MotoGP Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta had revealed that the series is “working on being able to help” the currently struggling Honda and Yamaha operations.
The Japanese marques have struggled to make much headway in the premier class over the last couple of years as the European manufacturers within the championship – namely Ducati, KTM and Aprilia – have overtaken the once dominant factories to become the pacesetters.
A large part of their rise to the head of the pack has come as part of the aerodynamic revolution, which consists of the overall aerodynamic structure of a MotoGP machine such as wings and appendages as well as ride-height altering solutions that help to increase top speed, improve traction as well as reduce the amount of wheelie – which in turn improves acceleration.
Speaking in an interview with the Spanish Catalunya Radio outfit, the Ezpeleta revealed that MotoGP organisers Dorna Sports are working on bringing back the concessions system that helped the likes of KTM and Aprilia to catch the front-running manufacturers in the past in order to “being able to help” Honda and Yamaha to re-join the front of the pack as they continue to lag behind their Western rivals.
“We are working on being able to help, not only Honda, but also Yamaha, so that they can be competitive again in a faster way,” said Ezpeleta.
“Both the Japanese manufacturers aren’t enjoying a fruitful period in MotoGP™ in 2023 especially, so Concessions could be an option in the near future.
“Honda and Yamaha were very considerate with the concession rules in the past, and that was vital for Ducati to be competitive and also for Suzuki to be competitive so quickly, and for KTM and Aprilia to officially enter the World Championship and be competitive as well.
“Dorna’s official position is that the concessions system must be updated.”
Concessions essentially disappeared at the start of the 2023 campaign as a result of Aprilia – the last manufacturer left eligible for help after KTM lost the use of concessions following its standout 2020 term – enjoying a break-out year of its own last season, the Italian marque securing a total of nine rostrum results, including its first ever premier class win courtesy of Aleix Espargaro in Argentina.
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