To shut up a gray space within the rule guide over tyre pressures, after quite a few groups have been discovered final yr to have been operating underneath the beneficial minimal set by Michelin, MotoGP introduced a stricter enforcement on the matter for 2023.
From the British GP, the rule was officially mandated, whereby riders should run on the minimal entrance (1.88 bar) and rear (1.7 bar) pressures for a minimum of 50% of a grand prix and 30% of a dash.
The rule was ostensibly introduced in as a security measure on the recommendation from Michelin, although riders have criticised it.
That is largely all the way down to the actual fact entrance tyres lose grip and braking efficiency as soon as they go above 2.0 bar of strain.
Whereas that is harmful in itself, it has additionally meant overtaking has become a lot harder in addition to extra aggressive, as riders attempt to make up floor as early as potential in races to keep away from any strain points.
This was one of many components blamed by riders after last week’s San Marino Grand Prix for leading to boring racing.
“For me, it’s unsafe this rule, since you danger to crash much more,” Ducati’s Bagnaia stated.
“When you’re behind a rider and also you need to have an try, it’s important to danger so much.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Staff
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Images
“It’s very straightforward to lose a entrance. And in circumstances like [in the grand prix] in a observe like Misano, the place you brake so much, the entrance strain is usually a actually massive restrict.
“However it’s what we’ve. So, we’ve to grasp higher the place to enhance on that.
“Now we have to foretell higher what is going to occur within the race, as a result of if you’re in entrance so much it’s important to do one factor for the race; if you’re behind, it’s important to do one other factor.
“So, it adjustments so much, however this rule doesn’t make our sport safer for certain.”
Whereas the long-term intention is to disqualify any rider discovered to have run underneath the minimal strain outdoors of the allowed tolerance, penalties are dished out on a sliding scale starting with a warning.
To date, two riders have been discovered to have damaged the brand new rule. Aprilia’s Maverick Vinales did so in the Catalan GP, whereas KTM wildcard Dani Pedrosa did so on the San Marino GP.
Each acquired an official warning. Any future transgression this season will end in a time penalty.