The influence of riders on the technical progress of MotoGP motorcycles is a constant topic of debate among fans and experts. While some riders are considered exceptional in their development role, others are criticized for contradicting engineers. But what is really the contribution of a rider to the development of a bike?
Joan Mir, 2020 world champion with Suzuki, has gone through several stages in his career, including his current experience as a Honda rider. Mir emphasizes that his job consists of providing precise feedback and letting engineers manage technical solutions.
According to Mir, “normally, all riders want to go faster.” He states that they can explain the feelings about the bike, but it is not the engineers who should design solutions. “Finding a way to make the bike faster is not in our hands,” he comments.
The Role of Engineers in Development
Nicolas Goyon, current team principal of Tech3, offers his perspective on this debate. With years of experience analyzing data and working as a head of staff, Goyon asserts that, although riders play a key role, the main ideas come from engineers.
“Engineers create the improvements and develop the bike,” he states. “The role of the rider is fundamental because in the end it is who chooses which parts to use and which package to compete with, but the creativity of the engineers determines whether the bike will be competitive or not.”
Influence of Riders
Riders have a visible impact every time they return to the box to explain the behavior of the bike and their improvement needs, although they usually do not prescribe specific technical solutions. Mir indicates that they can request changes like “I want the bike to turn more at the rear,” but cannot assign technical details such as a “shorter swingarm.”
Example of Valentino Rossi
Goyon highlights the famous story of Valentino Rossi moving from Honda to Yamaha. Rossi, who won the world championship in 2004, brought with him a strong technical team, but Goyon believes that his main contribution was his quality as a rider and not so much the development of the M1 bike.
“You can’t go from a bad bike in 2003 to a championship bike in 2004 just because of one rider,” argues Goyon. It is Rossi’s ability to choose the best parts that contributed to Yamaha’s success, but it was the engineers who truly developed the bike.
Importance of Feedback
As new technical regulations for MotoGP for 2027 approach, rider feedback becomes more crucial than ever. Goyon highlights that, although feedback from riders is fundamental, the development of a bike requires joint collaboration.
For Marco De Luca, head of vehicle dynamics at Aprilia, clarity in the rider’s sensations is vital, especially when testing new tires on a completely different model. “The rider’s impressions are very important,” he states.
Conclusion
In the motorcycle industry, although riders can influence the direction of development, it is the engineers who provide the solutions. Goyon concludes that “the rider drives development in one direction or another, but it is the engineers who generate the ideas.” Thus, riders remain a key piece, but they are not the ones who develop the motorcycle.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
