MotoGP to Enact Stricter Concessions for 2024

Admittedly, this is a dry topic, but there are a few interesting items.

Headlines are clickbait, but it's interesting how hard the media is hammering the false dichotomy of Ducati/anti-Ducati. It's not just in MotoGP, but in WSBK as well. While I appreciate the need for journalists to get paid, which may or may not require playing to people's base instincts and emotions, motorcycle racing is undergoing an metamorphosis, but most of the important info is going completely ignored. Hopefully, the moto press can improve a bit in the days ahead.

These concessions are interesting not because they will hold back Ducati, rather the MSMA is introducing a style of handicapping by restricting the tire supply to successful manufacturers, in addition to providing extra tires to the subpar manufacturers. While this might grate on fans' sense of fairness, it's interesting in that it mimics the suble (often overlooked) handicapping that goes on outside of motorsport to stimulate competition. In traditional sports, bad teams get better draft picks, salary caps are enforced to keep the rich teams from winning in perpetuity, rules are written to encourage free-agency for key players to leave established teams, etc. Motorsport always has the albatross of safety around it's neck, but it's nice to see the teams are experimenting with a form of handicapping. Imo, it's necessary because manufacturers, unlike the athletes themselves, do not age and eventually retire. They can win forever.

Many of you may have figured this out long ago, but I've only just realized that the testing restrictions are being enforced by Michelin. Obviously, you can't test if you can't get MotoGP-spec tires, and as long as Michelin is not making shipments in unmarked vehicles, the testing restrictions are potent. This is an unintended benefit of the control tire. When a tire war is raging, it's nearly impossible to stop the manufacturers from sneaking tires out the back.

I'm glad you posted this here Lex. I've been in a workshop all week and unable to engage as much as I usually do.

mylexicon said:

These concessions are interesting not because they will hold back Ducati, rather the MSMA is introducing a style of handicapping by restricting the tire supply to successful manufacturers, in addition to providing extra tires to the subpar manufacturers. While this might grate on fans' sense of fairness, it's interesting in that it mimics the suble (often overlooked) handicapping that goes on outside of motorsport to stimulate competition. In traditional sports, bad teams get better draft picks, salary caps are enforced to keep the rich teams from winning in perpetuity, rules are written to encourage free-agency for key players to leave established teams, etc. Motorsport always has the albatross of safety around it's neck, but it's nice to see the teams are experimenting with a form of handicapping. Imo, it's necessary because manufacturers, unlike the athletes themselves, do not age and eventually retire. They can win forever.

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It already happens in F1 with the budget cap and also the sliding model of windtunnel allowance (champion team gets least, last team gets the most).

mylexicon said:

Many of you may have figured this out long ago, but I've only just realized that the testing restrictions are being enforced by Michelin. Obviously, you can't test if you can't get MotoGP-spec tires, and as long as Michelin is not making shipments in unmarked vehicles, the testing restrictions are potent. This is an unintended benefit of the control tire. When a tire war is raging, it's nearly impossible to stop the manufacturers from sneaking tires out the back.

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I was quite surprised to learn recently that Michelin have not developed their current tyre since 2017 if you believe this article:

Michelin developing 2025 MotoGP front tyre: ‘The bikes have changed a lot’

2017 was around the time Ducati really started working hard on aero and to think that Michelin have seen the massive development in aero and hence, front tyre loading, and not doing anything about it until 2025 at the earliest, is shocking to me when you consider they are the largest tyre manufacturer in the world as of 2023.

Amazing that multi-million dollar prototype bikes are hamstrung by $200 rubber, and, lol tire pressure regs...

the show must go on

Mrpurple said:

Amazing that multi-million dollar prototype bikes are hamstrung by $200 rubber, and, lol tire pressure regs...

the show must go on

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Thats what happens when you have a single tire supplier. Whats the point of spending money on r&d when there is no competition?

#22 said:

I'm glad you posted this here Lex. I've been in a workshop all week and unable to engage as much as I usually do.


It already happens in F1 with the budget cap and also the sliding model of windtunnel allowance (champion team gets least, last team gets the most).


I was quite surprised to learn recently that Michelin have not developed their current tyre since 2017 if you believe this article:

Michelin developing 2025 MotoGP front tyre: ‘The bikes have changed a lot’

2017 was around the time Ducati really started working hard on aero and to think that Michelin have seen the massive development in aero and hence, front tyre loading, and not doing anything about it until 2025 at the earliest, is shocking to me when you consider they are the largest tyre manufacturer in the world as of 2023.

