After the Le Mans event, marked by a record attendance of 297 spectators, the MotoGP returns to Spain for the Catalan GP. The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was created in 1991 thanks to an agreement between the Royal Automobile Club of Catalonia, the Government of Catalonia and the municipality of Montmeló. It has hosted the world championship since 1992, but the first four editions were called the European Grand Prix.
GP data
According to Brembo technicians who work closely with all MotoGP riders, the 4,66 km Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya falls into the category of very demanding circuits for the brakes. On a scale of 1 to 6, it earned a difficulty rating of 5 due to 10 braking sections totaling 32 seconds of brake use per lap. Five of these curves require braking for at least 3 seconds and braking distances greater than 130 meters.
Anti-drag
The more the brakes are used, the bigger the lap time. This is obvious, but less well known is that even during non-braking phases, using a traditional brake caliper can cause the motorcycle to slow down. This drop in performance is almost imperceptible but can be detected by telemetry and is also visible in timing measurements.
To remedy this problem, for several years, MotoGP brake calipers have been equipped with an anti-drag system, a mechanism designed to reduce residual torque during non-braking phases. The Brembo anti-drag system consists of a small axle activated by a spring which acts directly on the brake pad. When the rider releases the brake, thereby removing pressure from the system, the spring immediately returns the pads to the non-contact position. This results in an improvement in the flexibility of the motorcycle.
The most difficult turn
The most difficult corner for the braking system at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya is the first after the finish line: MotoGP bikes go from 342 km/h to 103 km/h in 5,2 seconds, covering 292 meters while the pilots exert a load of 6,9 kg on the brake lever. The deceleration is 1,5 g, the Brembo brake fluid pressure reaches 14,8 bar and the temperature of the carbon discs reaches 620°C.
Pedrosa and happiness at home
With 3 world championships and 54 GP victories, Daniel Pedrosa is one of the greatest Spanish drivers of all time. He entered MotoGP in 2006 and played a major role there for a long time, but he never won the title due to injuries. 2008 seemed to be his year. At Montmeló, his home race, he immediately took the lead and quickly widened the gap. Unlike its rivals, its braking that day was precise and linear, but particularly effective. However, this victory remains the only one he won in Montmeló.
Two unique styles
Nearly a century after his death, Antoni Gaudí remains the best-known Catalan in the world. His architectural creations, inspired by the shapes of nature, represent the pinnacle of Catalan modernism. Gaudí's works are characterized by wrought iron decorations, colorful ceramic tiles and undulating plastic forms. Brembo design, for its part, continues to evolve with technological innovation, seeking new aesthetic languages to best interpret the mobility of the future.
