FIM Clarifies Wet Weather Rules...

[Hazza]

...and so it seems that you can ride into the pits and hop onto a "Wet" bike as it were. This obviously makes sense from a saftey perspective, but seems a little mickey mouse to me. But hey, last time I checked the FIM weren't emailing me for my opinion...

The rules state that you cannot change your bike unless it is a wet race, this includes a switch from a "Wet bike" to a "Dry bike" if you felt the urge. And you could percievably pull into the pits and get onto a bike with Intermediates, and if it looked to get worse you are then allowed to ride into the pits and hop onto your bike which the team has set up fully wet.

Aside from that you can't change your bike in a "Dry" race unless it becomes wet, and this will be shown by the marshalls waving white flags which means that it is now a wet race.

The FIM
Unless the race is interrupted, after the leading rider has passed the finish line at the end of his first lap, no further changes of machines are permitted. After this time, in the Motogp class only, the 2 following procedures will apply:

- If the race has been declared wet (Art. 1.20), changing from a machine equipped with rain tyre to a machine equipped with intermediate or slick tyre, changing from a machine equipped with intermediate tyre to a machine equipped with rain or slick tyre, and changing from a machine equipped with slick tyre to a machine equipped with intermediate or rain tyre is permitted at any time during the race.

- If the race has not been declared wet (Art. 1.20), the same machine changes as mentioned above are permitted only after the white flags have been displayed around the track.

In both cases, tyre warmers, changing tyres and adjustments are permitted on the machine in the pit-lane.

1. 19 Ride Through Procedure

...The rider must respect the speed limit (Art. 1.21.14), in the pit lane...

1. 20 "Wet" and "Dry" Races

All races will be categorised as either wet or dry. A board may be displayed on the grid to indicate the status of the race. If no board is displayed, the race is automatically dry. The purpose of this classification is to indicate to riders the consequence of varying climatic conditions during a race.

1. 20.1 125 and 250cc races

1. 20.1.1 Dry Races -...(no changes)

1. 20.1.2 Wet Races -...(no changes)

1. 20.1.3 ...(no changes)

1. 20.2 Motogp race

A race will not be interrupted for climatic reasons and riders who wish to change machine (when allowed), tyres or make adjustments must enter the pits and do so during the actual race.

1. 21 Behaviour During Practice and Race

14) A speed limit of 60 km/h will be enforced in the pit lane at all times during the event. Riders must respect the speed limit from where the sign 60 km/h is placed up to where the sign 60 Km/h crossed out is placed....

18) Overtaking is not permitted in the pit lane from where the sign 60 km/h is placed up to where the sign 60 Km/h crossed out is placed.

Any rider found to have overtaken during the practice will be subject to a fine of US$ 100.- for the first offence, and US$ 500.- for subsequent offences at the same event.

Any rider who overtakes in the pit lane during a race will be penalised with a ride through.

The Race Direction must communicate the offence to the pit of the rider after having received the information from the Official in charge.

1. 22.2 Flags Which Convey Information and Instructions:

· White Flag (new wording)

Waved at the flag marshal post during the race, this flag indicates that the riders are allowed to change machine.

1. 30 Team personnel in the pit lane

3) The maximum number of team personnel per rider on the signalling platform is limited to 4 for all the classes.

[Dani Filth]

rather strange ..

[Silk Cut Jaguar]

I'm not sure if I like this new ruling or not.

[Hazza]

Hmm...maybe there should be a poll (Hint Hint Mods...)

[chunder]

I think you will find it i all to dith television.
F1 rulemakers did the same a few years ago so that the race would only ever last a certain amount of time, unless there was a huge accident as at Spa a few years ago.
Have never understood it bevause that is the appeal of live sport, you never really know what is gonna happen. THose last few laps at Mugello last year were awesome though packing all the points and stuff into a 5 lap race is a little stupid.
Bless the FIM they cant seem to "arrive" at a decision with this one can they!

[EGG]

Does this mean there's going to be a lot of jumping on and off of bikes in the pits in wet races?

The sole dry -> wet race last year when Xaus, Bayliss and Haga grabbed the lead was great to watch, I couldn't believe Bill(or was it rusty?) and Beattie were complaining so much.

Motorbikes weren't really designed with rain in mind when you think about it.

[Schummy]

This brings an interesting question: in a boat race, if it is dry, are they allowed to change boats to put wheels on them? %-)