MotoGP: Grand Prix Commission ban wings

MotoGP’s rulemaking body the Grand Prix Commission have banned the use of wings from the beginning of the 2017 season, finally bringing to an end the controversy that has surrounded the aerodynamic devices since their proliferation this year.

Originally introduced by Ducati, the use of the wings has spread to most of the factory outfit in the paddock since the closing races of the 2015 season.

The wings have been criticised on both safety and cost grounds. However, there has yet to be an incident where they have contributed to a riders’ injury despite several close calls, most notably in Argentina when Andrea Iannone collided with Marc Marquez.

Furthermore, with aerodynamic developments now a genie unleashed from the bottle, it’s unlikely that the factories will stop their research into the field.

The ruling, similar to one already passed in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes, will come into effect from the end of the current season, with all devices currently within the rules allowed until then.