Monster Yamaha Technical Director Max Bartolini has revealed that the key to excelling in MotoGP in the current era lies in maximising rear tyre performance. Since the introduction of Michelin in 2016, the competition has seen a significant change in the dynamics of racing compared to the era when Bridgestone dominated with higher performance front tyres.
The importance of rear grip in MotoGP was highlighted by Max Bartolini, technical director of Monster Yamaha. According to him, maximising rear tyre grip is now the key to securing victory.
Since joining Monster Yamaha, Max Bartolini has refocused the team's technical efforts around a central goal: maximizing rear tire performance. In a MotoGP era dominated by rear grip, Bartolini explains why this optimization is now crucial to remain competitive, particularly against manufacturers such as Ducati.
Between 2009 and 2015, with tires Bridgestone, the front dominated the dynamics of motorcycles. The front tires were so reliable that they dictated the limits of cornering performance. But since the arrival of Michelin In 2016, the situation was reversed. The rear is now very, very solid, » Bartolini explains on crash.net, who are " and whoever can exploit 100% of that grip will be faster"
However, this advantage comes at a cost: front tire management has become more delicate, requiring constant technical and strategic adjustments. Michelin did a great job improving the front end, but The rear remains the decisive factor"
Max Bartolini: “ If you don't master corner entry and speed, you will never have good acceleration. »
Contrary to popular belief, rear grip is not limited to acceleration when exiting a bend. Bartolini emphasizes its role in all phases of the turn: “ each turn has a braking phase, corner entry, corner speed and acceleration. If you don't master corner entry and speed, you will never have good acceleration."
This vision challenges traditional approaches, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive understanding of tire dynamics.
To maximize the use of rear grip, Yamaha is working on a major transformation: the development of a V4 engine, while continuing to refine its iconic inline-4. After a 2024 season without a podium, this strategic change aims to align Yamaha on the technical standards of its competitors, in particular Ducati.
The V4 engine could offer better exploitation of rear grip, thanks to a more compact architecture and optimized weight distribution. However, Bartolini warns against immediate expectations: " It's not just about raw power, but about making the bike seamless and able to take advantage of the tires"
Bartolini recognizes that Yamaha is late, but he sees in this transformation an opportunity to be reborn. Whoever understands how to use 100% of the rear grip will have a decisive advantage,” he concludes.
With an ambitious engine project and a philosophy focused on rear grip, Yamaha is embarking on a major overhaul. If engineers succeed in translating the lessons of Bartolini in performance on the track, Yamaha could well find the way back to the podiums, or even to victory, in 2025.
