The 1982 World Champion spoke to GP One about his role as Safety Officer at Grands Prix.
Inducted into MotoGP Legend two years ago, Franco Uncini is one of the great pilots of History. No one has forgotten his 500cc title in 1982 nor the very serious accident he suffered the following year and which almost cost him his life. Although he ended his career at the end of the 1985 season, he continued to serve in the paddock.
In fact, for several years now he has been retraining as a Safety Officer (i.e. responsible for safety) for the FIM (International Motorcycling Federation) and therefore continues to evolve in the World Championship. However, his passion for speed remained intact : “When I go to the side of the track, it moves me a lot. Seeing the drivers go by at this speed is an incredible moment, and I will never get used to it. Now MotoGP has reached absolute levels of spectacle and competitiveness. We worked with the Dorna, and the choices inherent to the electronics and the Michelin tires were fundamental. »
Now a retired pilot, he is very invested in this new role which he explained to GP One: “Riding a motorcycle offers more fun and excitement. However, being a pilot is not an easy thing. It's very difficult to win, like getting good results. We must also not forget the falls. Conversely, the role I play for the Federation burdens me with responsibilities and, to make the right choices, we must seek compromises that satisfy everyone. The demands of the circuits and the staff, as well as the wishes of the drivers, must be met. I am lucky to be able to collaborate with the Safety Commission in this form: at the end of the Friday tests we all get together, I raise the problems linked to the circuit on which we are racing and we discuss how to resolve them. It seems easy but it is not. After having had the necessary indications, I must deal with them with those in charge of the circuit to have the modifications requested by the drivers approved. It is difficult to create new clearance space, the costs are enormous and a whole range of reasons will affect the operation. For example, resurfacing a track is a rather cumbersome action to carry out and not all circuits want to do it. There is time available which ranges from 8 to 12 years to intervene on this point. »
