Dorna Sporting Director Carlos Ezpeleta addressed the sensitive issue of tire pressure in MotoGP, highlighting the concerted efforts between Dorna, Michelin and manufacturers to ensure rider safety. All in a context set up last season which will evolve for this campaign with minimal pressure certainly revised, but also a scale of sanctions as well as tolerance in the face of the measure to be respected announced as stricter...
Since British Grand Prix from last year, tires must meet a minimum pressure for a specified percentage of the race, or face penalties. This year, the sanction envisaged in the event of an infraction could go as far as disqualification, a drastic but necessary measure to prevent the risks linked to too low tire pressure.
Carlos Ezpeleta stressed the importance of striking a balance between performance and safety, saying the real risk to avoid is any problems that can occur with tires, such as failure or explosion due to insufficient pressure. To achieve this, Dorna collaborated closely with Michelin and manufacturers to adjust tire pressure rules. We thus note the lowering of the mandatory minimum front tire pressure from 1,88 to 1,80 bar for the 2024 MotoGP season. The FIM MotoGP Stewards also announced new fixed penalties for tire pressure. For infractions in the Sprint carries a penalty of eight seconds, while for the Grand Prix, it is 16 seconds. There is therefore no longer any fear of outright disqualification as was the case.
Carlos Ezpeleta: “ we worked a lot with Michelin during the winter »
Carlos Ezpeleta mentioned : " we worked a lot with Michelin during the winter and also with the manufacturers to find a formula that continues to guarantee the security we now have. In other words, the real risk that Michelin, we and the manufacturers want to avoid is that there is a problem with the tire, that there is a failure or an explosion due to too low pressure. ».
Regarding changes for the 2024 season, Ezpeleta explained that the minimum pressure values have been reduced, but that this will make tire management even more difficult for drivers and teams.
« We know this is very difficult for drivers and teams to manage » he said in comments relayed by motorcyclesports. " The values have been reduced for this year, and I think we will be much more under control. Let's say the time has gone from 50 to 60% of valid turns, but the pressure has reduced considerably ».
However, he is confident that these adjustments will allow the situation on the track to be better controlled. He insists that these measures aim to guarantee the safety of the riders while maintaining a high level of competition in MotoGP: “ the real risk we want to avoid is a failure or explosion » he recalls.
