**MotoGP’s Tyre Pressure Rule Under Fire: Indonesian GP Controversy Sparks Debate**

Is MotoGP's tyre pressure regulation making the sport look foolish?

Tyre pressure controversy at the Indonesian Grand Prix is a key topic in the latest Crash MotoGP podcast.

This week's Crash.net MotoGP podcast focuses on the tyre pressure regulation that nearly cost Pedro Acosta a podium finish at the Indonesian Grand Prix.

The controversial rule implemented in 2023 faced rigorous examination once more during the Indonesian Grand Prix last Sunday, when three riders—Acosta, Brad Binder, and Takaaki Nakagami—were flagged for a potential violation at the race's conclusion.

Acosta secured the second-place position, but the final decision wouldn't be made until several hours after the race concluded. By that time, Acosta had already celebrated on the podium and participated in the press conference for the top three finishers.

A faulty wheel rim was identified as the reason for the unusual pressure measurements, and he was exonerated.

After comparing KTM's data with that of the stewards, Binder was exonerated, whereas Nakagami received a penalty. These decisions marked a reversal from the stewards' initial statement, which indicated that the results would stay provisional until the investigation was finished at Motegi.

Crash.net’s MotoGP Editor, Peter McLaren, mentioned that there's a sense of anxiety when the ticker appears at the bottom of the screen after a race, indicating a tyre pressure issue, and the anticipation of finding out who it will affect.

"Typically, when someone is identified, they receive the penalty. That wasn't the situation this time. Essentially, there were three riders under investigation, resulting in three distinct decisions, which was unprecedented."

"We have the wheel rim, we found out that Binder was compliant upon inspection, while Nakagami was not."

"We weren't given an explanation for why Binder was not found guilty during the investigation."

"It appears that there was an issue with the sensors responsible for transmitting real-time information; they failed to send accurate data. The team verified the information they had, which confirmed it was correct."

“In my opinion, it seems like a regulation created by a group. It attempts to satisfy a wide range of individuals, but ultimately becomes overly complex.”

Examining Nakagami's performance, he was positioned five seconds behind Raul Fernandez and five seconds ahead of Alex Rins, which evidently put him in a pressured situation.

“However, he had an unobstructed path since nine competitors did not complete the race. Considering he was trailing closely behind Aleix Espargaro just a day earlier, how could LCR have anticipated such an outcome before the race?”

Crash.net's lead reporter, Lewis Duncan, commented, "It gives MotoGP a foolish appearance. It makes this championship seem incredibly silly."

"This regulation was flawed from the start. We've been discussing it for some time, questioning how it's feasible to control tyre pressures given the various ride height systems and aerodynamic factors, all of which depend on qualifying positions."

"If you manage to overtake 10 bikes ahead of you, it means your tire pressure is incorrect. As a result, you will receive a penalty. It's quite foolish."

"The officials' role is absurd too. We have an automated system designed to monitor tire pressures, and once an alert is triggered, they need to thoroughly review the data. However, it shouldn't take until after a press conference and the podium ceremony to address the issue, especially when we're discussing it with a rider who might not even be present."

"That can't be true. We didn't receive any clarification from the stewards or from Dorna."

"We inquired about the reasons behind the postponement and why they abruptly chose to move the decision to Motegi, as well as how they quickly came to a conclusion."

The response we received was that it was quicker than they had initially anticipated. However, this raises questions about their original time estimate and whether it is the duty of the stewards to thoroughly investigate incidents immediately, rather than postponing it to the following week.

"I totally concur," stated Jordan Moreland, the Social Media Manager for Crash.net.

"I don't want to seem overly negative, but I was really frustrated at home yesterday while waiting for the decision. I won't repeat what I said to my computer, but I was very irritated by how long it took."

"It's really unprofessional and the communication is quite poor at the moment."

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