Corrado Cecchinelli makes no secret of it, discussions have begun in MotoGP to determine the contours of the new technical regulations which will come into force after 2026. Until then everything is frozen due to previous agreements, or almost. Because under the leadership of a Ducati factory which continues to demonstrate its inventiveness and its ability to read the rules of the game, many things have in fact changed. You only have to look at what MotoGP currently is to understand that we are in a category reserved for prototypes. Unlike the WSBK, the basis of which is a production machine. In terms of the visual identification of the two categories, it is therefore a success. But it’s time to cut back on Grand Prix performance. And it won't be that simple, because the World Superbike has also raised its level of performance...
With the arrival of ailerons whose influence and action were exacerbated by trim correction systems, the MotoGP have taken a leap forward in terms of performance. One more step seems to be taken in 2023 in view of the testing of an off-season which shows fairings that look like Formula 1 flat bottoms. The search for ground effect is no longer hidden and before the results are really seen in the turns, the observation is already validated online RIGHT. Now we can go 363,6 km/h on a Ducati at Mugello if you call George Martin.
Dorna's message relayed by its technical director Conrad Cecchinelli is that any new provision further increasing performance and generating new development costs is no longer welcome. Ducati experienced this with the banishment of his correction system from the front of his motorcycle. For after 2026, we want to regain technical control at Dorna and we are thinking in particular of this radical solution: “ to limit MotoGP performance we could reduce the engine displacement again or simply reduce the bore even further » said thus Cecchinelli on GP One.
Corrado Cecchinelli: “ we have to find something to bring the two championships back to more human performances«
The technical director does not say it but we are currently around 300 HP of power for the 1cc with a bore of 000mm. Presented like that, all that's left to do is get to work on pruning, but there is one problem which is this: the Portimao test session of the WSBK brought the best machines derived from the series to less than 3 tenths of the times of the MotoGP prototypes… The Italian knows it: “ we will also have to intervene on the Superbike. The problem is also in the diversity of the single tires chosen, because Pirelli relies heavily on development and this increases the performance of the production derivatives. ».
Le WSBK can't be faster than MotoGP. But we still need to rewrite a balance and calm down the hunt for the clock. It won't be easy and Cecchinelli knows it well: “ aerodynamics has now also become a question of marketing…Even standard motorcycles have fenders. They are there and they will stay, but we have to find something, as I have already said, to bring the two championships back to more human performances ". One last mention which raises the question of pilot safety. The technical director finishes: “ The problem with regulations is that no matter how thoughtful they are, they can be interpreted. There are dozens of engineers who know how to do it…and of course they do ».
