Marc Marquez’s Austria Misfortune Highlights Urgency for 2027 MotoGP Ride Height Device Ban

Marc Marquez's struggles in Austria highlight the urgent need for a ban on MotoGP ride height devices. The prohibition on these devices is set to take effect in 2027.

The 2024 Austrian Grand Prix is unlikely to be hailed as a standout event in MotoGP history. Its lackluster and uneventful nature means it will probably be forgotten, only to be recalled in the distant future as a trivia question in a pub quiz.

While not all races can be thrilling, none should be as monotonous as the one we just witnessed. Social media users have blamed Ducati and its GP24 for the lack of excitement. However, a glance at any other era deemed iconic in racing history quickly exposes the weakness of this claim.

Barcelona 2009 is often hailed as MotoGP’s most thrilling race. However, it’s easy to overlook that, leading up to that event, there were widespread complaints about MotoGP being dull and lacking last-corner overtakes for years. Additionally, people tend to forget that the title fight lost its excitement and that only four racers were regularly finishing on the podium.

It’s hard to fault Gigi Dall’Igna’s team for outperforming everyone else. They adhere to the same regulations, and Ducati's competitors even receive certain allowances to help them catch up. Despite these advantages, none were able to do so in 2024.

If you're looking for someone to blame, point the finger at Ducati's competitors for not measuring up. The outcome of the Austrian Grand Prix resembles a past scenario, with the top 10 riders separated by a significant 30.2 seconds.

The current Austrian Grand Prix is quite different from what we were accustomed to, where it was nearly always expected to witness a final-corner duel between Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, Austria delivered exciting races.

Is Ducati truly responsible for the dull Austrian races in recent years? Absolutely not.

Issues with ride height mechanisms?

One could say that the most thrilling aspect of the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix was seeing Marc Marquez riding a Ducati, even though it was a model from 2023.

The eight-time world champion had one of his most impressive weekends of the year in terms of speed on the Gresini-run GP23. Although a crash during the sprint race cost him a sure podium finish, he was a strong contender for the grand prix until things fell apart just before the start.

The root of his problems started with a damaged tire valve, prompting his mechanics to rush to Michelin's tent in the paddock to have his race tires mounted on a new rim. Although they managed to do it, the medium front tire had cooled down during the time it was off the warmer.

In an effort to warm up his bike, Marquez applied significant pressure to his front brake as he neared the start line. However, this action deactivated his front holeshot device, and he couldn't re-engage it. Consequently, he had a poor start and collided with Pramac's Franco Morbidelli, causing him to drop from third to 13th place on the grid.

Marquez managed to finish in fourth place and showed speed that could have contended for a podium spot.

Marquez responded to a question about prohibiting ride height devices before 2027 by saying, “We can’t prohibit a device prematurely just because I made an error. Everyone is in the same situation, and other riders have made similar mistakes in the past.”

He mentioned, "It's true that there are now numerous controls on the bike." He continued, "When riders move up from Moto2, they often comment, 'There are so many tasks to manage.' However, today I was more focused on heating the front tyre due to the issues we had, which made me pay less attention to the front device."

"I turned it on, but considering the temperature in the front, I turned it off again and applied load and pressure to raise the temperature. It is what it is."

Marquez has consistently criticized the trend of MotoGP bikes becoming more like Formula 1 cars, due to the growing emphasis on aerodynamics and the development of ride height devices. He believes these changes reduce the instinctive nature of riding and diminish the role of a rider's skill in making a difference.

The Red Bull Ring is perhaps one of the tracks where the drawbacks of these devices are most noticeable. The circuit's design emphasizes low-gear acceleration, a feature that ride height devices assist with by maintaining a low center of gravity to prevent the front wheel from lifting off the ground.

The consequence is that most riders are exiting corners in a similar manner. Adding to the challenge, current regulations force riders to contend with tyre pressure issues, which are further complicated by the increased downforce of modern bikes. As a result, regaining any advantage through braking on a track like the Red Bull Ring has become increasingly difficult.

Marquez faced a problem with his holeshot device at the start, which posed a significant risk. In a race where most riders have strong starts, any delay can quickly push you into the crowded middle of the pack.

The collision with Morbidelli – although correctly classified as a racing incident – could have resulted in severe outcomes if both riders had not remained on their bikes.

There have also been many cases where riders' equipment failed to deactivate properly during the initial turns of a race.

From the viewpoint of entertainment, Marquez’s issues prevented what could have been a more thrilling competition for the podium. Although one could say it was his error, it was largely due to the condition of his front tire. Ultimately, a strong start is meaningless if a cold front tire causes you to collide with other riders as soon as you hit the brakes.

As is often the case with complex issues, once you start addressing them, it's nearly impossible to control everything that comes out. MotoGP has successfully persuaded manufacturers to scale back on aerodynamic features and completely prohibit ride height devices in the new regulations set for 2027.

However, there are still two more years where the current rules could negatively impact racing. The authorities might want to think about speeding up the prohibition of ride height devices…

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