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Thanks for that bit of info about F1. I knew about the salary cap, and I was still watching casually when Mosley kicked the hornet's nest by proposing it, but I was unaware of the wind tunnel allowance. When F1 chose DRS over fixing the broken aero system, I basically switched it off. I can only take so much dysfunction, but I do marvel how F1 always finds a way to keep their dysfunction alive. Drive to Survive. It's not really about the drivers, is it?

Since MotoGP is gung-ho about fuel economy, and since MotoGP bikes don't really lend themselves well to hybrid technology, I had always hoped that they would handicap with fuel or fuel flow, and abandon the regime of bore-stroke-cylinder regs. Seems that ship has sailed after the 20L era. The teams were too heavily incentivized to make dangerous engine management changes to save fuel.

I agree regarding DRS, it's a joke. They would have been better using push to pass imo, if they don't fix the aero regs. I couldnt watch Drive to Survive, it's so fake.

Here is the wind tunnel allowance for 2023

mylexicon said:

Thanks for that bit of info about F1. I knew about the salary cap, and I was still watching casually when Mosley kicked the hornet's nest by proposing it, but I was unaware of the wind tunnel allowance. When F1 chose DRS over fixing the broken aero system, I basically switched it off. I can only take so much dysfunction, but I do marvel how F1 always finds a way to keep their dysfunction alive. Drive to Survive. It's not really about the drivers, is it?

Since MotoGP is gung-ho about fuel economy, and since MotoGP bikes don't really lend themselves well to hybrid technology, I had always hoped that they would handicap with fuel or fuel flow, and abandon the regime of bore-stroke-cylinder regs. Seems that ship has sailed after the 20L era. The teams were too heavily incentivized to make dangerous engine management changes to save fuel.

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Maybe F1's dysfunction is not as dysfunctional as you think which explains why it continues to thrive? I've been watching it long enough to witness the overall reluctance and gloom-doom reaction that can be so pervasive with change. No different now with MotoGP. What also comes with such changes is the change of the fan-base. Many, once long-time, fans move on, but then, new fans come. Many of these new fans go on to become avid fans, just as or even more avid than the ones who left. I had my own concerns about DRS in F1, but over the years, I no longer had a problem with it because, at the end of the day, it's the same for all the drivers out there. Once, it's the same for all, then it's fair play and it certainly has not taken away from drivers taking opportunity to overtake whenever or wherever an opportunity presents itself. Having to race with more than one tyre compounds has also added another element to the racing. The new rules have remarkably narrowed the performance gap across the grid making for a lot tighter competition than I've ever witnessed.

MotoGP is undergoing a similar metamorphosis. As with it, there will be those who oppose such changes, concerned that it will negatively impact the sport, but such is how it has ever been and always will be. With change, there will be teething pains as well and the poor decisions here and there. But what is interesting is the human element of the riders, who remain fiercely competitive.

misfit said:

Maybe F1's dysfunction is not as dysfunctional as you think which explains why it continues to thrive? I've been watching it long enough to witness the overall reluctance and gloom-doom reaction that can be so pervasive with change. No different now with MotoGP. What also comes with such changes is the change of the fan-base. Many, once long-time, fans move on, but then, new fans come. Many of these new fans go on to become avid fans, just as or even more avid than the ones who left. I had my own concerns about DRS in F1, but over the years, I no longer had a problem with it because, at the end of the day, it's the same for all the drivers out there. Once, it's the same for all, then it's fair play and it certainly has not taken away from drivers taking opportunity to overtake whenever or wherever an opportunity presents itself. Having to race with more than one tyre compounds has also added another element to the racing. The new rules have remarkably narrowed the performance gap across the grid making for a lot tighter competition than I've ever witnessed.

MotoGP is undergoing a similar metamorphosis. As with it, there will be those who oppose such changes, concerned that it will negatively impact the sport, but such is how it has ever been and always will be. With change, there will be teething pains as well and the poor decisions here and there. But what is interesting is the human element of the riders, who remain fiercely competitive.

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In my estimation, the issue is that motorsports series are not re-inventing themselves. For decades the manufacturers, constructors, teams or whatever have found ways to seize control of the sport. In F1, it was British aerodynamicists who conquered F1 and Bernie was at the helm so that was a comfortable equilibrium. There was always balancing and re-balancing with the engine builders to keep them involved, but despite a raft of limitations on aero strategies, aerodynamics continued to conquer F1, and the drivers influence on the spectacle began to wane.

