• The Grand Prix Commission (GPC) announced bans for development in the 2020 and 2021 MotoGP seasons.

• They seek to control the costs in an economy affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

• Teams will need to start with their homologated 2020 specs.

The Grand Prix Commission (GPC) announced sweeping changes including banning further developments for the 2020 and 2021 MotoGP seasons.

These bans seek to cut development costs in a year when economies around the world are ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Consequently, all six manufacturers involved in the MotoGP class will have to start the rest of the season (should it take place at all) with the engines they submitted to the GPC after the conclusion of the pre-season tests earlier this year.

Furthermore, the teams will also have to start the 2021 season with the 2020 spec engines.

The development freeze goes beyond the engines, as well. Aerodynamic developments have likewise been banned. The GPC will only accept the specs submitted to them in March this year.

The GPC is doing to keep a level playing field when racing gets away again. Otherwise, the more affluent manufacturers may keep developing their bikes throughout this lockdown period and suddenly show up with a whole bunch of new stuff.

Manufacturers currently involved in MotoGP are Aprilia, Ducati, KTM, Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha.

The GPC has also extended the bans to the Moto2 and Moto3 classes.