To shut up a gray space within the rules, MotoGP rule makers have mandated strict enforcement of minimal tyre pressures on the entrance and rear compounds for 2023.
Revelations that many riders had been working exterior of the entrance restrict final yr prompted the rule change, although most argued when quizzed on it that they did so on security grounds.
For 2023, riders and groups should adhere to a minimal entrance tyre stress of 1.9 bar (27.6psi) and 1.7 bar (24.7psi) on the rear.
This has led to fears of a rise in crashes in 2023, as many riders imagine the dangers of falling will drastically improve as soon as the tyre reaches 2.2 bar (32psi) of entrance stress – one thing that may have an effect on these driving in packs.
Any riders discovered to have operated exterior of the minimal limits may face lap time deletions in apply and qualifying, and disqualification from races.
Gresini Ducati rider Alex Marquez felt the entrance tyre stress rule “has no sense” and famous that, had the rule been enforced final yr, 13 riders would have possible been kicked out of the Australian Grand Prix.
“We labored rather a lot on the brand new guidelines of stress, which might be fascinating,” Marquez stated on the Sepang check final week.
“The entrance one, truthfully, has no sense, particularly for the race, as a result of it may be unsafe.
“For the rear one, I completely agree. The entire weekend, time assault, every little thing [I was running above the minimum level].
“You will be disqualified [in the race]. In Australia, I believe, 13 riders would have been disqualified, or one thing like this. Since you by no means know on the race the place you’ll be.”
Marquez argued that there’s “no benefit” to operating entrance tyre pressures decrease than the minimal 1.9 bar, and doesn’t imagine the governing physique for MotoGP – the FIM – will push ahead with the regulation after the opening rounds.
“Additionally, being too low within the entrance won’t be a bonus,” he added. “The primary two races, that rule won’t be on, so after two I believe they may make the choice. However I believe they won’t do it [going forward].”
Whereas rule modifications all the time include teething points, one potential downside from the enforcement of the minimal entrance tyre stress may finally be detrimental to the present.
Michelin tyres
Picture by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
With MotoGP introducing dash races in 2023 in a bid to spice up a dwindling viewership of the sequence, Marquez warned that each podium initially can be surrounded unsure as no rider will know for sure if they may maintain their outcome.
“In case you are behind and the stress goes greater than 2.2 bar, you’ll crash,” Marquez acknowledged.
“So, it’s probably not truthful. We are going to arrive within the podium and we won’t know if we’re on the rostrum, or we’re with zero factors.
“In case you are actually low, you can’t make nothing on the bike. It’s troublesome at that time, it is going to be a bit troublesome for everyone.”
Aleix Espargaro famous that the Sepang check highlighted an extra downside with the spec sensors groups will use in 2023, as that system and the one Aprilia at present makes use of didn’t match by way of numbers.
“We’re operating each methods,” Espargaro stated on the opening day of the Sepang check.
“The McLaren one and this one [we will use in 2023]. For the second, this check it’s simply data for the engineers to make use of.
“We aren’t matching the identical numbers, no less than on the check staff, the identical numbers on the sensors.
“So, they should perceive find out how to pull it collectively, if it makes some sense or not. We want the information from the opposite ones, so it’s not going to be straightforward.”
Reigning MotoGP world champion Francesco Bagnaia echoed the security fears raised by Alex Marquez, noting: “I did all of the session with a really excessive entrance tyre stress, as a result of on this second the [minimum] low is just not mounted [or enforced], it’s not there.
“So, we are able to proceed like up to now years. However, sincerely, if the low can be within the championship it is going to be an issue not only for us however for everyone, as a result of in the event you observe somebody it can change into too harmful as a result of the stress will go excessive.”
