New MotoGP grid format 'terrible' for some - but riders approve
The changes to the MotoGP grid layout implemented at this weekend’s German Grand Prix after a number of high-profile opening corners in recent months, most notably in Barcelona and Balaton Park, have been broadly welcomed by the riders forming up on the grid, even as a number admitted that it’s likely to make racing less entertaining.
The new rules, introduced after Johann Zarco was badly hurt at the Catalan GP and Jorge Martin took out a number of other Aprilia riders at the Hungarian GP, space the rows of the grid further apart, with one metre extra added between each space on the grid to increase it from three to four, and the distance between rows growing from nine metres to 12.
Another proposal was to move to an F1-style format and cut the number of riders on each row from three to two, something that was quickly rejected by riders. The last significant change to the layout was in 2004, when grids were reduced from four to three racers.
“Definitely it’s the first thing we’ve done about safety that is more safe,” enthused Red Bull KTM racer Pedro Acosta when asked about the changes after Saturday’s sprint.
“You arrive to the first corner after making a good start, and you can pass the guys off your line [on the grid]. Maybe to pass the guys in the line in front is much more difficult, but you’ve only got one guy alongside you, not five around you. For this, I think we’ve made a good step.”
That view was broadly supported by the rest of the grid when asked about it at the Sachsenring, with even Acosta’s KTM team-mate Brad Binder, one of the series’ best race starters, admitting that the new rules were the right move despite the effect he expects them to have on him personally.
“It’s terrible for me,” he said, “because I can’t pass as many people! Even if you get a good start, you get a row but you don’t get two.
“For safety it’s the right idea, for sure, but for the show, let’s see.”
That view was echoed by another of the grid’s stronger starters, rookie Diogo Moreira, who also conceded that it’s a disadvantage for him but nonetheless the right call for safety.
“I think it’s better,” said the LCR Honda rider. “I mean, it’s too early to say because it’s the first one, but we saw today it was a clean start, so it should be good for the future.
“Today I made a good start, but we saw that it’s difficult to pass now in these first metres. But it’s for everyone, and I think it’s more safe and better like this.“
