Factory MotoGP Teams Not Allowed to Sign Rookies From 2010

A new rule to restrict factory MotoGP teams from signing rookie riders will be introduced in 2010, FIM president Vito Ippolito said this weekend at the Jerez testing track. Obviously, such a move is especially aimed at encouraging rookies towards smaller MotoGP teams and thus, attract better performance, results and sponsorships.

In other words, riders coming from smaller classes, including 250cc, will be only allowed to register for the MotoGP Championship only with private teams, Ippolito explained.

"For next year we will have some regulations for the entry into MotoGP," he said.

"It means that new riders coming from other classes and other championships will not be allowed to participate with a factory team. The new riders from the 250cc class, or Moto2, or other championships arriving into MotoGP will only be allowed to participate with private or satellite teams."

Multi-champion Valentino Rossi is surely the best example in this matter, as Honda brought him straight from the 250cc class. On the other hand, 2007 World Champion Casey Stoner spent his first season in MotoGP as LCR Honda rider, signing for Ducati in 2007, the same year when he managed to win the championship.

Jorge Lorenzo, who won the 250cc class in 2007, signed for the factory Yamaha team in 2008 when he competed in 17 races, reaching the podium for six times and starting from pole-position for 4 times. Dani Pedrosa, who's currently injured and replaced by former Suzuki rider Kosuke Akiyoshi also came from the 250cc series, joining Honda in 2006 and winning a total of 6 races in three MotoGP races.

UPDATE: Rules to be implemented although not all teams agree with the changes