Moto GP
Strategic Slipstreaming: MotoGP Riders Adapt to New Tyre Pressure Regulations
"The nature of racing has changed, and it's surprising that we hadn't noticed it before now."
MotoGP riders intentionally slowing down to allow competitors to overtake in order to manage their tire pressure is "definitely an element of racing" today. "It's somewhat unfortunate that it can't simply be a straightforward speed competition anymore."
During the Dutch MotoGP, it was not an unusual sight to see Marc Marquez and Fabio di Giannantonio easing off to let other riders overtake them in order to manage the temperature and pressure of their tires.
According to di Giannantonio, "we will witness numerous more instances of this," and he remarked that "it's rather odd we haven't observed it earlier."
It is believed that all MotoGP racers currently have some form of dashboard notification to inform them if their tyre pressures fall below the required minimum level.
For a Sprint race, it's essential that tire pressures stay above the minimum level specified by Michelin (notably 1.8 bar for the front tires) for at least 30% of the laps. In the case of a grand prix, this requirement extends to 60% of the laps.
When a motorcyclist risks missing the required targets, typically because they are riding in open air instead of staying close behind another bike as anticipated by their team, they receive a notification advising them to seek out a slipstream.
To put it differently, allow a bicycle behind you to pass and then trail it closely, which will raise the temperature and pressure of the front tire due to the turbulent air.
Marc Marquez followed the procedure but ended up being penalized with an automatic 16-second post-race penalty. He was pushed off the track by Enea Bastianini, which caused his tires to cool down a bit and lose pressure.
“When riding, achieving the lowest possible pressure is crucial for speed, but there are significant changes in temperature and pressure whether you’re riding solo or trailing other racers,” remarked di Giannantonio, who moved up to fourth place at Assen due to penalties given to Marquez and Maverick Vinales.
"I believe that this rule will definitely change the dynamics of racing, whether you're leading solo or part of a group. We are likely to witness numerous similar incidents in the future."
“It’s surprising that it took us this long to notice, especially since this rule has been in place since last year and we were aware it was inevitable. Now that it has finally occurred, I believe it will certainly become a regular aspect of racing.”
"It's somewhat disappointing because it won't solely be a race about speed. Instead, it will involve managing the tyres, monitoring pressures, and controlling temperatures. I believe we'll still enjoy it, but it will be a bit different."
Marc's teammate and younger sibling, Alex Marquez, highlighted the importance of teams and riders pushing the boundaries when determining their initial tyre pressures in order to achieve peak performance.
"We have to handle it," Alex remarked about keeping the pressure at the right level. "Everyone, from those in the control room to the whole team, needs to decide whether to take that risk or not, and it must be managed properly."
"I was pushing hard, but I was definitely within the boundaries. For me, it was a less challenging race than it was for Marc."
"You must constantly push your limits, because if you don't, starting in the slipstream at the beginning of the race will be too intense. It's something we have to manage throughout the race."
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