MotoGP: The Pressure is Rising

MotoGP: The Pressure is Rising

MotoGP: The Pressure is Rising

This week has been a busy one as the season is getting into full swing. We’ve been full throttle in the workshop and enjoyed kicking back with all the race action so far this month.

 

There have been a few grey areas with MotoGP tyre pressure rules, leaving teams able to gain a performance advantage by running illicitly low-pressure front-slicks. A leaked Spanish GP tyre-pressure sheet showed that in 2022 Bagnaia, Martin, Rins and Dovizioso were not sanctioned for flouting this regulation.

 

We all know how it goes, reduced pressure, improved grip, higher cornering speeds. Right?

 

As MotoGP is a tight championship where tweaks can make the difference between P1 and DNF, even marginal gains have a massive impact on the results: anyone brave enough to lower their front pressure below recommendations have a considerable advantage.

 

But how did anyone find out? Mugello, 2016, marked the introduction of pressure sensors on wheel rims. The data gets logged and submitted to Michelin after every race.

 

So, how did they get away with it? The Manufacturer’s Association (MSMA) and Michelin have a ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ where any breach will be swept under the rug and violations will go unpunished.

 

Growing tensions have forced the MSMA, Michelin, Dorna and IRTA to strictly enforce new minimums (for all) in the MotoGP: 1.9 bar (27.6psi) for the front and 1.7 bar (24.6psi) for the rear tyre. This rule will apply in qualifying too. Any laps under the minimum pressure will be lost.

 

Yet, there are concerns that the new mandatory pressures are too high. Heat from a machine in front raises the temperature of the chaser’s tyre and increases its pressure. We’ve all seen riders barrelling into a corner on the brakes, hardly any lean angle, unexpectedly losing the front. This is usually the result of a front tyre which has exceeded the recommended pressure and has reduced grip.

 

Expect significantly more crashes this season, mainly those in the slipstream. “If you are behind and the pressure goes more than 2.2 bar, you will crash” – Marc Marquez.

 

So, riders are faced with the risk of running below the minimum limit (disqualified) or going too high (likely to crash). It’s a tricky balancing act, where the ‘safe zone’ is a range of 0.3 bar (4.3psi) and pressure must exceed the minimum limit for at least 50% of the race.

 

That means if a rider (unexpectedly) ends up at the front, where provisions have not been made for lack of heat from tyres ahead, their tyre pressure is in danger of being too low and the rider risks disqualification. There really is nothing to be done apart from sacrifice their advance to gain some pressure from the heat of the pack, adhere to new rules and stay in the race.

 

As we haven’t seen any of this enforced yet, are MotoGP using this rule to bring out showmanship? He who dares wins…

 

The Reactive Parts Workshop Rat