**Title: Tackling MotoGP’s “Ridiculous” Qualifying Tow Tactics: Can New Solutions End the Controversy?**

How can the issue of "absurd" tow tactics in MotoGP qualifying be addressed?

The qualifying strategies in MotoGP faced criticism at Silverstone, but is there a viable solution?

Just as certain as the sunrise each day, you can expect a MotoGP rider to be intentionally slowing down to catch a slipstream during a qualifying round. This scenario played out once more at the British Grand Prix last weekend.

This prompted reigning world champion Francesco Bagnaia to express his strong disapproval. He criticized it as "ridiculous," a sentiment echoed by several other riders. To be fair, the Silverstone Q2 session wasn't the most egregious instance of such conduct; the earlier rounds in Germany and the Netherlands arguably featured even more blatant examples.

The core issue is that there are no adequate laws established to regulate the situation.

If it is determined that you have interfered with another racer in any manner, as described by the FIM regulations, you will face a penalty. This was the case for Jorge Martin at Assen when he slowed down on the racing line in front of Raul Fernandez during the qualifying session. As a result of this infraction, Martin received a three-position grid penalty. However, he still started the race from the fifth position, and the penalty is only relevant for the grand prix event.

Fernandez ended up in 11th place, his lap having been disrupted, while the person responsible still secured a better starting position on the grid. Martin finished second in the race, with Fernandez trailing in eighth, nearly 20 seconds behind. A similar situation occurred with Honda wildcard Stefan Bradl in Germany. During Q1 at Turn 2, Bradl abandoned his lap and attempted to move to the track's outer edge but inadvertently obstructed Marc Marquez. The penalty for this incident was even more absurd.

Starting second-to-last in qualifying left him in the final position due to a grid penalty. At the same time, Marquez had to begin the race from 13th place. The consequence seems disproportionate to the offense. Habitual offenders will soon face long lap penalties, which still seems too lenient considering the severity of the issue.

When cyclists wait for others to draft behind them, the absence of clear penalties creates a loophole in the rules that is likely to be taken advantage of. Regardless of personal opinions, it’s hard to fault the cyclists for doing so.

What solutions could be considered?

The most apparent answer is one that has already been implemented in the Moto2 and Moto3 categories. In Moto3, slipstreaming plays a vital role in achieving competitive lap times. However, in recent years, the sight of clusters of riders slowing down on the racing lines to catch a tow has become increasingly hazardous.

New rules on sector times were introduced, where failing to meet these times would result in increasing penalties. Repeated violations could ultimately lead to a race ban. Despite these measures, the behavior persists, and numerous Moto3 sessions still see several riders being penalized.

However, is it really unexpected given that MotoGP racers engage in similar actions without facing consequences?

Aleix Espargaro of Aprilia, who secured his pole position at Silverstone independently, mentioned to reporters at the British Grand Prix that the idea of adopting the Moto2/Moto3 system in MotoGP has been brought up multiple times in safety commission meetings. However, there has not been a consensus on the matter, leaving the issue unresolved.

If a consensus cannot be reached on the Moto2/Moto3 system, then the punishment for reckless riding may need to be more severe. Although no actions were considered reckless during the Silverstone Q2 session, the sight of riders moving slowly on the Wellington Straight in the last five minutes might be less common if they faced the threat of starting from the pitlane or a ride-through penalty for obstructing others.

Grid penalties, except for having to start at the very back, are not always a major setback. Marc Marquez has demonstrated multiple times this season that it's possible to reach the podium even when starting from beyond 12th place. Starting from the pitlane, however, is a considerable disadvantage. Meanwhile, a ride-through penalty for a serious infraction like riding slowly on the racing line can be severe enough to ruin a race and serve as a strong deterrent.

If the highest tier is being held responsible, this will trickle down to the lower levels, particularly Moto3, where numerous racers have managed to contend for victories despite facing long lap and grid penalties.

In response to the controversy during the Silverstone Q2 session, there have been recommendations to change the qualifying format. A number of pundits and supporters argue that implementing a Superpole system is the sole solution to eliminate the issue of drivers cruising.

This topic divides riders, with Marquez labeling it as "dull." The individual timing method is still employed in certain British Superbikes events, providing a historical reference.

MotoGP is considering a return to its previous qualifying method, which involved a single session lasting one hour. Extending the duration on the track allows riders more opportunity to adjust their settings and lessens the reliance on drafting. Additionally, the fastest lap could be achieved at any time during the session.

However, MotoGP's decision to adopt the two-group 15-minute qualifying format has generally resulted in more thrilling action compared to the previously mentioned options.

Therefore, it doesn't make sense to damage the show just to address an issue that could be easily handled with stricter penalties or by altering the rules.

Explore Further

Breaking News

Recent Updates

Site Map

Crash.Net

©1999-2024 Crash Media Group

It is prohibited to copy any text, images, or drawings, either completely or partially, in any manner.