Motorcycling-MotoGP may reintroduce concessions for Honda, Yamaha - Dorna Sports
29/06/2023 13:04
June 29 (Reuters) - MotoGP is looking to introduce
concessions to help Honda and Yamaha so the Japanese
manufacturers can become competitive again, Carlos Ezpeleta,
chief sporting officer of commercial rights holders Dorna
Sports, has said.
Honda and Yamaha have had terrible seasons in 2023 with only
one podium finish each in the first eight rounds to occupy the
bottom two places in the constructors' standings.
Italian manufacturers Ducati have dominated in 2023 and have
been on the top step of the podium in seven of the eight races
while Red Bull KTM and Aprilia have also shown consistency to
leapfrog Honda and Yamaha.
Ezpeleta, who looks after the sporting and technical aspects
of the championship, said Dorna's official position is that the
concessions system must be updated.
"We are working on helping not only Honda but also Yamaha,
another Japanese manufacturer, so that they can become
competitive again in a faster way," Ezpeleta told Catalunya
Radio.
"Honda and Yamaha were very considerate with the concessions
regulations in the past.
"That was vital for Ducati to be competitive, for Suzuki to
be competitive so quickly, and for KTM and Aprilia to enter the
world championship officially and be competitive as well. The
other manufacturers will also understand this."
Concessions were introduced in 2016 to help underperforming
manufacturers gain small advantages such as having more engines
available during a season, more wildcard entries and more test
days outside official dates.
Once these manufacturers finish on the podium and accrue a
certain number of concession points, they lose the right to
concessions the following season.
However, Ducati chief Gigi Dall'Igna told AS that while it
was fair to help teams in difficulty, it must be done the "right
way".
"I agree that the championship should be as balanced as
possible and that a compromise needs to be found together to see
that everyone can fight for important positions," he said.
"But it is clear that the best must always prevail because
this is a sport and sport works like that."
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Ken Ferris)
((Rohith.Nair@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: https://twitter.com/RohithNair))