MotoGP confirms more practice time, new regs

The FIM, Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme, has announced that MotoGP will change back to four 60 minute practice sessions from next year. The amount of time had been cut back previously in a bid to reduce costs.

The decision was made following a meeting of the Grand Prix Commission in Madrid on Thursday.

Rules were also confirmed for Moto3, which will replace the 125cc class from 2012, with the FIM and Dorna inviting tenders for companies wishing to become the single suppliers for ECUs, tires and fuel/oil.

The full statement reads:

Application 2011

1. Practice Time schedule:

Two days for each class.
– MotoGP: 4 sessions of 60 minutes.
– Moto2: 4 sessions of 45 minutes.
– 125cc: 2 sessions of 45 minutes (morning) and 2 sessions of 30 minutes (afternoon).

2. Grid position for each class: 3 riders per row.

3. Generator for tire warmers are permitted on the grid for the 3 classes.

4. In MotoGP, only the GPS provided by Dorna is permitted.

Application 2012

For Moto3:

1. ECU:

There will be a single supplier. Proposals must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 28 February 2011 at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission on 19 March 2011.

See specifications below:

Requested hardware features for Engine Management:

– Single-cylinder management (2 independent fuel injectors, one ignition driver)
– Up to 14,500rpm
– At least 10 analog inputs (0-5V 10bit resolution) for analog sensors and temperature sensors
– UEGO lambda sensor input and management
– At least 4 input capture for wheel speeds and crank/cam sensors
– At least 4 ON/OFF inputs for switches
– Fuel Pump relay driver
– Stepper motor driver for throttle bypass/exhaust valve
– High speed CAN line (1Mbit/s)
– PC-ECU plug’n’play communication cable
– Internal data logger:
-At least 8Mbyte internal memory
-Not less than 200Hz max sampling frequency
-Not less than 64 max logging channels
-CAN line data download

Requested software strategies:

– Ignition/injection management
– Self-mapping with lambda closed loop strategy
– Not less than 3 engine maps selectable by the rider
– Pit limiter
– Traction control
– Power shift (i.e. ignition cut-off)
– Launch control
– IDLE (i.e. engine brake) control (throttle bypass)

Software equipment:

– Engine and strategy calibration tool
– Logger management tool
– Data download/analysis tool for logged data (2D)

Miscellanea:

– Track attendance at all events (Moto3 races and DS/IRTA tests):
-Technical assistance to all teams
-Assistance to FIM for regulations checks/enforcing

– ECU quantities: 40pcs for the 2012 season, spares stock for 5 years
– Base calibration for any engine entered to Moto3

2. Tires:

There will be a single supplier. Proposals must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 28 February 2011 at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission on 19 March 2011.

3. Fuel/Oil:

There will be a single supplier. Proposals must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 28 February 2011 at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission on 19 March 2011.