(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)
