Massimo Rivola, CEO of Aprilia Racing, has addressed the criticisms regarding the switch to 850cc engines for the upcoming MotoGP season, highlighting that the investments made to improve safety have not resulted in the expected reduction of speeds in corners.
At a press conference held before the Indonesian Grand Prix, Rivola, along with Gigi Dall’Igna from Ducati, was questioned about the effectiveness of this change, which has involved millions of euros in development. Despite the new models showing lap times comparable to the current 1000cc bikes, Rivola insisted that the main objective is to decrease the speed when arriving at corners.
“It’s better to look forward rather than backward, since that’s already been decided,” Rivola stated, emphasizing that although the lap times have been fast, the expectation is that the lower power will reduce speed on the straights. “Riders have reached speeds of 368.6 km/h at Mugello, a significant figure, and reducing about 50 horsepower will surely decrease that speed,” he added.
Rivola noted that while current lap times seem competitive, riders comment that the bikes are more manageable, allowing for better control and less effort. Furthermore, he warns that times could vary throughout an entire race, a fact not yet determined with certainty.
Dall’Igna responded to the criticisms by agreeing that reducing engine power is vital for safety, reaffirming that although lap times are close to those of the previous season, the main improvement lies in the decrease of speeds when approaching corners.
Finally, Rivola highlighted the importance of tires in vehicle performance, adding that Pirelli, the new tire supplier for the upcoming season, will be able to make adjustments that influence vehicle performance.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
