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MotoGP, Ducati Desmosedici: at Sepang it's a UFO ROBOT!

PHOTOGALLERY A first exit, with Dovizioso, for the new heavy-load aerodynamics: the system resembles the legendary Japanese cartoon

MotoGP: Ducati Desmosedici: at Sepang it's a UFO ROBOT!

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It appeared right away, during this morning's first exit, a little after 10am. We're talking about Ducati's new aerodynamics for heavy loads, or rather the solution that aims to achieve maximum load effect.

"This year, with the new rules, we've lost something - explained Gigi Dall'Igna during the GP19 launch- we'll try to recover it".

The response is this new 'UFO ROBOT' fairing with three winged appendages - with no sharp or pointed edges so that it cannot catch on anything in case of contact.

In reality, not a lot changes from a safety point of view with respect to the early winglets. Some kind of snagging is always possible, also due to the shape of the bike, starting with the handlebars and footpegs, which can always cause interference. To prevent this, the fairing would have to be completely smooth.

Ducati's research in the wind tunnel is clear at any rate, a small NACA air vent (the acronym standing for National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, founded in the States in 1915 and replaced by NASA in 1958) appearing between the first wing and the central one.

There is an enormous need for cooling, as well as load, with the current 280 HP MotoGP bikes.  The greater the power, the greater the need for cooling and for keeping the missile's two wheels attached to the ground of course.

If we consider that for a Boeing 737, the speed needed for take up varies between 250 and 290 km/h, imagine how unstable a current MotoGP bike must be along the straight.

Translated by Heather Watson
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