MotoGP raises minimum age

Riders competing in MotoGP’s three classes must be at least 18-yearsold from 2023 after the sport announced safety changes yesterday following three recent fatal accidents involving teenagers.

The age threshold in Moto2 and Moto3, the classes on the ladder immediately below the top MotoGP category, is currently set at 16. Grid sizes will be reduced in a number of other junior series sanctioned by the governing FIM, with minimum ages increasing by one year from 2022. The safety changes were decided by the FIM and MotoGP promoter Dorna in a meeting at Italy’s Misano circuit ahead of the Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix.

Dean Berta Vinales, 15-yearold cousin of MotoGP regular Maverick Vinales, died after he fell and was hit by other riders in a World Superbike support race.