Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/844701
IN THE WIND P38 DASHBOARD MESSAGES HIT MOTOGP T he decision to allow limited text communications between pits and rider dashboards met with general approval on the eve of the German GP, with Valentino Rossi—an opponent of too much interference with the rider—saying that in some cases, like a flag-to- flag race, "it can be a small help." In fact, many MotoGP bikes already have this facility. The change, from the GP Commis- sion meeting at Assen, is two- fold: firstly, that these systems will be compulsory for MotoGP and Moto3 from 2018, and in Moto2 from 2019; and secondly, confirmation that teams may use this facility as "a virtual pit board." This is in addition to the pres- ent use sending messages of sanctions or penalties from Race Direction. MotoGP, said Rossi, "is not like Formula 1, where you have a lot more free time [to read detailed communications]. On a bike, you have not so much time, so the rider has to make his own deci- sions. But it can be a small help." For this season, pit commu- nications are limited to practice and qualifying sessions, although Race Direction messages are used in races. Several riders complain that the messages are none too easy to see when one is busy taming 250-odd horsepower, and so it seemed for Hector Barbera. The Spanish Avintia Ducati rider was disqualified in the German Mo- toGP race after failing to come in for a ride-through penalty in the race after he was judged to have jumped the start. Later he denied the offense after having viewed the tapes with Race Direction, and added that in the heat of the early battle: "I couldn't see the messages on my dashboards nor also the pit boards for the Ride Through, so I was black-flagged." Michael Scott Even though dash messages are allowed in MotoGP, it still didn't stop Hector Barbera from being disqualified in Germany. BIAGGI OUT OF INTENSIVE CARE M ax Biaggi has been discharged from Intensive Care at Rome's San Camillo Hospital following his supermoto crash, June 9. The six-time world champion suffered thoracic trauma and multiple rib fractures in the accident and underwent surgery June 22 and is still recovering in the hospital. "After the time I spent in there, the most beautiful gift is to get out of intensive care after 17 days," Biaggi said on his personal Instagram account on the day of his 46th birthday. "Thank you for all the birthday wishes and for all the affec- tions received every day. Unforgettable. I love you." Michael Scott Max Biaggi is out of Intensive Care and on the mend.