VOLUME 59 ISSUE 35 AUGUST 30, 2022 P103
device lowers the bike's center
of gravity, the machine pitches
differently into corners than
before. Riders can thus brake
harder, and later, again adding
stress to the front tire.
Brembo, brake suppliers for
every MotoGP manufacturer,
have noted the increased de-
mands on their carbon discs.
"The motorbikes are evolving
very fast and not only in the en-
gine or the standard parts, like
the chassis, but also in aerody-
namics," said Andrea Bergami,
a Brembo race engineer. "That
has a big influence on increas-
(Top right)
Michelin arguably
has the biggest
job any MotoGP
manufacturer has
had in developing
a new front tire
that will work with
the aero now fitted
to MotoGP bikes.
(Left) "Dirty air"
from the bikes
in front was to
blame for Takaaki
Nakagami's skittle-
job in Catalunya
that sent Alex Rins
and Francesco
Bagnaia flying.
ing the braking performance. In
particular, we've seen the intro-
duction of the ride height device
that helps the rider to brake later
and harder.
"In the past, the difference in
braking performance from year
to year was small—one, two or
three percent. But in the last
years we've seen braking perfor-
mance increase by more than 10
percent year by year, thanks to
aerodynamics and so on.
"The ride height device low-
ers the center of gravity, so the
rider is able to brake later and
harder because the pitch limit
of the motorbike has increased.
One of the main limits of the 'old'
bikes was the pitch limit—the
center was stable. You had the
problem that over a certain pres-
sure it was impossible to brake
because the bike pitched. Now
the pitch level is higher. If you put
the center closer to the ground,
you can increase the braking
pressure and brake later. Now
the riders are always on the limit
during the braking."
So, if everyone is on the ab-
solute limit in braking zones on
similarly matched machines, it's
becoming increasingly difficult
to make the difference. In May,
Andrea Dovizioso explained,
"When you are braking, every-
body is locking the front. Every-
body. If you are already on the
limit because you are locking
the front, this means you are not
able to brake even two meters
later."
