Now heading towards Round 3, MotoGP 2012 is a changed landscape. So far the new regulation changes that have been introduced have gone some way towards making the racing slightly more exciting for its viewers.

Dwindling grid numbers over the last few years combined with near total dominance by just a couple of teams was steering the sport towards a rather dull existence. Fans, and more importantly for DORNA, viewers demanded change.

So for 2012 the Grand Prix Commission (MotoGP’s rule making group) decided to introduce a raft of changes aimed at increasing not just numbers on the grid but also some excitement.

MotoGP 2012 engine size increase to 1000cc

Increase in engine capacity from 800 to 1,000cc and engines no greater than four cylinder. Originally engine sizes were decreased to 800cc in an attempt to slow the bikes down - yet in pre-season testing that year the bikes were already as fast as the bigger bikes they were to replace.

Most think that the increase in capacity this year will see even higher top speeds being hit, particularly at traditional fast circuits like Mugello. At the front of the grid a horsepower race will no doubt develop throughout the season, but this will leads to bigger gaps further down the field - I'll come back to that in a bit.

Introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT’s)

The second main change to the 2012 regulations has been the controversial introduction of Claiming Rule Teams (CRT).

Basically this new rule allows smaller independent teams to get onto the MotoGP grid on a substantially lower budget. A CRT operates under a slightly different set of rules;

• CRTs each get twelve engines which must last the season (factory MotoGP teams only get six).
• a CRT bike can carry more fuel as they are given a maximum capacity of 24 litres (3 more than the factory bikes).
• CRTs must buy in their engines, gearboxes and transmissions. In this respect they must adhere to strict budget controls; €20,000 for the complete package or €15,000 for just the engine. The big advantage for these teams is that they don’t incur any of the sometimes huge development costs.

The big question though is: how this two tier system will play out over the course of the season?

Essentially the CRT bikes are a crossbreed of a GP and WSBK. Pre-season, most CRT bikes were well behind the pace leading to several riders in GP teams suggesting that they shouldn’t be racing together. And perhaps they’re right. Should MotoGP - deemed to be the pinnacle of prototype motorcycle racing - be diluted with a mix of what are essentially just slightly more advanced superbikes? Put it another way. Would Formula One benefit from suddenly allowing GP2 cars to compete in the same races? Unlikely.

Why have they introduced CRTs into MotoGP 2012?

Governing bodies, be they the FIM or FIA, are keen to be seen to try to reduce budgets in these sports yet the whole ethos of having the ‘ultimate’ racing prototypes require big budgets. Ask anyone in motorsport - the fastest way to go faster is money. If you can hire the best people and get the best technology you have to buy it.

Including another dozen bikes to a grid that are seconds slower doesn’t increase the spectacle, it merely creates two races in one - the GP race and the CRT race.

Throughout the season the big factory teams will continue to spend millions developing their bikes to eek out every single ounce of performance. After Round 1 the gap is already clear - Edwards (best of the CRT finishers) crossed the line 58 seconds behind first place Lorenzo.

It is doubtful that we will see a CRT bike challenging the like of Honda or Yamaha for a win this year, even if we get a very wet race. I don’t think we’ll get to see a surprise result like when Elias nipped past Rossi to win in Estoril in 2006.

The biggest potential role that I think a CRT bike can play in influencing a result this year will be as they are lapped by the frontrunners in the MotoGP class.

I don’t think its right for the sport, but lets just see how it all plays out.

These rules help this entry level class as it creates a relatively level playing field which helps young rides shine through even if they may not be on the very best bike on the grid. So far what we’ve seen from this new class is excellent and close racing from a pretty significantly sized grid - similar in many ways to what was achieved by the setting up of the Moto2 class.