As my MotoGP thread was a victim of the data-loss, I'm starting this one with news of the sport being set to enter a new era.  Below is a statement made today by Dorna Sports...

MotoGP set to enter a new era

The MotoGP Championship enters a new phase as key measures are agreed upon in order to ensure the stability of the sport in coming years.

"This agreement has been possible thanks to the consensus we have thanks to the Grand prix commission," explained Dorna Sports CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta in a press conference held on Friday at the Motul TT Assen alongside FIM President Vito Ippolito and IRTA President Hervé Poncharal.

Carmelo Ezpeleta:  "I want to say a special thanks to all the members of the MSMA, first the FIM who has allowed us to talk to everyone and to IRTA who brings us the feeling of the paddock as well as advising us. The MSMA itself who gives us the opinion of the manufacturers.  We want to say a special thanks to the three companies; Ducati, Honda and Yamaha who have been participating throughout and have helped the success of the championship.

“We are extremely happy and a big thank you to them for permitting us to do this.  Also to the teams for permitting this, it has not been easy for them but we feel this agreement is good for everyone especially the private teams.

“This is a process that started with CRT then the Open class, then the spec electronics for all and ends with the stability of the championship.  All the technical rules will stay the same until 2021 unless everybody agrees to change something or it is for safety.  Starting from 2017 we will have 6 manufacturers participating in MotoGP: Aprilia, Ducati, Honda, KTM, Suzuki and Yamaha.  All of these six will have the right to participate in the championship with two official riders.  They also have the obligation to put a minimum of two bikes in the market for leasing, with a maximum of four, for the existing teams in the championship.  These bikes will have a max price of 2.2 million Euros per annum including everything except crash costs. This is only for existing teams.  We have now 25 riders participating and for the period of 2017 to 2021 the minimum will be 22 riders on the grid and the maximum 24.  We will not admit any other teams or manufacturers if we’re over 22 riders; this is to support the teams that have been participating in MotoGP.

“Dorna also have the right to buy the slot of the last two teams in the championship each year.  This is a right, not an obligation.  Hopefully we don’t need to use this right. If any new manufacturers arrive they will be obliged to reach an agreement with an existing private team, we will not admit new manufacturers as we have done in the past.

“The contribution from Dorna through the manufacturers, and especially the private teams, will be more than a 30% increase between 2016 to 2017.  With this contribution, especially to the private teams, the teams will have enough resources to pay the leasing from the manufacturers at the previously mentioned price.

“It is important for the market to be open, with six manufacturers the private teams have a choice of who to make an agreement with.  This agreement will hopefully promote stability.  We have 13 riders within a second today, a very competitive championship.  We want to thank everyone who has helped us arrive to this.  We think with the same electronics the championship will be even closer.”


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"Things turn out best for people who make the best of the way things turn out."