MotoGP makes injured riders test allowance Aprilia pushed for

MotoGP’s Grand Prix Commission has amended the series’ rulebook to allow injured racers to test in private before returning to race action, something that Aprilia has been pushing for in the aftermath of three serious injuries sustained by reigning world champion Jorge Martin so far this season.

Aprilia team boss Massimo Rivola first proposed the rule change at the second round of the season in Argentina in March, after it became apparent that Martin’s second set of injuries, sustained in a training incident while recuperating from his Sepang pre-season testing fall, would mean that he would miss a substantial portion of the early season.

"I think we should think about what is good for the show and what is good for the safety of the rider,” former Ferrari Formula 1 sporting director Rivola told The Race.

"Clearly we are right now very interested to change the rule eventually, but it is for the benefit of all the riders. I don't think anyone with decent respect for the riders or the show [would object].

"I'm not trying to sell something just for me.

"But if you think about the racing format we have now, where already on Friday we are into qualifying, you need someone with big confidence.

"For me, it's something that everyone should understand."

That proposal was initially blocked by Rivola's fellow factory team bosses, who believed that it gave an unfair advantage to Martin and, while supportive of the general concept, did not want it introduced immediately.

It seems that following Martin's third serious crash of the year upon his return to MotoGP action at the Qatar Grand Prix, though, opinions have softened - and he’ll now be able to test before his return should his lung injuries rule him out of both the French and British races later this month.

Under the new legislation, any rider who has either missed three consecutive rounds or tests - or 45 days of the MotoGP season (with participation counted as leaving pitlane once during an official event) - will receive a single day of private testing.

That test can be made at either one of the team’s designated testing tracks, or at any circuit that will not appear on the MotoGP calendar in that season. Any track set to hold a race within eight weeks of the test day cannot be used.

Tyres for the test will come from a team’s testing allocation and a maximum of three sets can be used during it, which should allow for something in the region of 50 laps to be completed.