With chassis manufacturers like Suter to set to join MotoGP in 2012, grids could be bigger than ever before.

The MotoGP World Championship could have an additional 21 riders on the grid as soon as next season, it was announced by the FIM during the Grand Prix of Portugal.

A total of 16 teams not currently participating in the sport’s premier class registered their interest to contest next season when 1000cc regulations are reintroduced, and 14 of them have made the next stage of the process.

Included in the 14 teams are registrations for 21 riders according to the FIM, with commercial rights holders Dorna now set to provide additional information on season entries to those teams.

If teams can meet the strict regulations, terms and conditions of fielding a premier class team, then MotoGP could finally reach the 30-plus grid numbers that were last seen in the 500cc two-stroke ranks of the late 1990s.

Teams have been given a fortnight to lodge their future plans comprehensively, that cutoff date set for 14 May before they’re reviewed during the Le Mans round of the series in France.

From there teams will be notified of their acceptance or denial onto next season’s grid, and those accepted will be required to lodge a security deposit with the IRTA teams’ association by 3 June.

If all 14 teams can make the cut and an additional 21 riders are on the grid for next season, the field will be significantly boosted from 17 riders in 2011 to a healthy 38 riders for next season.

The Moto2 category received a similar boost last year when more cost effective 600cc four-strokes with control engines took over from the former 250cc two-strokes, amounting in a 40-rider field to date.