From a press release issued by the FIM:

Mies, January 7

Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix
Main changes to the Rules for the 2003 season

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Sito Pons (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Mr Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), unanimously decided to introduce the following modifications to the Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations, among which the introduction of the neutralisation of the race in the MotoGP class for climatic reasons, with safety car, pit stop and rolling start. For immediate application:

SPORTING REGULATIONS

1.18 Start Procedure
(…) On returning to the grid the riders must take up their positions with the front wheel of their motorcycle up to or behind the front line and between the side lines defining the grid position and keep their engines running.
(…) Anticipation of the start is defined by the motorcycle moving forward when the red lights are on.

1.20 “Wet” and “Dry” Races
(…) Dry Races – A race classified as dry will be interrupted (125cc/250cc) or neutralised (MotoGP) by the Race Director, if he considers that climatic conditions affecting the surface of the track makes it likely that riders will wish to change tyres.
Wet Races – A race classified as wet, usually commenced in varying or wet conditions, will not be interrupted (125cc/250cc) or neutralised (MotoGP) for climatic reasons and riders who wish to change tyres must enter the pits and do so during the actual race.
In all cases where the first race is interrupted (125cc/250cc) or neutralised (MotoGP) for climatic reasons, then the restart will, automatically, be a “wet” race.

1.22 Flags and Lights used to provide information
Green Flag: (…) Two green flags will be waved at the start line (one at each side) to resume a neutralised race.
Flashing Blue Lights: Will be switched on at the pit lane exit at all time during practices and races.
White Flag with diagonal red cross: Shown motionless at each flag marshal post. The race is neutralised. Riders must slow down. A SAFETY CAR is on the race track. Riders may enter the pit lane at the end of the current lap or may continue on the track to catch up the SAFETY CAR. Overtaking the SAFETY CAR is forbidden.

1.25 Interruption of a race
If the Race Director decides to interrupt a race, then red flags will be displayed at the finish line and at all marshals’ posts and he will switch on the red lights around the circuit. Riders must immediately slow down and return to the pit lane. (…)
If three laps or more have been completed by the leader of the race and all other riders on the same lap as the leader, but less than two-thirds of the original race distance, rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps, then for the 125cc/250cc class, the race will be re-started according to art. 1.26 with the laps and times of the two races added together to arrive at a final result. For the MotoGP class, the race will be resumed according to art. 1.28.
If it is found impossible to re-start or to resume the race, then the results will count and half points will be awarded in the Championship.
If the results calculated show that two-thirds of the original race distance rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps have been completed by the leader of the race and by all other riders on the same lap as the leader, then for the 125cc and 250cc classes the race will be deemed to have been completed and full Championship points will be awarded. For the MotoGP class, the race will be resumed according to art. 1.28. If it is found impossible to resume the race, then the results will count and full Championship points will be awarded.

1.26 Re-Starting a race that has been interrupted
If a race has to be re-started, then it will be done as quickly as possible, consistent with track conditions allowing. As soon as the riders have returned to the pits the Clerk of the Course will announce a time for the new start procedure to begin which, conditions permitting, should not be later than 10 minutes after the initial display of the red flag. (…)

