Winglets and fairings have become a thorny subject in MotoGP in recent years after initially being a subject of ridicule when they first appeared. The desire of the legislator to limit this new technical situation opening the aerodynamic study in the development of the motorcycle has never stopped since, but without real success. Now recognized as an element of security given the current power of machines, the subject is not free for all that. And in 2019 comes the lethal weapon to calm the heat...
Danny Aldridge, technical director of MotoGP, announced to Silverstone the size of future aerodynamic hulls. Better, from 2019, a metal box will be made to verify the new limits. The Iron Mask is born!
At the next MotoGP championship, aerodynamic shapes will have to respect stricter rules, as Dorna has already announced in recent months. Each aerodynamic shell will have strict measures to respect: a “ check-in box“, this will be its code name, will be created to test the legality of new projects.
From 2019, it will no longer be possible to build an “Aero pack” with removable parts depending on circumstances and tracks as we see this year. Motorcycles will have to enter this structure to be legal. “In a sense, we limited the size of the aerodynamic body,” Aldridge said. “ Before it was 600mm from top to bottom, now we have a new dimension that the bike has to take on. The upper part is always 600 mm. The bottom section will be 550mm from the ground and will be 550mm wide”.
Danny Aldridge said that not all existing fairings fit the new dimensions, without indicating which manufacturers would have to change their designs. In addition, the front mudguard can be modified independently of the main part of the fairing. “ For 2018, manufacturers will still be allowed to update the fairing per season. The same manufacturer will have the right to update it whenever they want... with the possibility of updating the main fairing and the front mudguard at different times "
