The recent MotoGP Grand Prix in Indonesia seemed to highlight a recurring problem for riders: tire pressure. Pedro Acosta, from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, experienced a significant drop in the front tire pressure during the race, a situation he believes has a ‘simple’ solution.
Since August 2023, MotoGP has imposed a change in its technical regulations that requires riders to maintain the front tire pressure above 1.80 bar (1.68 at the rear) for a minimum of 60% of the laps in the race and 30% in the sprints. Those who do not comply with these rules face penalties of 16 and 8 seconds, respectively.
Michelin, the only tire supplier in the category, has implemented a system to control pressure during races and impose the corresponding penalties. In fact, during Sunday’s race, Maverick Viñales of Tech3 was sanctioned with 16 seconds for failing to maintain the minimum pressure. This penalty, however, did not affect his final result, as he finished in last place.
The pressure issue not only impacted Viñales but also affected prominent riders such as Jorge Martín, Marc Márquez, and Acosta, who had to modify their strategy to try to maintain the appropriate pressure. All three found themselves battling each other, allowing Ai Ogura to catch up with them in the final laps and surpass them at the finish line.
Acosta is critical of the current rules and considers that ‘the pressure rule is absurd in the championship.’ In this context, he proposes that all riders should have a standard pressure, thus facilitating more efficient control and preventing riders from being forced to concede positions to adjust tire pressure.
According to Acosta, if Michelin were to establish a standard pressure range before the race, riders could focus on competing without worrying about penalties. This solution could have avoided situations like the one Martín experienced, who had to let Márquez pass to try to increase the pressure of his tires and avoid negative consequences.
In 2027, Pirelli will take over as the exclusive tire supplier for MotoGP, a change that some believe could modify the dynamics of the races regarding tire pressure. Giorgio Barbier, director of competition at Pirelli, stated that their supplier will maintain the pressure rule but with a broader variant for the riders, allowing for smoother competition without the penalties currently imposed.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_64b7f87a6835a3d382fb79bb90c7f768a67d2678