Front Holeshot Ban Raises Safety Concerns
MotoGP riders warn that banning only the front holeshot device this season could heighten first‑corner risks.
The front holeshot, a trip‑speed regulator used exclusively at race starts, is slated for a swift outlawing at the British Grand Prix in August, a move that follows recent accidents at the first bend.
Meanwhile, the governing body has already committed to discontinuing all rides‑height devices across the board by the 2027 regulations.
Riders Call for a Full Device Removal
In a post‑practice interview after the Czech Grand Prix event in Brno, Spanish rider Pedro Acosta stressed that any front‑only ban would be insufficient and potentially dangerous.
Acosta noted that should the rear holeshot remain engaged as the bike brakes toward the first turn, riders lose the ability to turn, while a disengaged front device would leave them unable to balance the rear’s grip.
“With the rear down you cannot turn,” he said after comfortably making it into Saturday’s Q2 session, adding, “Everything or nothing: either we keep both in place or we take them both off for the rest of the season.”
Broad Rider Consensus
World champion leader Marco Bezzecchi cautioned that an abrupt removal of just the front system “is not a safe solution” and called for additional trials over the next couple of weekends.
Yamaha’s Fabio Quartararo echoed the need for incremental adaptation, stating, “We can really practice from FP1 at the next race; we need a bit more time to adjust.”
Acosta, Bezzecchi, Quartararo and other competitors all underscored that more testing is needed before the regulation shift.
With the front holeshot device still active, riders can still negotiate the first corner, but the absence of a counterbalance may lead to unpredictable turns if the rear device engages.
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