1.27 Neutralisation of a Race (MotoGP only) – New article
According to circumstances a MotoGP class race may be neutralised several times.
If the Race Director decides to neutralise a race due to climatic conditions or some other reason then the following procedure will apply:
1. White flags with a diagonal red cross will be displayed motionless at each flag marshal post.
2. A safety car will leave the pit lane and make one lap. The pit lane exit will be closed with red lights and red flag.
3. Riders may enter the pit lane at the end of their current lap or make one more lap to check the conditions of the track and then enter the pit lane.
4. Riders who decide to make one more lap must prepare to catch up the safety car. Overtaking the safety car is forbidden.
5. At the end of his lap the safety car will enter the pit lane and the track will be closed with red flags. Riders following the safety car must enter the pit lane.
6. The safety car will stop approximately 50 metres beyond the exit of pit lane.
7. In the pit lane riders may change tyres, make adjustments to the motorcycle, refuel or change machine.
8. If the race is neutralised before the last lap, a provisional race classification will be published. The provisional race classification will be the results taken at the last point where the leader and all other riders on the same lap as the leader had completed a full lap without the neutralisation flags being displayed calculated as in the principle set out in article 1.25.1. Riders already in the pit lane can be classified. Riders who did not complete 75% of the laps completed by the leader will not be classified. The race will be resumed according to article 1.28.
9. In case of neutralisation during the last lap the following procedure will apply:
if at least one rider has completed the scheduled number of laps of the original race, the race classification will be calculated as in the principle set out in the exception in article 1.25.1 and race will not be resumed.
if no rider has completed the scheduled number of laps of the original race, the provision of article 1.27.8 will apply and the race will be resumed according to article 1.28.
10. In the case of more than one neutralisation the provisional race classification for positions and eligibility to take part in the resumed start will always be those based on the provisional race classification taken at the latest neutralisation.
11. In all cases the provisional race classification will be displayed on the official timekeeping monitors.

1.28 Resuming a race that has been neutralised (MotoGP only) – New article
1. The Race Direction will announce when the Safety Car will leave the pit lane to resume the race.
2. The number of laps to go will be the difference between the scheduled number of laps of the original race and the number of laps of the provisional race classification. If the difference is less than 3 the number of laps to go will be 3 laps.
3. In the case of more than one neutralisation, the number of laps to go will be the difference between the scheduled number of laps of the original race and the number of laps completed in all the previous parts. If the difference is less than 3, the number of laps to go will be 3 laps.
4. Only riders included in the latest provisional race classification may resume the race.
5. 2 minutes before the Safety Car leaves the pit lane, the pit lane exit will be opened with green lights and flags to allow the riders to form up behind the safety car in the order of the provisional race classification.
6. 30 seconds before the Safety Car leaves the pit lane, all riders should be ready behind the safety car in the order of the provisional race classification.
7. At the time announced by the Race Direction, the pit lane exit will be closed with red flags and lights and the safety car will make one lap followed by the riders. Overtaking the safety car is forbidden. Any riders remaining in the pit lane will resume the race from the pit lane.
8. In all cases the time to go before the safety car departs and the pit lane exit closes will be displayed on a countdown board or clock at the pit lane exit and on the official timekeeping monitors.
9. At the end of his lap the safety car will enter the pit lane whilst the riders continue on the track.
10. The race will resume by rolling start when the riders cross the start line where two green flags (one at each side) will be waved and the green start lights will be switched on. At that time a time penalty may be imposed by the Race Direction on any rider:
* who is not behind the rear wheel of the motorcycle in front of him.
* who is in a higher position than in the provisional race classification.
* who is more than 3 seconds behind the rider in front of him.
11. After the last rider in the file has passed the pit lane exit the green lights will be switched on and the green flag will be waved to allow the riders who are still in the pit lane to resume the race.
12. The final race classification will be established according to the position and the consolidated number of laps of each rider at the time he crossed the finish line at the end of the race. Provisions of article 1.23.5. will apply.

TECHNICAL REGULATIONS

2.5 Weights
The following are the minimum weights permitted:
– 125cc motorcycle + rider 136 kg
– 250cc 1 cylinder motorcycle 100 kg
2 cylinders motorcycle 100 kg
(…) For the 125cc class the weight checked will be the total of the rider with full protective clothing plus the weight of the motorcycle. Random weight controls may be carried out during practice in a designated weighing area.

2.6 Fuel Tanks
The fuel tank capacities for prototype motorcycles are:
(…)- 4-stroke engines: maximum 24 litres

2.7.3 Brakes
(…) In the 125cc and 250cc classes, only brake discs of ferrous materials are allowed.

2.9 Numbers and Backgrounds
(…) Numbers must be a minimum height of 140mm.
Backgrounds must be of one single colour over an area large enough to provide a minimum clear area of 25mm around the numbers.