Eventually, aerodynamics was no longer a feature of F1, it was a detriment, and at the moment F1 (and the aerodynamicists) needed to sober up most, they actually conned the sport into introducing yet another aero strategy to fix all of the problems they themselves had caused. Hegelian dialectic and manipulation at its finest. It's not about the BS written up in the press regarding evolving fanbases and the rest. The globe is still watching 22 guys kick 1 ball at 2 nets. The "progression" of motorsport is about who gets to control and keep the money that fans and taxpayers are feeding the sport.

MotoGP has experienced similar issues in the recent past. During the 800s, fans fretted that riders were losing primacy. Dorna intervened by resetting the formula and forcing a spec-ECU on the paddock. Marquez reigned, and the paddock believed the pendulum had swung too aggressively towards the riders. Ducati conned everyone (apparently) into ratifying ride height and extensive aerodynamic development without a new Michelin tire, which caused the pendulum to swing much too aggressively towards the manufacturers.

Now is the moment for MotoGP to sober up. Are they going to follow F1, and try to gaslight the public with reality TV? or are they going to try and rebalance the sport? I guess we will find out in 2027.

So in summary, manufaturers are now placed into 4 classes (A-D), depending on the percentage of maximum points accrued in the window. Those 2 windows are:
1. First to last event of the season
2. First event after the summer testing ban, to the last event before the summer testing ban the following season.

This allows manufacturers to gain concessions more quickly if needed.




So, currently:

Ducati is in Class A
Aprilia & KTM are in class B
Honda & Yamaha are in group D, which means unlimited testing and they can change engine spec during the season.

I'm happy with this proposal and am willing to give it a chance to see how it helps Honda and Yamaha in 2024.

I'm glad they formalized the arrangement and provided brackets.

The new concessions schedule looks like it incentivizes the dominant manufacturers to push for more satellite bikes. If you can't develop during the offseason, the team would surely want as many data points as possible during the season to develop the next generation of technical spec. Dorna has tried unsuccessfully to keep the bike count at 4 per manufacturer, but it's been a losing battle. This concession schedule could make it even harder for them to keep the satellite bike distribution in check. RNF's departure is not helping matters.

I dont think this will effect the series much at all. For manufactures like Honda and Yamaha, they are not willing to spend what it will take to be competitive, they are focusing their resources on other areas. Suzuki pulled out a few years ago, the cost did not translate to sales.

Just read the synopsis of the equilibrium rules. Seems complicated, as always. I guess we’ll see next year.

Makes better sense than the old rules. The old rules made sense at the time but no longer worked with what happens in MotoGP nowadays.

I would of seen Aprilia being C level but I don't know how the metrics work

In regards to KTM and Aprilia, the factory teams seem to work but not that often for the satellite teams

mikesbytes said:

I would of seen Aprilia being C level but I don't know how the metrics work

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It says on MotoGP.com that KTM and Aprilia are both C level, which gives me hope we're still gonna see Dani in one or two races next year even though Pol is now a test rider.

Rivola says the concessions are too expensive for Aprilia to utilize. Extra tires, tests and wildcards are useful, but the price tag is prohibitive.

mylexicon said:

MotoGP, Rivola: "The new concessions are OK, but they cost too much". | GPone.com

m.gpone.com

Rivola says the concessions are too expensive for Aprilia to utilize. Extra tires, tests and wildcards are useful, but the price tag is prohibitive.

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He's gotta be kidding, right? Is he ....... expecting the "a" & "b" teams to subsidize Aprillia's advancement? MotoGP costs dineros.

Mick D said:

He's gotta be kidding, right? Is he ....... expecting the "a" & "b" teams to subsidize Aprillia's advancement? MotoGP costs dineros.

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Trying to get more money off Dorna?

mylexicon said:

MotoGP, Rivola: "The new concessions are OK, but they cost too much". | GPone.com

m.gpone.com

Rivola says the concessions are too expensive for Aprilia to utilize. Extra tires, tests and wildcards are useful, but the price tag is prohibitive.

Click to expand...

We all know the quote but I'm gonna say it anyway.

"Speed costs, how fast do you want to spend?"

Aprilia always seem so non committal. Like the Alpine F1 of MotoGP. They want success but don;t want to spend money.

mikesbytes said:

Trying to get more money off Dorna?

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Possibly or maybe they want the same system but with different specific amounts. For instance, the worst teams could be at 100% of the current tire allotment. Each tier above the lowest would have restricted tires, wildcards and tests.

Not necessarily advocating for this system, but if they continue to tighten restrictions, it will make it difficult for the winning teams to soak up all of the talent. It won't be possible for a rider to jump to the best squad and be fast right out of the gate.......with a few exceptions.