Former rider and Grand Prix winner as well as formerly a WSBK World Champion, Carlos Checa is today one of the paddock's experts and observers who look at the current situation of MotoGP in the light of their great experience. Which does not prevent the opportunity to bring out a few files to somewhat dent the memory left by the official version...
Carlos Checa recently visited Fred's Cycling Obsession podcast and openly discussed various topics related to the Motorcycle World Championship. He shared his views on how MotoGP has evolved over the years, focusing on technological advances and the impact on motorcycle riding, among other equally juicy approaches.
In comments relayed by motosan, according Check out , the category has become more professional and focused on efficiency, which can make the races less spectacular. “ Technologies and all parameters analyzed force you to ride the motorcycle in a certain way…Otherwise you are not effective. Let's say that this sport has become more professional and that the driving is more and more efficient, and more effective means less spectacular… Because when we slip up, we lose time. Maybe that a completely different regulation should be done and we could improve a little in this area ».
Carlos Checa: “ Gigi Dall'Igna came out and managed to conceptually change the way motorcycles were ridden, and everyone followed »
He also expressed his opinion on the excessive use of technology, pointing out that it could be a mistake similar to that made in Formula 1: “ maybe we're going a little too far with so much technology, I think we are making a bit of the mistakes of Formula 1. They are limiting it a bit because they have realized it. On motorcycles it seemed very difficult to achieve, but Gigi Dall'Igna came out and managed to conceptually change the way motorcycles were ridden, and everyone followed ", Explain Check out about technological advances.
« The driver still influences a lot, but in recent years with aerodynamics it has changed a bit. You either apply this technology or you get out of it. Technology has reached its limits, and with it the pilots. The pilot used to have more influence, in some ways it has been lost » regrets the Spaniard.
Checa also addressed changes in the behavior of motorcycle fans, noting that certain aspects of the sport have been radicalized: “ I think the fans before had a little better mentality than those today. It's radicalized a bit, but I think it's minimal. In the motorcycle world, I think the fans are neutral. Another thing is that of course young people who start come out with a very professional pilot mentality ».
As for the motorcycles themselves, Carlos Checa discussed the transition from 2-stroke to 4-stroke engines, highlighting the challenges encountered during this transition. He also mentioned the importance of managing motorcycle power and shared his personal experience during a race at Phillip Island where his motorcycle almost put him in danger… “ We changed to the 4-stroke so that other brands could enter. In the 4 stroke, the first years, I remember it very well. I think we went from 180 horsepower to 220-230. The beginnings were very brutal, you had all this power but electronics did not work. I remember once in Australia, I told them to take it off me, and in the last two turns of Phillip Island, my bike jerked and almost killed me. There, I realized that it was necessary to manage the power, with a very important job ».
Carlos Checa ends with the tire chapter. He remembered his development work at Ducati and the impact of different manufacturers on motorcycle performance. He underlined their importance in the competition and notably mentioned their role in the success of Casey Stoner at the world championship… “ The Ducati fit me like a glove, but with the Dunlops… actually, with the Michelins, it has always been difficult for me. It's a tire that doesn't warn you. With the Birdgestone we really made a good development which we perfected, and then when Stoner came and won the world championship it was thanks to the tires, it had nothing to do with the bike. The year before, with LCR, they had nicknamed him the “RollingStoner”. We can't talk about motorcycles without talking about tires ».
