Ezpeleta: holeshot devices out by 2027, action could come sooner

MotoGP officials and riders moved to overhaul start-line procedures and grid formation after a string of first-corner pile-ups culminated in a five-rider crash at the Hungarian Grand Prix. Jorge Martín admitted sole responsibility for the Balaton Park collision that collected Marco Bezzecchi, Fabio Di Giannantonio, Raúl Fernández and Fermín Aldeguer, and he was handed a double long-lap penalty for the next race. The incident followed an earlier violent turn-one crash in Barcelona that required Johann Zarco to undergo surgery, and the sequence of accidents has reignited debate about start-line safety, including whether holeshot and ride-height devices should be banned and whether resurfaced low-grip asphalt at Turn One contributed to the pileups.

Series officials and teams have opened several concrete proposals to reduce first-corner risk. Organizers agreed to increase the distance between the three starting positions on each row by three meters, a change scheduled to take effect at the German Grand Prix before the summer break. Trials have already been held of a two-rider-per-row formation, and Sky Italia and others have suggested testing an F1-style staggered start to give riders more room into Turn One. Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta said holeshot devices "will not be here in 2027" and indicated officials are discussing whether action on starting devices can be taken this year, with further formal decisions expected from governing bodies and race directors.

Stakeholders remain divided on causes and remedies. Jack Miller publicly urged the immediate removal of the front start device, saying Martín’s bike "jumped" when he tried to remove it and pointing to slippery new asphalt and higher approach speeds at Balaton as factors. Aprilia CEO Massimo Rivola rejected the device theory and blamed rider error. Observers warned that wider grid separation could disproportionately disadvantage Martín because qualifying has been his biggest weakness this season. Former rider Virginio Ferrari cautioned that rule changes alone will not solve the problem and called for a broader safety effort through rider education, while officials continue investigations into the recent crashes and weigh a mix of procedural, technical and cultural responses.