MotoGP race directors have proposed to the teams that ride-height systems be banned at the start on three circuits—a move prompted by safety concerns raised by several riders
Race officials have proposed to MotoGP teams the option of banning the use of ride-height systems at race starts in Le Mans, Silverstone, and Phillip Island. This was in response to safety concerns raised by the riders.
This initiative arose from discussions between the riders and race officials during the Safety Commission meeting on Friday evening in the paddock at the Le Mans circuit.
At this meeting, several riders pointed out the safety risk that the use of front and rear ride-height systems at the start can pose on certain types of tracks.
The layouts of Le Mans, Silverstone, and Phillip Island were under discussion. On all three tracks, riders approach the first corner at very high speeds. Additionally, the first corner is entered while leaning over.
Furthermore, the braking point is not hard enough to guarantee that the front holeshot system will be deactivated. All of this can lead to very precarious situations, which are discussed every year on these three tracks.
The riders’ concerns prompted race officials to offer teams the opportunity to vote on banning the use of these systems at the start of both races (Sprint and Grand Prix) on these three tracks.
A letter to the teams states: “It has been determined that the use of these systems on these specific tracks poses a significant safety risk to the riders.”
“This particularly affects the riders’ trajectory toward Turn 1 at the starts.” The teams were asked to indicate whether they support this special measure.
In a subsequent announcement, race control informed the teams that, following an evaluation of the feedback received, there would be no changes for this weekend in France.
Had the change been approved, the schedule for Saturday would have had to be adjusted to include an additional session so that drivers could practice starts without the ride-height systems.
The possibility of a ban at the races in Silverstone (August) and Australia (October) remains on the table and will be discussed shortly.
Should this extraordinary measure be approved, it would be a first step toward the type of starts that will become the norm starting next year when the new technical regulations come into effect, which explicitly ban these ride-height systems.
