Marquez’s Austrian GP Struggle Highlights Urgent Need for MotoGP Ride Height Device Ban

Marc Marquez's difficulties in Austria underscore the urgent need for the MotoGP ride height device prohibition.

The ban on ride height devices is set for 2027.

The 2024 Austrian Grand Prix will hardly go down in history as a highlight of the MotoGP series. Instead, its uneventful nature is expected to become so forgotten that it might someday serve as the answer to a trivia question at a bar quiz.

While not every race is expected to be thrilling, none should be as uneventful as the one observed. The blame on social media has been directed towards Ducati and its GP24 for overshadowing the competition. However, a glance at any other era deemed legendary quickly reveals the weakness of such a claim.

The 2009 Barcelona race is often hailed as one of the most thrilling MotoGP contests ever. However, it's easy to overlook that in the lead-up to this event, there was widespread dissatisfaction about MotoGP's lack of excitement, including a notable absence of any last-corner passes for several years. Additionally, we tend to gloss over the fact that the championship race lost its momentum and it was always the same four riders who seemed to secure podium finishes.

It's unfair to criticize Gigi Dall’Igna’s team for outperforming the competition. They operate under the same regulations, and yet, Ducati's competitors are given certain advantages to help them narrow the disparity. Despite this, none of them managed to close the gap in 2024.

Should you feel inclined to point fingers regarding the outcome, it's the competitors of Ducati who deserve the criticism for their lackluster performance. The standings from the Austrian Grand Prix resemble those from bygone eras, showcasing a huge gap where the first ten finishers are spread across a significant 30.2 seconds.

The Austrian Grand Prix has seen a significant shift from its traditional format, where nail-biting showdowns between Marc Marquez and Andrea Dovizioso at the final corner were often expected. Despite the challenges of the COVID era, Austria continued to deliver exciting races.

Thus, can Ducati genuinely be held accountable for the recent few years of uneventful races in Austria? Clearly, it cannot.

Issues with ride height mechanisms?

The highlight of the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix was undoubtedly Marc Marquez competing on a Ducati, though it was a model from 2023.

The eight-time world champion experienced one of his fastest weekends of the year aboard the Gresini-operated GP23. Although a fall in the sprint race prevented him from securing a certain podium spot, he was a contender for the grand prix victory until his efforts unraveled just before the race began.

The root of his problems originated from a damaged tyre valve, prompting his mechanics to rush to Michelin's tent in the paddock to get his racing tyres mounted on a fresh rim. They managed to do so, yet the duration it took resulted in his medium front tyre losing its warmth due to being away from the heater.

Attempting to warm up, Marquez exerted pressure on his front brake as he neared the starting line. Unfortunately, this action accidentally released his front holeshot mechanism, and he was unable to reactivate it. This led to a suboptimal start, and he subsequently collided with Pramac Racing's Franco Morbidelli, causing him to fall from third position on the grid to 13th.

Marquez managed to climb back to fourth position by the time they reached the finish line, showing a speed that certainly put him in contention for a top-three finish.

"Prohibiting a device prematurely due to my error isn't fair. This rule applies to all, and historically, other riders have made the same mistake," Marquez explained when questioned on the early prohibition of ride height devices before 2027.

"He acknowledged the complexity of operating a motorcycle, saying, "Currently, there are numerous functions to manage on the bike." He pointed out that riders transitioning from Moto2 often comment on the overwhelming number of tasks. However, he mentioned that amidst today's turmoil with the front tire, his focus was primarily on raising the tire's temperature, which diverted his attention away from the front device.

"I activated it, but upon considering the temperature at the front, I turned it off again by applying weight and pressure to raise the temperature. That's just the way things are."

Marquez has consistently criticized the growing trend towards 'F1-like' features in MotoGP motorcycles, such as the heightened focus on aerodynamics and the continuous development of ride height mechanisms. He believes these changes detract from the intuitive aspect of riding, limiting the opportunity for racers to stand out through their skills.

The Red Bull Ring stands out as a track where the drawbacks of these mechanisms are particularly noticeable. The design of the circuit prioritizes acceleration in lower gears, a feature that the ride height devices enhance by maintaining a low center of gravity to prevent the front wheel from lifting off the ground.

However, the result is that riders are essentially approaching corner exits in a similar manner. Additionally, with the current rules around tyre pressure, combined with the significant downforce generated by modern bikes, attempting to gain any upper hand at circuits such as the Red Bull Ring through braking becomes increasingly challenging.

Marquez faced a risky situation due to a malfunction with his holeshot device right at the start. The ability of all racers to begin strongly means that any delay in taking off immediately puts you at risk of being engulfed by the group.

The collision with Morbidelli, although correctly classified as a racing incident, might have led to disastrous results if either rider had been thrown from their bikes.

There have also been various instances where riders' equipment failed to release properly during the initial turns of a race.

From a viewpoint focused on entertainment, Marquez's issues robbed us of what could have been a more thrilling contest for the podium positions. Although it's reasonable to suggest that it was his error, the circumstances with his front tyre put him in that position. Essentially, a strong start is meaningless if a cold front tyre causes you to collide with other racers as soon as you apply the brakes.

Similar to a Pandora's box, once it's unleashed, managing the aftermath is nearly unmanageable. MotoGP has successfully persuaded the manufacturers to simplify aerodynamics and eliminate all forms of ride height mechanisms in the upcoming 2027 rules adjustment.

However, this means that the existing rules will continue to spoil two additional years of competition. It might be wise for those in charge of regulations to think about hastening the prohibition of ride height mechanisms at this point…

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