The Spanish rider Pedro Acosta, from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, has shared an innovative proposal to address the tire pressure control issues that have affected competition in MotoGP. During his participation in the Indonesian Grand Prix, Acosta suffered a drop in front tire pressure, a factor he believes could be resolved simply.
Since August 2023, MotoGP has implemented a new technical rule that requires riders to maintain a minimum tire pressure during the race. Currently, this rule specifies that the front tire pressure must be higher than 1.80 bar (1.68 for the rear) during 60% of the laps in a conventional race and 30% in a sprint race, with penalties of 16 and 8 seconds for non-compliance.
Michelin, which is the sole tire supplier for this category, has created a system to monitor tire pressure during races and enforce the corresponding penalties. Recently, rider Maverick Vinales from Tech3 received a 16-second penalty for failing to maintain the minimum pressure, which did not affect his result, as he finished the race in last position.
The tire pressure issue also affected leading riders like Jorge Martín, Marc Márquez, and Acosta during the competition, causing them to decrease their speed to ensure adequate pressure increase. Acosta expressed his disappointment for having to let Márquez overtake him, despite having a better pace.
According to Acosta, a practical solution would be to establish a standard pressure for all riders. ‘If we all had a standard pressure and it was the same across the grid, it would be easier. Going to very high pressures can even be dangerous. Michelin could set a pressure range for the front tire before the race and check it on the grid. This can be done quickly and then we could focus on winning,’ Acosta commented.
Moreover, the prospect of Pirelli becoming the sole supplier starting in 2027 could change the current situation. The competition director of Pirelli motorcycles, Giorgio Barbier, stated that they maintain the pressure rule, although their tires will offer a wider operational window. Thus, the intention is to prevent the injustices that have occurred with penalties for incorrect pressure in the future.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
