Sweet baby geezus! The Ducati has 3 sets of wings now?

I was reading that those lower loop wings on the Ducati MotoGP bike create a down wash affect that both increases the effectiveness of the wing above it, AND smooths the air off the back of the bike making it harder to draft. So if you have Ducati’s out front (and usually you do) that would also make it harder to pass.

No one is asking the question, "where is this going to end up?" IMHO the bikes are too fast

Yeah, a racing series generally gets slower as time progresses.

bp_SFV4 said:

Yeah, a racing series generally gets slower as time progresses.

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It might be a necessary intervention. 10 or 20 years ago, the NHRA reduced the length of track for the Top Fuel classes from a 1/4 mile to 1000 ft to reduce trap speeds.

If you listen to the Spies interview, you’ll hear him discuss the same issue.

That was done for safety reasons after a few tragic events. I don’t think there’s a nexus to what’s going on in MotoGP in that context.

Steven31371 said:

smooths the air off the back of the bike making it harder to draft.

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This isn’t a thing. Smooth air like what they’re doing in F1 with more emphasis on diffusers rather than wings make it easier to draft.

I’d wager these extra wings are to mitigate vortices generated by the wheel so that there’s cleaner air for the other wings on the main fairing or ground effect.

bp_SFV4 said:

That was done for safety reasons after a few tragic events. I don’t think there’s a nexus to what’s going on in MotoGP in that context.

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Yep. Exactly what Spies was talking about.

They could change MotoGP in a big way by eliminating the sole source vendor thing with tires. IMO, that should be a team decision.

bp_SFV4 said:

They could change MotoGP in a big way by eliminating the sole source vendor thing with tires. IMO, that should be a team decision.

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You need all the teams to be on board with this

I don’t need anything. I’m just making conversation.

bp_SFV4 said:

They could change MotoGP in a big way by eliminating the sole source vendor thing with tires. IMO, that should be a team decision.

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I’m inclined to agree.

The risk with a tire war though, is that because tires are the most important single determinant of performance (as much as several seconds per lap), and bike and rider performance is relatively close across the grid (entire grid within a second or so on the spec tire), IF there is significant disparity in tire performance between manufacturers (Michelin vs Bridgestone for example), the riders on the better tire are essentially guaranteed to win, and those on the worse tire don’t have a chance.

craig bush said:

I’m inclined to agree.

The risk with a tire war though, is that because tires are the most important single determinant of performance (as much as several seconds per lap), and bike and rider performance is relatively close across the grid (entire grid within a second or so on the spec tire), IF there is significant disparity in tire performance between manufacturers (Michelin vs Bridgestone for example), the riders on the better tire are essentially guaranteed to win, and those on the worse tire don’t have a chance.

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I’m fine with single tire supplier, but I don’t like that tire manufacturer dictating with an iron fist HOW teams use their tires, i.e. regulating tire pressures to the point of measuring them mid-race with required sensors on the bikes etc.

We need a tire war. That is the very thing that will drive manufacturer development into the most important performance item to a motorcycle rider. You'll never likely have fork mounted wings or a ride height device, but you will benefit from a better tire compound.

bp_SFV4 said:

I don’t need anything.

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bp_SFV4 said:

We need a tire war.

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I thought you didn’t need anything…

Take a break and go outside bud.

bp_SFV4 said:

They could change MotoGP in a big way by eliminating the sole source vendor thing with tires.

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Do you remember when Bridgestone and Michelin were both supplying tires?

I didn’t love it, you had a pretty good idea who had the best shot to win before the weekend just based on who the tire supplier was.

Just a wild ass guess, but I suppose Michelin won that just by throwing a .... ton of money at Dorna.

That was before my MotoGP time, but I'd like more than a two source solution. If was only going to be two, you might as well just have one, which is likely how we ended up here. If you had four in the mix, I think you could mix it up.

Or, just change the sole source manufacturer every year or every other year.

I would like to see it open to more than one supplier but allow teams to decide which tires to go with on a session by session basis. No exclusivity agreements.

bp_SFV4 said:

Just a wild ass guess, but I suppose Michelin won that just by throwing a .... ton of money at Dorna.

That was before my MotoGP time, but I'd like more than a two source solution. If was only going to be two, you might as well just have one, which is likely how we ended up here. If you had four in the mix, I think you could mix it up.

Or, just change the sole source manufacturer every year or every other year.

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The reason they went to a single tire rule was purely for the economics of Tire Manufacturer Marketing. Michelin wins every race now. So clever.
Overall the tire quality was higher with a manufacturer war as it was a competition. So when Bridgestone was outperforming Michelin, Michelin's spend was in the toilet and the risk for the investment was much worse than a 50% chance. At the end of that last season bikes with the Bridgestones were in front.
As soon as Bridgestone won the single tire contract, their tires went to .... and they made tires that were loosing 10cm chunks during the race, it was insanity.
So they switched to Michelin which benefited Honda and was a disaster for Ducati, who then took years reinventing the bike to match the tire Honda wanted and here we are. Michelin is now trying to save money on the tires and they're getting worse.
This is all because of Dorna's business model of high priced exclusive broadcasting = smaller audience = bigger risk for marketing budgets for everyone.
Dorna makes less risky money, Michelin makes money, everyone else is squeaking by or losing .... tons of money = Suzuki out, Yamaha cutting race budgets, Honda cutting race budgets etc. Ducati has made it work taking massive R&D risk and winning finally. They ....... deserve 2023 IMO, 100%. MotoGP, SBK, WSSP.
Dorna sucks.
Prototype bikes need prototype tires, the end.