The situation regarding aerodynamic accessories continues to become more complicated. The manufacturers do not agree at all among themselves, the regulations are variable (at the discretion of the Technical Director), safety has not been improved, but on the other hand the costs for research and development have enormously increased. Stop this madness and nonsense, shouts KTM. The difference between KTM and the others is that the Austrian manufacturer is sponsored by Red Bull, which has invested fortunes in aerodynamics in F1... with little result.
A meeting of the MSMA (Builders Association) took place in Argentina. Manufacturers have put a lot of pressure on Technical Director Danny Aldrige, who is solely responsible for choosing which designs to approve or reject. An example of the results of his decisions: he rejected a proposal from a certain manufacturer, but approved, a few months later, an aerodynamic design almost identical to that of another manufacturer. In order to transfer responsibility for rule interpretation to more than one person, the MSMA wants to create a committee of sorts.
However, the planned agenda for the first meeting changed when the MSMA received a letter from KTM in which the Austrian manufacturer asked if this aerodynamic evolution was really the path that MotoGP manufacturers would continue to follow…. this issue became the central point of the Las Termas meeting, according to speedweek.
KTM said it had consulted aerodynamic experts, likely with the help of their partner, Red Bull. The engineers strongly advised them against working in this area. They described it as a field of work without end and without limits, neither in development nor in expenditure.
KTM has proposed freezing the development of aerodynamics. Then they went even further. They suggested taking a step back and ridding the fairings of all types of fins. This proposal did not fall on deaf ears.
This idea was widely approved, but every MSMA decision must be made unanimously. The final decision was postponed to another meeting.
Honda agrees with KTM's proposal, Suzuki too. They said that they are present in the racing world with the aim of further developing production machines and that the money invested in aerodynamics should be better used in the type of development that can be transferred to a motorcycle of road.
Aprilia racing director Romano Albesiano said he would like to continue working on aerodynamics as an engineer, but if the majority agrees to freeze, then he accepts it. Yamaha stopped halfway between yes and no while Ducati was against the proposal because they have already invested huge amounts of money in aerodynamic development.
It is not new that the Bologna manufacturer constantly clashes with its competitors when it comes to the interpretation or modification of technical rules. We will see how the next confrontation between Ducati and the other manufacturers ends. In Texas, engineers from the six manufacturers will meet again to discuss this issue. The first item on the agenda is similar to the failed talking point of aerodynamics. In this case it will be about the more precise definition of the rules for the use of the elements with which the electronics of the MotoGP unit are controlled.
Hours of discussion ahead...
Photo credit: Gold and Goose for KTM
