Dovi affair: this is why, according to KTM, Aprilia, Suzuki and Honda, the deflector mounted on the Ducati swingarm would be against the regulations
They had been talking about it for days
A protest which has been rumored for several days, with a plan developed by the technical and sporting managers of the teams, but which has always left the Ducati fairly alone. Not only because of the green light at the start of the season, when the solution was presented to the technical department of the Federation, but also because, after several weeks of perplexity, the department chaired by Aldridge had transmitted to all the teams a clarification technique on this subject. In the missive, the solution was declared compliant if the measurement did not exceed the width of the swingarm and if its function was limited to evacuating water in the event of rain, to protect against debris or to cool the rear tire. Prohibited instead, the function of generating aerodynamic downforce.
And now what happens?
« I'm not absolutely worried" said Gigi Dall'Igna, general manager of Ducati Corse, who expressed his calm in the parc ferme that preceded the podium, while the technical delegates of the Federation were ready to examine again the particular case of Andrea Dovizioso's motorcycles , Danilo Petrucci and Jack Miller. The Honda men, along with the Spanish team principal and HRC technical director Takeo Yokoyama, went to pick up IRTA man Tony Congram in the pit lane, and were certainly nervous, as testified the black face of Alberto Puig, to announce the presentation of the protest. Shortly after, Puig, HRC representative, Davide Brivio (Suzuki team manager), Massimo Rivola (Aprilia) and Mike Leitner (Ktm team manager), signatories of the complaint, and engineer Fabiano Sterlacchini , technical coordinator of the Ducati track, appeared before the Stewards' office to discuss the protest.
Discussions continue in Geneva
After an hour of debate, Ducati emerged victorious from the clash: Dovizioso's victory and Petrucci's 6th place were confirmed. Although immediately afterwards, Aprilia, which had already presented a similar solution in winter and had seen it rejected by Aldridge, and the three other manufacturers presented an appeal which will be discussed by the FIM later.
Fins observed under a magnifying glass
This is not the first time that the Reds find themselves under the microscope of opponents, because of the creativity and genius of Dall'Igna's men who often put in crisis and force to chase opponents like Honda, who, on the paper, have impressive firepower compared to the Italian Pollicino Petit Poucet…). Remember the question of the fins developed in Borgo Panigale! Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki opposed this solution for over a year, ultimately leading to the appendix being banned. Except that, when the rule was redefined, they came back to develop solutions in this area. As is often the case, Ducati knows how to interpret the regulations to the limit, from the fuel temperature to the possibility of varying the data from the single control unit via the inertial unit, which was free until Last year.
Read the original article on Corsedimoto.com
FIM MotoGP Stewards 📋
Concerning specific parts of the Ducati, protests made by multiple Factory teams were rejected by the FIM MotoGP Stewards Panel.
The result of the #QatarGP still stands. An appeals process is ongoing.
- MotoGP @ 🏁 (@MotoGP) March 10, 2019
