until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
A MotoGP ban on front ride-height adjustment devices has been ratified by the Grand Prix Commission and will kick in from 2023 onwards.
The move marks the result of continued discussion over how to limit the ride-height device development race in the premier class.
The front ride-height devices are the latest strand of development coming out of the Ducati-pioneered rear ride-height devices that were first trialled in 2019 as a way to improve starts, but soon evolved into something used throughout the lap to improve acceleration out of corners.
It was again Ducati at the forefront of developing a similar mechanism for the front of the bike, but this went against the desire of other manufacturers not to have a development battle in this area.
The new ban was approved in a March 18 Grand Prix Commission meeting, following a discussion during the meeting at Lusail two weeks prior in which “delegates were asked to consider two alternative proposals on this matter, [which] had the objective of preventing further performance improvements and development cost increases”.
The FIM decision states “the use of any device that modifies or adjusts the motorcycle’s front ride height while it is moving is forbidden”, before indicating that this can still be used in the start phase.
“The decision of the technical director will be final when determining what constitutes a front ride-height device; devices that only operate one-shot at the race start [ie “holeshot” devices] are allowed.”
