Yesterday we saw the last patent filed by Marco de Luca on behalf of Piaggio & CSPA, intended in theory to protect commercial applications from the findings developed by Aprilia in MotoGP.
This concerns the increase in cornering speed thanks to the support generated by ground effect. But the man who trained at Lamborghini, Mercedes AMG and McLaren before arriving at Noale in 2019 was not his first attempt, since he already holds two other patents concerning aerodynamics.
The one we are talking about today still concerns the premier category of Grands Prix, since it is nothing more and nothing less than the rear wing seen occasionally on the RS-GP. The patent application took place one month before that concerning ground effect and was completed in December 2023 under the number #WO2023/238025A1.
Its purpose is always to increase the grip of the motorcycle, this time no longer during high speed cornering, but when braking, as the patent text explains.
“A first aim of the present invention is to propose a motorcycle comprising a rear part equipped with a spoiler, said rear part being arranged above the rear wheel and being covered by a fairing, said spoiler being fixed on the upper side of the fairing. In this way, the spoiler creates an aerodynamic force on the rear wheel. This force is effective especially when braking on the track, that is to say sudden braking, and is likely to reduce the rebound of the rear wheel, thus improving the grip of the motorcycle and thus facilitating entering the bend. In addition, the greater load created on the rear of the motorcycle is useful in straight undulating sections, such as a descent, in which the motorcycle reaches a speed of around 350 km/h and would tend to lose grip . This solution also makes it possible to improve the balance of the motorcycle, and therefore the wear of the tires. Better grip is also achieved when braking when both tires are in contact with the ground. »
The intended objective is therefore only additional support when braking, which differentiates this “invention” from the Ducati saddle fins, which are supposed to generate support when cornering, but also from those of the KTMs, which are supposed to have succeeded in squaring the circle. , that is to say to obtain ground effect in turns AND support when braking, a solution for the moment very occasionally also tried by Yamaha and Honda.
But how can you successfully patent something that has existed in automobiles for ages?
In the preamble, the document specifies “The present invention relates to the field of motorcycles. Preferably, the present invention relates to “road” or “street” motorcycles. Even more preferably, the present invention relates to racing motorcycles, in particular for high-end competitions such as MotoGP.
Then the “invention” is placed in its historical-technical context…
“The application of aerodynamic appendages is known in the automotive sector. The spoiler is an aerodynamic element placed at the rear of motor vehicles and used to obtain greater grip. In particular, the spoiler has the function of increasing the aerodynamic downforce of the motor vehicle, thus increasing the total drag coefficient and thus ensuring greater grip, both in bends and in straight lines, especially at high speed. Staying in the automotive sector, we know fixed or active type spoilers. These are shaped to move between a retracted configuration, in which they lie within the body of the rear end of the vehicle, and an open configuration, extending substantially from the body of the rear end back. In general, the opening of the spoiler is controlled automatically depending on the speed of the vehicle; it activates when a specific speed threshold is exceeded.
In the motorcycle industry, competition motorcycles include a rear tail section, also called a backrest. The structure or shape of the backrest helps guide the flow of aerodynamic air over the motorcycle fairing from the front to the rear, in order to reduce aerodynamic drag. An example is disclosed in document EP2722264B1.
Remaining in the sector of two-wheeled vehicles, but referring to scooters, the application of or side spoilers is known, but having a completely different function. Examples are disclosed in documents EP1944226B1 or EP1944227B1, which disclose a scooter equipped with a spoiler to eliminate the effect of turbulence created by the air flow on the scooter's fairing.
In light of what is known, in the latest generation sports motorcycles it is necessary to increase and improve the stability of the motorcycle when traveling at high speed in a straight line or during decelerations before and during turns, ensuring better tire grip. »
And then that's all, and we come back to the text above in the article: Piaggio has therefore succeeded in patenting a T-shaped saddle wing, while honestly there is no real novelty there, since at least 1977 when New Zealander Dr. Rodger Freeth tried the principle on his Yamaha TZ 750! Well done to them!
The latest patent of Marco de Luca, which we will talk about tomorrow, is more surprising and, for the moment, still unknown to this day in MotoGP…
