VOL. 51 ISSUE 49 DECEMBER 9, 2014 P79
to add a special strategy, there
will be the possibility to give the
input and have Marelli to develop
it. Once it's developed it's avail-
able for everyone. And since the
development of the proprietary
software will be frozen at the end
of June next year, from then on,
the engineers should have no se-
crets, because they have to put
on the table whatever they have
in order to have these strategies
implemented in the new software
available for everyone."
Even though Honda shud-
dered at the thought of a spec
ECU and threatened to leave at
its first mention (that and pro-
posed RPM limits), Suppo sup-
ported the compromise.
"I think this is really a good
compromise between the need
of the organizer and the need of
the manufacturers," Suppo said.
"And I don't think we decreased
the level of the performance be-
cause the noise from everybody
would be there and, in the mean-
time, it should decrease the gap
between a newcomer and the
three of us."
But with the transparency in
electronic strategies, the need to
develop them for a racing advan-
tage is gone.
"Now the only reason why we
need to develop technology that
won't be anymore exclusive for
you, but still to justify the fact we
can learn," Suppo said.
BALLIN' ON A BUDGET?
MotoGP is the premier champi-
onship in the world. It's all about
the technological bling. It's a
high-stakes poker game between
manufacturers—mostly between
Honda and Yamaha of late—to
claim that top honor. It comes
complete with the glamour of
(Above) Magneti Marelli will
be the supplier for the MotoGP
spec ECUs in 2016.
(Above right) Ducati's World
Superbike dream team – Ducati
Corse Sports Director Paolo
Ciabatti and (left) and Team
Manager Davide Tardozzi (right)
– reunited in 2014.
