P1racenews AI automatic summary:
What is a wildcard in MotoGP and why is it used?
In the 2023 MotoGP season, six riders participated in selected grands prix as wildcard entries, a concept with a long history in the series tracing back to the early days of grand prix motorcycling. One notable wildcard success story includes Briton Steve Manship’s second-place finish at the 1978 British Grand Prix, his sole race that season. The modern-day wildcard system allows teams to enter a non-full-time competitor for increased track time, crucial for bike development with limited official testing days. Teams nowadays often use their test riders as wildcards, rather than local riders, for financial reasons and efficiency. While entering multiple wildcards offers advantages, such as potential backup riders, teams typically employ this strategy sparingly due to cost considerations.Photo by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
A wildcard rider can score points for the individual championship and constructors, but not for the teams’ championship to maintain fairness. Replacement riders are commonly sourced from the pool of test riders, so the availability of wildcards may lessen. There is also a risk factor involved, as if a test rider – serving as a wildcard – were to get injured, the team might lack a backup should one of its main riders be unable to race. The reintroduction of a concession system in 2024 imposes restrictions on the number of wildcards a constructor can use in a season, aimed at supporting struggling manufacturers like Honda and Yamaha in the MotoGP championship.
