which in-turn raises the costs of racing. With Dorna supplying the unit, or failing to provide a GPS entirely (plot twist!), the use of such advanced electronics could no longer exist in 2011.

In addition to these provisions, Dorna has also requested applications for the 2012 Moto3 ECU supplier. Find the full release on the technical regulations and specifications after the jump.

FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix

Decision of the Grand Prix Commission

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Ignacio Verneda (FIM Executive Director, Sport), Hervé Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Javier Alonso (Dorna), Claude Danis (FIM Safety Officier) and M. Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), in a meeting held on 09 December in Madrid(Spain), unanimously decided the following:

Application 2011

Practice Time schedule:
Two days for each class.
- MotoGP: 4 sessions of 60 minutes.
- Moto2: 4 sessions of 45 minutes.
- 125cc: 2 sessions of 45 minutes (morning) and 2 sessions of 30 minutes (afternoon).
Grid position for each class: 3 riders per row.
Generator for tyre warmers are permitted on the grid for the 3 classes.
In MotoGP, only the GPS provided by Dorna is permitted.

Application 2012

For Moto3

ECU: There will be a single supplier. Proposals must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 28 February 2011 at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission on 19 March 2011.
See specifications below:
Requested hardware features for Engine Management:
- Single-cylinder management (2 independent fuel injectors, one ignition driver)
- Up to 14,500rpm
- At least 10 analog inputs (0-5V 10bit resolution) for analog sensors and temperature sensors
- UEGO lambda sensor input and management
- At least 4 input capture for wheel speeds and crank/cam sensors
- At least 4 ON/OFF inputs for switches
- Fuel Pump relay driver
- Stepper motor driver for throttle bypass/exhaust valve
- High speed CAN line (1Mbit/s)
- PC-ECU plug’n’play communication cable
- Internal data logger:
  - At least 8Mbyte internal memory
  - Not less than 200Hz max sampling frequency
  - Not less than 64 max logging channels
  - CAN line data download
- Ignition/injection management
- Self-mapping with lambda closed loop strategy
- Not less than 3 engine maps selectable by the rider
- Pit limiter
- Traction control
- Power shift (i.e. ignition cut-off)
- Launch control
- IDLE (i.e. engine brake) control (throttle bypass)
  - Engine and strategy calibration tool
  - Logger management tool
  - Data download/analysis tool for logged data (2D)
  - Track attendance at all events (Moto3 races and DS/IRTA tests):
    - Technical assistance to all teams
    - Assistance to FIM for regulations checks/enforcing
  - ECU quantities: 40pcs for the 2012 season, spares stock for 5 years
  - Base calibration for any engine entered to Moto3

Requested software strategies:

TYRES: There will be a single supplier. Proposals must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 28 February 2011 at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission on 19 March 2011.
FUEL/OIL: There will be a single supplier. Proposals must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 28 February 2011 at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission on 19 March 2011.