MotoGP grid spacing will be increased by three metres per row starting at the Sachsenring round on 12 July, a decision triggered by the catastrophic first‑corner crash at the Catalan Grand Prix.
Safety concerns after the Barcelona incident
The May pile‑up left Johann Zarco with a serious knee injury after his leg became lodged in Francesco Bagnaia’s Ducati during a rapid‑braking chain reaction. In response, the MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group, the Motorcycle Sport Manufacturers Association and all teams met to devise ways of easing the tight bunching that often sparks turn‑one accidents.
Ride‑height devices to be banned early
Alongside the grid change, officials accelerated the planned ban on rear ride‑height adjustment devices, moving its implementation to the British Grand Prix in mid‑August rather than waiting for the 2027 technical package. The restriction will apply at every circuit, superseding earlier proposals to limit it to fast first‑corner tracks such as Silverstone and Phillip Island.
Trial run and regulatory path
A pilot of the widened grid will take place at the upcoming Brno race, roughly two weeks after the Sachsenring event. If the trial confirms improved launch safety, the amendment will be submitted to the Grand Prix Commission for formal approval, a step anticipated to pass smoothly given the unanimous backing.
Sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta stressed that while the alteration is “very significant” and could necessitate layout tweaks at certain venues, the overarching goal is to diminish first‑corner incidents and remove the aerodynamic edge offered by ride‑height devices, bolstering rider safety before the summer break.
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