Marco Bezzecchi
Ride-height devices will be banned at race starts after the summer break as part of new measures to improve safety in MotoGP, according to a report.
This comes after LCR Honda rider Johann Zarco was injured at the Catalan Grand Prix when he tangled with Ducati’s Francesco Bagnaia and Honda’s Luca Marini. Zarco, who suffered extensive damage to his knee and also injured his ankle, has missed the last two races and is still waiting to undergo surgery.
Motorsport report that MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, formerly Dorna, have held ‘several meetings’ with the teams since that incident. The goal was to reduce the risk of serious accidents at race starts.
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MotoGP to increase grid separation and ban ride-height devices at starts
After a meeting in the Balaton Park paddock on Saturday, two rule changes have been agreed. The current procedure will remain in place for Brno and Assen, but from the German GP onwards, the gap between grid rows will be increased by three metres.
If the field is more spread out, there should be less ‘congestion’ at the apex of the first corner.
After the summer break, when the season resumes at Silverstone, teams will no longer be able to use ride-height devices at the start. They will still be permitted later in the race.
This is effectively a partial ban ahead of a full ban in 2027, which had already been agreed.
Both measures need to be submitted to the Grand Prix Commission for approval, but ‘this is considered a formality’ as long as no major issues emerge when they are tested at the Czech GP. There is ‘broad consensus’ among all parties.
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In addition to the ride-height device restrictions, grid rows will be spaced out by an extra three metres
Speaking at the Italian GP last time out, Pramac rider Jack Miller blamed the controversial devices for Zarco’s accident.
“I’ve been quite vocal about the ride-height device,” he said, via Motorsport. “I believe the reason why everything is even more chaotic at turn one is because of the ride-height device, because everybody has it.
“Nobody has a clear advantage anymore. So, we’re all arriving at the same time. We’re all having to grab abnormal amounts of brake to, first of all, get the rear to recover and, second of all, to unlock the front from 130mm.
“The incident with Johann… you see the gap to the rider in front sort of close and then stabilise and then close again. And that’s the inconsistency on the brakes with not having the same reaction. And that is simply a ride-height device issue.”
Prior to Zarco’s crash, Gresini rider Alex Marquez suffered one of the worst crashes in recent MotoGP history after hitting Pedro Acosta, whose KTM bike had cut out. This led to a red flag, and the restarted race only lasted one corner after another stoppage.
Like Zarco, Marquez has missed the last two races, but he appears closer to making a comeback.
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