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Michelin is no stranger to The Manufacturers’
Grand Prix racing, but it will Association (MSMA) finally
definitely require some time conceded after drawing its own
before coming to par with a red lines, starting with a five-
breed of racing motorcycles year freeze on the class’
that have evolved regulations.
considerably since the last
time Michelin-shod bikes won The spec ECU is made by
races back in 2008. Magneti-Marelli, but this does
not include all the hardware.
We should also not forget that The teams can still use their
Dorna’s spec ECU wasn’t own sensors and acquisition
available for testing until last October, so at least one year of devices, including the Inertial Measurement Unit, provided that
tire development was essentially carried out with the previous they have been submitted for homologation to Dorna. This is
generation of factory electronics. Are five months adequate to essential in order to ensure there is no foul play, like a second
come up with a product at this level of sophistication, ECU masqueraded as a sensor – as Ducati’s Luigi Dall’Ignia
especially if it has to perform faultlessly on several different pointed out.
motorcycles?
Based on the ECU that was used by the Open teams during
During the first testing sessions ahead of the new season the last two years, the new electronic management is designed
several riders – among them Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso – to make things a little bit more even. The new Aprilia, Suzuki
noted that even identical-spec tires would occasionally display and KTM bikes have been designed and developed with this
different traction characteristics. very ECU from the onset, while Ducati ran its team last year
under the Open class rules. Honda and Yamaha opted to
Then came Loris Baz’s horrific accident at the Sepang employ their satellite teams to gather data of the specific ECU
MotoGP test last February. When his rear tire came apart on their bike.
while his Avintia Racing Ducati was travelling at 290 km/h (180
mph) on the Malaysian circuit’s home straight, Michelin Several other rule changes introduced for 2016 include 22-litre
immediately withdrew the specific compound for the rest of the (5.8 gallon) fuel tanks for all motorcycles, 17-inch wheels
Malaysian test. instead of 16.5, a total of seven engines per rider for the whole
season and setting the minimum allowed bike weight down
Although the first race of the season in Qatar was rather one kilo from last year to 157 kg (346 lb). The engine
uneventful as far as tires are concerned, the events of the development freeze is still in force, as well as testing
Argentinian GP proved to be the exact opposite. A limitations that allow factory contracted riders to test their bikes
disintegrating tire on Scott Redding’s Octo Pramac Ducati only on specific official events.
prompted Michelin to withdraw all the soft and medium
compound tires. Literally at the last hour, Race Direction There are exceptions designed to favor new teams and those
announced shorter race duration and included a compulsory that haven’t met success during the last three years. Factories
pit stop for fresh rubber to ensure no rider would find himself in that haven’t scored a win (in dry conditions) since 2013 enjoy
Redding’s place during the race. Perhaps serving as proof of the privilege of running 12 engines per rider, can test freely
the inconsistencies that Dovizioso pointed out, Valentino with their contracted riders and are also allowed to develop
Rossi’s team still cannot understand what was that made two their engines. As soon as they start visiting the podium though,
identical motorcycles with the same setting and same tires concessions are gradually lost.
perform so differently before and after the mid-race bike swap.
And finally there are the winglets. Ducati was the first to use
Tires are quintessential in determining the outcome of a race, them in MotoGP’s modern era in search for a solution to the
and it is clear that Michelin’s rubber is still in development front-end problems that have marred the Italian bikes ever
phase. This practically means that unforeseen problems are since they ditched the steel frames. Initially the aerodynamic
bound to arise and it will not always be a safe bet to rely on wings were all but laughed at, yet seeing them on Jorge
tire performance when designing a race strategy. Lorenzo’s championship-winning Yamaha M1 and occasionally
on Honda’s factory bikes means that they actually do work.
As far as electronics are concerned, the issue raised by Dorna
in 2012 – when it started talking about enforcing a spec ECU – Their task is to generate downforce that will help the front tire
escalated to a heated bargaining process behind closed doors. find more traction, but they are also at the epicenter of some