New Rules for the MotoGP 2009 season

Cost-cutting measures for the 2009 season to help the MotoGP world championship contain the global economic crisis and slash rising costs were finalised today and a number of rule changes have been made with immediate affect, ahead of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship.

The Grand Prix Commission convened at the at the headquarters of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme in Geneva, Switzerland, in the presence of FIM president Vito Ippolito, the Grand Prix Commission ratified proposals put forward and agreed on unanimously by the MSMA in meetings held earlier this year in Japan and Malaysia.

As of the 2009 season Friday morning free practice sessions for all classes have been removed from the Grand Prix schedules and all MotoGP practice sessions (including qualifying) have been reduced to 45 minutes in length.