From a press release issued by the FIM:
Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix
Decision of the Grand Prix Commission
The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Sito Pons (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), with the presence of Paul Butler (Secretary), has unanimously decided, following the request of the MotoGP riders, to cancel the neutralisation procedure, thus maintaining the interruption procedure, reducing as much as possible the time of interruption and introducing two warm-up laps. The modifications to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations are the following, for immediate application:
1.18
Start procedure
1.18.2
Approximately 15 minutes (20 minutes for MotoGP only, except in the case of a restarted race) before the start of the race – pit lane exit open for sighting lap(s)…
1.18.3
Approximately 10 minutes (15 minutes for MotoGP only, except in the case of a restarted race) before the start of the race – pit lane exit closes.
1.18.18
Should there be a problem on the grid that might prejudice the safety of the start, then a marshal will wave a yellow flag in front of the starting grid, and the starter will display a flashing yellow light and the board “Start delayed”…
1.19
Stop and Go Procedure
…In the event of a restarted race, the above regulation will also apply.
In the case of a race interrupted prior to the penalty being enforced, and if there is a second part, the rider will be required to stop after the start of the second part of the race.
1.20
“Wet” and “Dry” Races
1.20.2
Dry Races – a race classified as dry will be interrupted by the Race Director, if he considers that climatic conditions affecting the surface of the track makes it likely that riders will wish to change tyres.
1.20.3
Wet Races – a race classified as wet, usually commenced in varying or wet conditions, will not be interrupted for climatic reasons…
1.20.4
In all cases where the first race is interrupted for climatic reasons, then the restart will automatically be a “wet” race.
1.22
Flags and lights
1.22.1
Green flag (to delete “Two green flags waved on the start line…”)
1.22.2
White flag with diagonal red cross (to delete the whole paragraph)
1.25
Interruption of a race
1.25.3
If three laps or more have been completed by the leader of the race and all other riders on the same lap as the leader, but less than two-thirds of the original race distance, rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps, then the race will be restarted according to Art. 1.26. If it is found impossible to restart the race, then the results will count and half points will be awarded in the Championship.
1.25.4
If the results calculated show that two-thirds of the original race distance rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps have been completed by the leader of the race and by all other riders on the same lap as the leader, then for the 125cc and 250cc classes the race will be deemed to have been completed and full Championship points will be awarded. For the MotoGP class, the race will be restarted for a minimum of 3 laps according to Art. 1.26. If it is found impossible to restart the race, then the results will count and full Championship points will be awarded.
1.26
Re-starting a race that has been interrupted
1.26.3
The start procedure will be identical to a normal start with sighting lap(s), warm-up lap (two warm-up laps for the MotoGP class), etc.
1.26.4.ii.
In the case of the situation described in 1.25.3 and 1.25.4 above:…c) The number of laps of the second race will be the number of laps required to complete the original race distance, with a minimum of 3 laps… e) The final race classification will be established according to the position and the consolidated number of laps of each rider at the time he crossed the finish line at the end of the last part of the race. Provisions of Art. 1.23.4 will apply.
– Art. 1.27 (neutralisation of a MotoGP race) and 1.28 (resuming a MotoGP race that has been neutralised) are deleted.
In Response To Rider Complaints, FIM Modifies Rain Restart Procedure
In Response To Rider Complaints, FIM Modifies Rain Restart Procedure
© 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.