DRS (Drag Reduction System) was first used in the Formula 1 championship in 2011 to provide a speed gain or additional speed useful to allow drivers to overtake their rivals more easily, only in certain areas, in order to to revitalize the show on the track. When DRS is activated, the car's rear wing lowers, reducing drag, or air resistance, and instantly reducing downforce. This is reminiscent of how the Ride Height Device works in MotoGP…
With this, DRS can increase the speed of the car up to 10-12 km/h. But not all race track areas can activate DRS. Drivers can use DRS when they are within a second of the car in front of them and when they are in a designated area. The mark of the DRS system activation position is called the available detection point on the track. DRS is activated, which is indicated by the lights on the car's dashboard.
Typically, this DRS boosts excitement on track, and MotoGP is no exception. But if you follow the Formula 1 model, it will be difficult for MotoGP to copy and paste these DRS regulations. This is because MotoGP prohibits the use of fins or active aerodynamic devices that can be actively driven by a system on a motorcycle, both mechanically and electronically.
However, it is still possible that MotoGP adopts this DRS regulation with the technologies that already exist today. We could therefore think of the Ride Height Device, which could only be activated under certain conditions and on certain designated portions of the circuit.
Introduced by Ducati, which developed this system to improve starts, with the aim of minimizing wheelies at the start of a race, the Ride Height Device is an evolution of these holeshot devices. Riders can mechanically activate the RHD system to compress the rear suspension so that the motorcycle becomes lower and thus more aerodynamic.
This activation of the Ride Height Device is generally done before exiting a turn, before the straight line and lasts the entire length of the straight line. During its development, this system has always operated mechanically, in order to comply with the regulations.
The main objective of this mechanism is to modify the center of gravity of the motorcycle in order to minimize wheelies. However, changing the shape of the motorcycle when the RHD is activated, especially from 2023 where the front RHD has been banned, will automatically change the angle of attack of all aerodynamic parts, including in particular the spoilers arranged to the front of the motorcycle.
From the basic Bernoulli formula which is used in aerodynamic calculations both in airplanes, Formula 1 fins or on MotoGP, because the amount of downforce is directly proportional to the angle of the fin, this means that in general, if the aileron angle is smaller, the downforce generated will also be smaller.
In general, changing the angle of the aileron will place it at a smaller angle of attack, so it will be flatter, which in general will reduce downforce and drag force, or air resistance, which hits the front area of the motorcycle and this will obviously increase performance during acceleration, as well as top speed. This is where we can find similarities between MotoGP when RHD is activated and Formula 1 when DRS is activated. And what's interesting is that this was achieved without having to modify the MotoGP technical regulations which do not allow active aerodynamics.
In an interview with MotoGP technology director Corrado Cecchinelli, conducted by Crash.net, he insists that “The rear RHD system is like a natural DRS on the straight. You don't really need a lower center of gravity in 5th or 6th gear, because you're not doing a wheelie anyway. But by lowering the rear, you have a huge drag advantage. Imagine you are coming out of a classic turn. Aerodynamics are important, but not that much, so you benefit greatly from lowering your center of gravity to reduce wheelnge. The slower the turns, the more wheeling will be reduced. But the faster you go, the greater the gain in reducing drag. »
This feature has the potential to make the race even more interesting if managed correctly, as many strategic aspects will need to be managed by the drivers.
