Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola says the idea of MotoGP following in Formula 1’s footsteps and racing with current machinery next year to save costs is “not madness”.
The 2020 MotoGP campaign is on indefinite hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the opening six races either cancelled or postponed, with further rounds at Mugello and Barcelona expected to follow suit.
This lack of racing has left teams facing a financial issue, with MotoGP owners Dorna Sports last week announcing a €9.075million financial aid package for all independent MotoGP teams – as well as KTM – and the 31 Moto2 and Moto3 squads to be rolled out over the next three months.
Rivola – who previously served as Ferrari F1 sporting director – praised F1’s decision to delay its 2021 rules package by a year in a bid to cut down on costs amid the current uncertain climate, and thinks MotoGP should look at similar measures.
He also moots the idea of the MotoGP class scaling back to one bike per rider, as seen in the World Superbike Championship.
“In today’s situation, where we still don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and with a very critical prediction, thinking only about the performance would be wrong,” Rivola told Autosport.
“We really have to understand what [situation] the world is in and I think what F1 has done is right, and therefore it is something to consider for us too.
“Racing in 2021 with the 2020 bike, I do not see it madness if it can be what allows us to lower costs.
“But there can also be a thousand other ways to do it, such as for example, having only one bike for each rider or perhaps doing fewer kilometres, given that the cost per kilometre of the bikes is important.
“There are various options.”
MotoGP’s technical rules will remain largely stable going to 2021, with the series already limiting certain areas of development such as electronics, engines during the season for non-concession teams (Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Ducati) and permitting just one change of aero package during the year for non-concession teams.
As a response to its growing calendar, which was meant to feature a record 20 races this year, MotoGP will also conduct less testing next year.