Strategic Slipstreams: The New Norm in MotoGP Racing to Manage Tyre Pressure

"The competition will change, it's surprising it wasn't evident before. MotoGP competitors easing off to allow an opponent to overtake in order to manage their tire pressure has certainly become an aspect of the sport. It's somewhat regrettable that it can't solely be a contest of velocity."

Marc Marquez and Fabio di Giannantonio yielding their positions to manage their tire temperature and pressure amidst the Dutch MotoGP race was not an isolated incident.

Di Giannantonio suggests that "we are likely to encounter numerous similar events going forward," expressing surprise that such incidents have not been observed until this point.

It is now believed that every MotoGP competitor receives an alert through their dashboard if their tire pressures fall below the required minimum levels.

This necessitates maintaining pressures beyond Michelin's specified minimum threshold, notably exceeding 1.8 bar at the front tires for a minimum of 30% of the duration in a Sprint race or 60% throughout a Grand Prix event.

Should a rider risk not achieving the expected performance, often because they are navigating in open space instead of drafting behind another motorcycle as their team anticipated, they receive a notification advising them to seek a slipstream.

In essence, allow a bike that's trailing to pass and then ride closely behind it, which helps to raise the temperature and pressure of the front tire due to the turbulent air.

Marc Marquez experienced exactly that, yet found himself ensnared by an automatic 16-second penalty after the race, a consequence of being pushed off the track by Enea Bastianini, which caused his tyres to slightly cool down and lose pressure.

"Riding requires maintaining the lowest possible pressure to achieve speed, but there's a significant fluctuation in temperature and pressure when riding solo or in a group," explained di Giannantonio. He capitalized on penalties given to Marquez and Maverick Vinales to secure fourth position at Assen.

"Therefore, it's my belief that this regulation will undoubtedly change the dynamics of racing, whether you're leading solo or amidst the pack. We're likely to witness numerous instances akin to this."

"Frankly, it's somewhat surprising that it took us this long to notice, given that we've had this regulation since last year and were aware that it was bound to occur at some point. Now that it has, I believe it's going to become a permanent aspect of racing."

"It's somewhat unfortunate since it won't merely be about who's fastest, but rather it will involve managing tire conditions, pressure, and temperatures. I believe we'll enjoy it, though; it's going to offer a unique experience."

Alex Marquez, who is not only part of Marc's team but also his younger sibling, underscored the importance for both teams and riders to push boundaries in setting their initial tire pressures to optimize their performance.

"Managing this is essential," Alex noted regarding keeping the pressure at the right level. "It's a collective effort, from everyone involved. We have to make a choice about whether to take that risk and then handle it accordingly.

I was pushing my boundaries, yet my position was unmistakably clear. Therefore, for me, the race was less challenging than it was for Marc.

"However, it's crucial to consistently push the boundaries because if you don't, if you find yourself trailing in the early stages of the race, the challenge will become significantly greater. Thus, it's something we must manage on our own throughout the competition."

Explore Further

Recent Updates

Recent Updates

Site Navigation

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

Copying or replicating any part of the text, images, or illustrations in whole or in part is strictly forbidden.