Between the new Grand Prix format, including the advent of a sprint race on Saturday afternoon and the organization of events bringing fans and drivers together on Sunday morning have tightened the timing, and a calendar of 21 meetings, including two new to Kazakhstan and India, not to mention a long overseas tour in the fall with seven events in nine weeks, it's nothing to say that this 2023 season will be trying. And not just for pilots. The teams will also have to be strong and keep their staff in great shape. To know how this new era will impact the paddock and how it has prepared for it, you have to listen to KTM team manager Francesco Guidotti. The latter does not hide the fact that we are already at the breaking point while Dorna still has the ambition to have a 22-game season...
We will have understood, to win this MotoGP title in 2023, you will have to be perfect. The driver must be lightning fast in setting up his machine, in the sprint race to discover, but also intelligent and regular to be well prepared for the Sunday Grand Prix and know how to avoid hard hits such as falls. An injury will be expensive this year. Meanwhile, the teams will be under tension from Friday. Here too, given the program, the slightest error in preparation and settings will have more consequences than before.
A reality from inside the box that Francesco Guidotti thus defines for his troops KTM : " everyone wants more, but the day still only lasts 24 hours. So we will have to squeeze everything into the same amount of time », begins the team manager of the Austrian brand. “ The pressure will be much greater and so will the risk of making mistakes. We will definitely have some tough times when it comes to set-up decisions. » he assures in an interview with speedweek.
He explains what this actually means: “ Until last year, we had the opportunity to do a real race simulation in FP4 on Saturday, around the same time of day as the race on Sunday and therefore in conditions similar to what we could look forward to the next day. So we could get a good idea of the set-up. This year it is no longer possible because the third practice session takes place in the morning and the second practice session on Friday lasts 60 minutes but will not be enough to collect the information to really prepare for the Sunday race. It's going to be difficult, but it's the same for everyone ».
“What Dorna plans with the new format, all drivers, teams, manufacturers and sponsors need it”
In terms of workforce management, given a new rhythm that no longer really allows for relaxation, Guidotti becomes responsible for human resources… “ We are very close to the limit...Or maybe we have already reached the limit » he warns. “ But I think it would be difficult to change the organization. We have seven people for each pilot, perhaps you could think about replacing two for each. But it would be inconceivable to exchange four or five people. Because it is also a question of interaction, of relationship with the pilot and the engineers and technicians. It's just teamwork. If we got to the point of having to make this decision, we wouldn't be able to run more than two people per race » analyzes the Italian.
That being said, the infernal pace will be for everyone, and then there is an issue of general interest… “ what Dorna plans, all drivers, teams, manufacturers and sponsors need it. It’s about improving the image and increasing awareness. It is important for our entire environment. But yes, the workload of a driver over a GP weekend is quite heavy. We have adjusted our meeting and debriefing times accordingly ».
He adds : " it is also true that we know the schedule almost a year in advance. Over the years, I feel it a little more each year, but we are doing very well. In my opinion a mental process begins whereby you are prepared and unconsciously have energy reserves to give what you have to give and you can use the time between one race and the next very well ". However, he concludes: “ but we are definitely at the limit ". It will be recalled that, at KTM, it was declared this winter that an ideal season should consist of 18 Grand Prix.
