This is the big question that will be debated in WSBK to know if it will be necessary to make it a rule for 2024. This is the minimum weight approved in competition taking into account that of the driver, which is not the case today where we only consider that of the machine. A divisive subject if ever there was one since the big and heavy are naturally opposed to the small and light. The six-time World Champion in the category Jonathan Rea gave his opinion on this item and it differs from those of Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa. But the latter brings together all the trends with this unanimous observation: “ if you put the minimum weight, it's no longer the same story »…
The theme is a real crusade launched by Scott Redding whose commitment is not innocent. Last year, he tried to fit his large frame behind the fairing of the Ducati Panigale V4R become that this season of the frail Alvaro Bautista who could almost consider a roommate... But it is the final result which exacerbates the feelings the most since the Spaniard succeeded where the Englishman failed, namely the conquest of the world title in WSBK. A moment awaited in Borgo Panigale since 2011 and the crown of Carlos Checa.
It remains that the question of taking into account the morphology of the driver in determining the minimum weight for approval is now well anchored in the paddock. As proof, this reaction read on motorsport total an Jonathan Rhea, still six times World Champion in the specialty: “ it will happen in 2024. But thanks to Alvaro, everyone wants it to speed up » he said, deliberately being provocative. “ The sooner this happens, the better » he even adds. And if validated, this would translate concretely as follows: lightweight pilots would then have to carry precisely defined ballast, based on their own body weight, intended to compensate for the advantages in terms of acceleration and tire wear.
The official Kawasaki precise : " to be honest, I try to stay out of it. My opinion doesn't matter. I have to make do with what I have. I'm a pretty average sized rider. I am neither particularly short nor particularly tall. But Scott Redding is bigger and heavier. Loris Baz is slimmer than ever. But with equipment, they weigh almost 100 kg. They have a big disadvantage.”
"Why didn't they talk about this before Bautista won WSBK?"
He nevertheless ends with this mention: “ but it must also be said that Alvaro is the only driver who can do that. Rinaldi who is also small is also much faster than me on the straights, but I can hold on to his slipstream and not lose too many meters as a result. Alvaro is a Grand Prix winner. He has already accomplished a lot. Rinaldi is good, but he is not Alvaro Bautista. That's why I have a lot of respect for him ».
Among MotoGP veterans, we are also interested in the subject. But Grand Prix style. Jorge Lorenzo This question arises: “ what I am saying that's why they didn't talk about this before Bautista won? They only said that when he won ". The five-time winner also mentions Motoracing : " we cannot put stilts on those who are not tall enough, for balance. Every genetic is good for a sport. When we raced together, if there was little water, Pedrosa benefited from the low weight because he could wear the tires less and had better traction. When it rained a lot, it was the opposite. Petrucci, who weighed a lot, was number 1 ».
Precisely, the final word goes to Dani Pedrosa : " if you change the minimum weight rule, it will no longer be the same story, because the smaller pilot must compensate for the kilos he lacks. It's already a significant physical difference to ride on a big motorcycle ". But he's not worried about Álvaro Bautista : " there are drivers who have done different categories and who were small even when they started. But they still got results. It won't change their life to have more or less weight ».
