The time seems decidedly long between now and the next Argentine Grand Prix. It will take place at the end of this month, but just before, the federal motorcycle authorities have promised to decide on a claim filed by four manufacturers. Until then, the results of the beautiful race Qatar are suspended. The fault is a shoe grafted onto the swingarm in front of the rear tire. KTM, Aprilia, Suzuki and Honda say it generates illicit downforce. Ducati swears it's only there to cool the tire. The decision will not be so simple to make and the matter is of interest until the Formula 1 which opens its season in Australia…
The engineers of the premier motorsport category are indeed following this news. For example, the aerodynamicist Ali Rowland-Rouse, who officiates within the Alfa Romeo Sauber team, gives his opinion on the Ducati system: “ Ducati has a “device “composed of three elements”, Note Rowland-Rouse. " It provides decent downforce benefits when the bike is in a horizontal position. This reduces rear wheel slip by putting more pressure on the rear tire. As downforce increases with the square of speed, you get four times more downforce. In addition, the higher the load on the rear tire, the higher its operating temperature, so tire wear also increases. But this wing is mounted on an unsprung part of the machine, so it does not generate any rear tire fatigue ».
Rowland-Rouse insists: “ it's the holy grail of downforce, because you get better grip. Because the effect is not transmitted by the suspension. So you don't have to compensate for anything by harder suspension tuning ". He finishes : " at Ducati they operate like a Formula 1 team and look at absolutely every aspect. Other manufacturers must recognize this and play the same game ».
Listening to the man from Formula 1 where Aprilia's new team manager comes from, Massimo rivola, the matter is therefore closed: there is support and therefore it is illegal. Except that saying it is good, but proving it is less simple… Alex Baumgärtel, the man of Kalex indeed recalls speedweek : " On a racing motorcycle, the design of each individual component has an aerodynamic influence. A neutral component that generates neither drag nor downforce does not exist in motorcycle dynamics. This goes for everything, even if you make a water deflector that has a hole to cool the tire. It still has an aerodynamic influence whether you like it or not. This also applies to each wing… ". A real headache...
