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It's clash between Ducati and Aprilia... off the track for the moment. It all stems from Massimo Rivola's proposal to change the regulations to allow a rider who misses multiple races due to injury to test on a MotoGP bike before returning. Of course, the Noale manufacturer's manager has his own interests in mind, as he is thinking about his rider Jorge Martin, who has been in the infirmary since the first day of winter testing in Sepang. The Spaniard will not be in Austin for the next Grand Prix, but there is a possibility he might return in Qatar. First, however, he will have to check on his physical condition and doing so on the RS-GP would be the best option. The regulations, however, prohibit this unless the manufacturer is under concessions.
Rivola would like to see things change quickly, "we have requested a meeting to talk about it, but I don't know if there will be one." The goal is to get around a table as early as Austin, but discussing it is not enough. Aprilia is in a hurry for the regulations to be changed, but it needs unanimity from all the manufacturers. Or at least, that is what is expected for updates to the technical regulations, but in this case we are talking about sporting regulations.
The problem is that there is no unanimity: "I think it's a good idea and I understand that everyone is in agreement except one." That is Ducati.
Davide Tardozzi has in fact closed the door for this season: "I think it could be a good idea for the future - was his opinion - We faced the same problem with Enea, but no one gave us the opportunity to allow him to test. So I think there is a good opportunity to change the regulation for next year." At Borgo Panigale they are not going to have one eye on the rider they won the World Championship with a year ago, "I think that Jorge doesn't need a MotoGP test. I think when he is healed he will be one of our rivals."
Also lending support to the Rossa's team manager was Marc Marquez. A rider who could write a treatise on injuries. "When I came back, this rule was not there. It may be a good idea, but for the future: to allow a rider who is out of racing for two months to do a day of testing, but no more."
It's going to be difficult for them to change their minds at Borgo Panigale, not least because Aprilia has never conceded anything to Ducati when it came to the subject of technical regulations. Rivola will try, but there is unlikely to be any change soon: "Honestly, I don't understand it," he complained, "You can't say that Jorge is a danger to Ducati in the championship, he's clearly out of the picture. I'm just trying to do something good for the championship. I am sorry that in the past there was not this possibility, but I got this idea now because it happened to us."
The positions are clear and there is no way out in sight. Only Dorna, with a surprise move, could decide to change the regulations without unanimity, but it would mean breaking the delicate equilibrium.
