Following Bridgestone’s announcement that it will be leaving MotoGP and that Michelin will fill the void in 2016, the Grand Prix Commission has now confirmed that in addition to the manufacturer change, regulation wheel size will be altered as well, increasing from the current 16.5-inches to 17-inches. The new announcement adds another layer to the series rule modifications planned for 2016, which also includes a move to spec ECU hardware and software across the board.
The Grand Prix Commission met on June 14 and made the following decisions:
Technical Regulations Effective 2016
Following the successful tender of Michelin to be the official MotoGP class tire supplier it was agreed, at the request of Michelin, that the rim size from 2016 will be 17”. This required a change to the regulations which currently specify an exclusive rim size of 16.5”.
Postponement to Implementation of a Technical Regulation
Current regulations require all wheels to be homologated with effect from 2015. In light of the regulation change above it was considered unfair to require teams to buy new, homologated wheels for 2015 and have to replace them with 17” wheels for 2016. The Commission agreed that the implementation of homologation requirements for the MotoGP class will be postponed until 2016.
The requirement for wheels for Moto3 and Moto2 machines to be homologated from 2015 remains in place.
