English
Italiano
You might remember the controversy that arose last year when several riders had irregular tire pressures after racing. To solve the problem, they decided that the tire pressure sensors would make their debut in the MotoGP this year. They will be experimental for the first three races, in order to figure out if the system will work well or if expedients will need to be introduce.
“The situation is this. After the first three GPs, the MSMA will meet, and the constructors will have to unanimously decide if the official introduction of this system will be confirmed or if it will have to be modified,” Corrado Cecchinelli – MotoGP Director of Technology – explained.
It will certainly be a complication during inspections, but the Italian engineer knew this was going to be inevitable.
“Last year, there had been complaints from some constructors and, from the organizer’s point of view, there was no doubt about everyone’s fairness, so they decided to introduce pressure sensors, in order to completely dispel them,” he explained.
The point is that some teams have accused others of using lower pressures than the limit imposed by Michelin, in order to improve performance.
“Truthfully, it’s not automatic. There’s no sure formula,” Cecchinelli continued. “Let me give you a trivial example. If you take weight off a bike, this is always an advantage, but undercutting on the pressures is not. I’m speaking from experience. Not to mention that not all riders use the same pressure, even with the same bike. I remember when I worked in Ducati. There was a ten kilo difference between Capirossi and Bayliss, and if one had used the pressures of the other, it would have been dangerous.”
But the point is another: respect for the rules.
“If Michelin were to say that there’s no need for a minimum limit, then everything would be resolved,” Corrado said. “Every team has someone from the French tire manufacturer in their garage. They could be the ones to decide what values to use, But, in this way, another variable would be introduced, the human one, because there could be technicians more likely to take risks and others less so.”
So they need a scientific system, and that’s why they chose to use pressure sensors.
“Was there a possibility to measure tire pressure on the line-up with a pressure gauge? Yes, but the constructors chose this system. FIM and Dorna could not allow there to be any doubts about each other's fairness, and so we adjusted to their choice. Like I said, in the first three GPs, no sanctions will be imposed in case of irregularities. It will be up to the constructors to decide if and when the testing stage for the system will end,” Cecchinelli concluded.
