To go fast in MotoGP, you have to know how to brake. Said like that, we are swimming in a paradox, and yet, it is indeed the braking technique that makes the mark of champions. In the last century, a certain Alex Barros was formidable in the operation, while today, observers agree that Marc Márquez and Valentino Rossi are among the best brakemen. The one who provides the material for these exploits, in this case Brembo, explains that it's all a question of skill. Demonstration with Valentino Rossi…
Everyone has their own technique for braking in MotoGP. The goal is to stop its momentum as late as possible to better resume it as quickly as possible. On a motorcycle, everything is in the hand, and more precisely with the fingers... Thus, some operate the front brake with two fingers, others only with one, such as the world champion Marc Márquez. Still others vary the number of fingers, for example depending on the intensity of the braking maneuver.
The Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi surprised during the last MotoGP season, suddenly changing his long-established braking style at Motegi. “ Now I only brake with two fingers instead of three. I want to load the fork more evenly », Explained the 40-year-old driver who also got in tune with his younger opponents.
His current teammate, Maverick Vinales, does so like his former cubicle neighbor Jorge Lorenzo also braking with two fingers, namely the index and middle fingers. So far, Red had always added the ring finger, and this throughout his career. Why did he choose the late switch in 2019?
« I think it's all about the feeling of the bike.", Explain Andrea Pellegrini, Brembo engineer, in an interview with 'Motorsport-Total.com'. Since the introduction of MotoGP in 2002, the Italian manufacturer has equipped the majority of the field with its braking systems and has observed the different preferences of the riders.
Pellegrini comments: " Nowadays, all riders who come from Moto2 or other classes only use one finger. Valentino has a lot of experience and started using a certain technique very early. So I think it's difficult for him to adapt but he's a driver who works hard and tries a lot »
But what are the specific advantages? “ The big advantage is that you can control the motorcycle better », Explains the expert from Brembo. “ If you only have one or two fingers on the brake lever, you have three or four more fingers free to keep the rest in check »
The more fingers left on the handlebars, the better the motorcycle can be held and steered under negative acceleration forces. Pellegrini also emphasizes: “ with this style the throttle can be opened sooner after the curve. I think this is also Valentino's goal when he uses two instead of three fingers to brake »
