Sepang set for final MotoGP race with 1,000cc engines
The premier class will move to 850cc engines under technical changes that also ban ride-height devices and require fully sustainable fuel.
The Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia at Sepang International Circuit will give Malaysian fans their final opportunity to watch MotoGP's 1,000cc bikes there before the championship adopts smaller engines.
MotoGP says the revised rules aim to bring speeds down, improve safety and make competition more evenly matched. Engine capacity will fall to 850cc, while the maximum cylinder bore will shrink to 75mm from 81mm, narrowing the design choices available to manufacturers.
The changes will prohibit both holeshot devices and ride-height systems, which let riders alter a bike's height to aid acceleration.
Aerodynamic limits will include a narrower upper front fairing and a nose positioned 50mm further back. Manufacturers will also be restricted to a single seasonal update of the bike's rear aerodynamic package. MotoGP says these measures, together with the ride-height restrictions, are intended to make racing closer and provide more chances to overtake.
Every team will receive all riders' GPS data after each session, another measure intended to reduce competitive disparities.
The fuel requirement will also change: bikes must use 100 per cent sustainable fuel, replacing the current minimum requirement of 40 per cent non-fossil content.
