MotoGP installs compulsory medicals for riders

MotoGP organisers have made undergoing a full medical a compulsory part of preparing for the 2018 season which will apply to all three classes.

Every rider in the MotoGP premier class underwent a complete medical at the first official test at the Sepang International Circuit, while all Moto2 and Moto3 riders will have the same assessment at their final pre-season test in Jerez.

The medicals will be overseen by MotoGP Medical Director Angel Charte who is the head of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Hospital Universitario Dexeus - Grupo Quirónsalud in Barcelona. The FIM Medical Officer and staff from Clinica Mobile will carry out the examinations with tests used from the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix regulations. Riders will also have an electrocardiogram to record heartbeats and heart patterns.

"These examinations not only ensure that each rider is in peak physical condition and healthy, but also form a database of important information that can then be used as a reference for officials,” a MotoGP statement confirmed.

The decision for compulsory medicals comes after the shock news of Jonas Folger’s withdrawal from the 2018 MotoGP season with Tech 3 Yamaha in order to recover from an underlying illness which he had been battling for a number of years and ruled him out of the final four races of 2017.

Speaking to Crash.net, Tech 3 boss Herve Poncharal says he respects Folger’s decision to take a year away from racing to focus on his health as he looks for an 11^th-hour replacement. Malaysian rider Hafizh Syahrin has been tipped as a favourite to take up the vacant Tech 3 Yamaha ride with an official announcement expected over the next few weeks.

MotoGP’s second official pre-season test takes place at new race venue Thailand’s Buriram circuit on the 16-18^th February.