MotoGP Makes Rule Tweak to Help Riders Returning from Injury

MotoGP riders that have missed three rounds or more due to injury will now be allowed to test before making their comeback if they meet certain requirements.

The new rule means that full-time MotoGP riders that have missed three consecutive rounds will now be allowed to test prior to returning at a race weekend. Riders that have missed three races or more will be allowed to take part in a one-day test.

The test can be performed as part of a race weekend or an official one-day test depending on if there’s already an official MotoGP test planned after that race. What that means is one-day post-race tests are classified as part of the preceding race weekend.

As an example, a rider cannot take part in the upcoming post-race test at Aragon the day after the Grand Prix and then complete another one-day test. That’s because taking part in the post-race test will effectively count as having taken part in the Grand Prix weekend which is an official MotoGP event.

The test has to be carried out at a circuit eligible to the rider’s manufacturer based on their concessions status, or at any circuit where there is no MotoGP race scheduled for the remainder of the current season.

That means a circuit like Jerez which is traditionally a go-to track for testing or Le Mans - home to this weekend’s French GP - cannot be used by a rider.

Additionally, the test can not take place less than eight weeks before a MotoGP event on that circuit.

The tyres available to use at the test must be part of the manufacturer’s test team allocation for the current season, while that rider can only use a maximum of three sets for the test.

Someone that will benefit from this is Jorge Martin when he makes his return and it means Aprilia gets its wish after the Italian company pushed hard for this rule tweak earlier in the season.

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