MotoGP riders furious over tyre pressure rule, will make it “more risky, boring” - Francesco Bagnaia

Several MotoGP riders have again voiced their concerns over the new real-time tyre pressure measuring rule that was supposed to come into effect at this weekend’s Spanish MotoGP.
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati MotoGP Jerez 2023
Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati MotoGP Jerez 2023

The new real-time measuring system is set to gauge tyre pressures with bikes ✅out on circuit, with penalties also set to be introduced if pressures fail to reach the minimum requirement.

The minimum tyre requirements are 1.9 bar on the front an𝓡d 1.7 on the rear, but with pressures constantly fluctuating, a general level of tolerance will be given.

However, when the new rule comes into force, penalties will be handed out in the form of cancelled lap times or disqualification from the race should these press🌱ures be broken for over☂ 50% of a fast lap in practice/qualifying or 50% of a race. 

Mugello has been confirmed as the next expected introduction date of the new rule, but🍨 several MotoGP riders don’t want to see it implemented at all.

"I would like that the rule does not come into t💟he championship," said current championship leader Marco Bezzecchi. "Sometimes it is too dangerous. We can have some problems with the pressure at this temperature."

Bezzecchi’🔯s concerns were backed up by fellow VR46 Academy member and Ducati rider, Frances🍌co Bagnaia.

The world champion added: "We speak a lot about tyre pressure. In conditions like this track, where the braking is a lot, where you force the front end and the temperature is like today? It’s impossible to ride starting at the limit that ༒they’ve [set]. 

"Because the bike starts moving a lot. You risk a lot more than h🌜aving the normal pressure. It becomꩵes more risky and more boring. 

"If you see m🐈y race in Argentina, my front pressure was so high. Aleix Espargaro too - he crashed, I was there and it was impossible to overtake someone. 

"Fᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚor sure, this rule is not a correct thing for safety or for the people watching."

Despite winning last time out at COTA, Alex Rins says his tyre pressures were ‘on the red’, meaning on the limit of😼 what the tyre could withstand and this👍 is why others crashed out.

Alex Rins, MotoGP race, Grand Prix of the Americas, 16 April
Alex Rins, MotoGP race, Grand Prix of the Americas, 16 April

"I agree with what Pecco andཧ Bezzecchi say," said the LCR Honda rider. "It’s difficult to find a balance. If you𓂃 saw the last race, in Texas, everybody was out of the race because every rider was on red, on the tyre pressure. 

"Theoretically this is the first track to find this rule? I don’t know why they delayed until Mugello.𒊎"

Notꦍ only has the delaying of the rule caused confusion, but so has the rule itself as tyre pressures are very rarely the same through💎out a full race, let alone shorter distances.

Vജinales said: "It is difficult to control. If you start in front, which pressure do you use? If you start at the back, which pressure do you use? It’s ౠso hard. It’s hard for the teams to control. 

"If you’re close to someone, or alone, it can change [to up 𒐪0.5]. In Austin I reached really high pressure. 

Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Spanish MotoGP, 28 April
Maverick Vinales, MotoGP, Spanish MotoGP, 28 April

"In the next r🍰ace, a totally different pressure. This rule is very compꦡlicated for every team."

The already high minimum♎ pressure tends to go up when following other riders closely, meaning the front tyre can surpass 2 bar.

This is why difficulti🎃es overtaking and riders crashing are two things that have dominated the ear🅘ly part of the season. 

In fact, Marini went on to add another element to this discussion which is safety: "We are not talking about performance, this is a matter of safety. When the pressure is too high, it’s too easy to crash. It is dangerous. 🎐;

"You cannot start too low because you can’t control it. It’s difficult now, witho🌟ut the r𒐪ule. With the rule it will be more difficult. I don’t know why the rule makes you go so high. 

"Lower is no problem - the bike works well, just mor🦋e safety. Past 2.0 or 2.1 it’s too easy to crash. You are not faster, if you go lower with the pressure."

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