MotoGP is poised to make changes to its grids and start procedures in the wake of Johann Zarco’s horrific turn-one crash at Barcelona last month. Greater distance will be placed between the three starting positions on each row of the grid in an attempt to avoid collisions at turn one.
“There’s a chance or a consideration to be taken over basically leaving more spaces between the riders so they have also more space to maneuver going into turn one,” said MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta.
It’s also believed that a plan is in place to ban holeshot and ride-height devices at the start line in a bid to improve safety. “On the holeshot devices, that is a conversation that has an expiry date because the holeshot devices will not be here in 2027,” said Ezpeleta. “That’s a conversation about, ‘Can we do something this year?’ ”
These changes are timely considering Jorge Martin’s turn-one move on Sunday, which took down four other riders. Fabio Di Giannantonio, one of the names caught up in the incident, was in favor of such changes.
“We are close to the first corner, so a rider, if he risks a lot, and the reward is high at the moment, so a rider can play the card to risk a lot to get a great reward. If we arrive with much more distance between us, you risk a lot for just two places; maybe it isn’t worth it, and maybe you don’t do it.”CN
