The Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme has announced that new practice regulations will be enforced from 1st January 2006.

Practice with machines eligible for the MotoGP class, or riders designated for that class, will be forbidden:
- At any circuit between the 1st December of any given year and the 20th January of the following year, both dates being inclusive.
- At any circuit included in the Grand Prix calendar of the current year. The ban on testing becomes effective 14 days prior to the first race of the season.
- At any circuit included in the Grand Prix calendar of the current year during “breaks”. A break in the Championship is defined as two consecutive weekends where events are not scheduled. The period of the break extends from 09.00 hrs on the Wednesday after the Grand Prix until the following Grand Prix.

The following exceptions will apply:
- Free practice or qualifying practice at the event.
- Practice at any circuit after the event at that circuit except during a break as defined above.
- Official practice sessions organised by IRTA.
- Any activity allowed by the Race Direction.
- Manufacturers and constructors who supply machines to the MotoGP class may, before the date that is 14 days prior to the first race of the season, designate three Grand Prix circuits as their testing circuits at which they may practice with their MotoGP class machines at any time but not with their designated riders or with riders designated by other teams and not as from 14 days before the race scheduled for those circuits, during a break as defined above, or during the winter pause defined above.

For the 125cc and 250cc classes, contracted teams who benefit from a participation agreement to take part in the Championship are forbidden to practice with those machines:
- At any circuit outside the Continental Zone where the team is based, (Europe, Asia/Oceania, Africa, the Americas), between the end of one season and the start of the next season.
- At any circuit included in the Grand Prix calendar of the current year after the date that is 14 days prior to first race of the season.
- At any circuit included in the Grand Prix calendar of the current year during “breaks”, as defined above.

The following exceptions will apply:
- Free practice or qualifying practice at the event.
- Practice at any circuit after the event at that circuit except during a break as defined above.
- Official practice sessions organised by IRTA.
- Practice by contracted Teams and their designated riders in those classes, at the two testing circuits designated by each team which may take place up to 14 days before the race scheduled for the circuit, but not during a break as defined above.
- Any activity allowed by the Race Direction.
- Practice restrictions do not apply to 125cc and 250cc wild card riders except that they may not practice or race at any Grand Prix circuit starting 14 days before the race.