MotoGP has implemented an immediate ban on front holeshot devices, while grid spacing will be increased from next month’s German Grand Prix.
The series had been considering a ban on front holeshot devices ahead of the Czech GP last weekend, following practice tests that revealed divided opinions among riders.
Although a ban on both front and rear holeshot devices is scheduled for 2027, the front holeshot device used at race starts has been prohibited earlier for the upcoming event.
This measure follows concerns regarding the device’s requirement for hard braking at the first corner and its perceived lack of contribution to competitive racing.
From the following race, the German GP at the Sachsenring, the grid layout will be modified for all classes. The distance between riders will be extended from three metres to four metres, increasing row spacing from nine metres to 12 metres. Each row will still consist of three riders.
Race start
Photo by: Gold and Goose Photography / Getty Images
The decision follows recent safety concerns over race starts.
Additionally, the Grand Prix Commission announced a limit of six riders per manufacturer in MotoGP starting in 2028; meaning each manufacturer can support one factory team and two customer teams.
This rule is already in effect in MotoGP, with Ducati providing three teams (factory squad, Gresini, and VR46) following Pramac’s switch to Yamaha from 2025. No other manufacturer currently fields more than two teams.
The regulation is in place under a provisional agreement with five manufacturers in MotoGP, which is expected to remain in place until at least 2031 after the five manufacturers – Ducati, Aprilia, KTM, Honda, and Yamaha – and series promoter MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group finalized a new Concorde Agreement covering the next five years.
