Soup :: MotoGP: Flag To Flag?

MotoGP: Flag To Flag?
Who'll Stop (In) The Rain?
by toby hirst, in old London-Town
Tuesday, February 15, 2005

One of the major rule changes for 2005 in the MotoGP class of Grand Prix racing is the introduction of the "flag-to-flag" wet-weather race ruling. There will now be no race stoppages in the event of rainfall during a race. The implications of this rule change are not just being felt at Dorna HQ, but at the factory headquarters around the world and in the garages up and down pit-lane.

The technicians at Brembo, renowned racing brake system specialists, are feverishly doing the math and preparing their product for the teams to use in just such a scenario should it occur during the forthcoming season. We'll deal with Brembo in a moment, but first, the ruling itself and the confusion surrounding the application of said ruling.

The Grand Prix Commission has decided upon the new rules (although not unanimously) after discussions arising from the situation seen at Mugello last season prompted a re-think of the strategy that the organizers and race control should be taking with regard to rider safety and the all-important television schedules.

The Cinzano Italian Grand Prix on June 6th, 2004, threw us a few curve balls during the race duration. We witnessed Makoto Tamada leading a GP on Bridgestone race rubber and showing Valentino Rossi a few audacious moves along the way. We saw Shinya Nakano's rear Bridgestone tire delaminate at close to 192mph, ejecting the pilot into orbit. And, we had a two-part race to deal with and all the organizational stress that it brings.

Now, although the two-part contest thrilled the crowds at the track and the viewing public around the globe, it also managed to throw many a European television producer into a state of blind panic as the live broadcast ran over its allotted slot. That television coverage however showed clearly the shaking of heads in the garages, most notably from the Marlboro Ducati camp. As they reacted to the two-part strategy, the facial expressions told the story vividly. Troy Bayliss commented live on British Eurosport that the situation was "plain crazy", and we also had the objection from the teams in the aftermath of "Race II" that led to the GPC sitting to think of a way around the current gray area within the rules.

So have the organizers redressed the balance or added to the confusion as to the best way forward?

The "panel" that makes up the Grand Prix Commission consists of the following organizations: Dorna, IRTA, FIM and MSMA. After the GPC had met, the vote saw a 3-1 decision to implement the "flag-to-flag" ruling, the one dissenting voice being the MSMA (Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association). The MSMA threw up some poignant and, to be fair, reasonable questions as to how the ruling would work in several key areas:

1. How would the teams and Dorna monitor fuel usage if a second bike was set-up in pit-lane with wet weather tires at the ready should a rider want to stop to change machines? How would they monitor the exact fuel usage across two machines especially with the 22-litre fuel capacity ruling being implemented for 2005?

2. The FIM states that, at all of its meetings, any rider taking to the circuit either initially or after a stoppage must complete a sighting lap to assess the mechanical validity of the machine he is about to race. Just how would this ruling be implemented if there were riders on the circuit completing a race on their first bike, not wanting to stop and change machines, whilst there are riders with a second bike completing a warm-up lap?

3. If a rider comes in to change tires only, how do the teams make the change from the carbon fiber brake discs used in dry racing conditions (currently 320mm) to the steel discs needed for wet weather riding (currently 314mm) without undue complication? Also, how would the teams go about changing the brake pads?

4. How would the suggested plan to specify iron brake discs be introduced (the theory being they could be used in dry and wet conditions) by Brembo without a major research project being undertaken before the 2005 season?

All valid questions, but the MSMA were out-voted 3-1 by the other members of the Commission, including the governing body the FIM. It would appear that the changing of machines in pit-lane is a bad idea for the reasons laid out above, although, as it stands, it is an option for 2005 unless the GPC announces otherwise. Therefore, it would seem that the burden of making this situation simple (change the wheels and not change over machines) has rested at the feet of the Brembo technicians.

Word is that boffins at Brembo are working on a carbon fiber disc that measures 314mm, the same as the current steel disc used in the event of wet weather, therefore eliminating the current 320mm dry-weather carbon fiber discs. This would allow a "pit-stop" to take place where a simple swap could be administered with the teams replacing carbon fiber discs with steel ones of the same size (314mm). But, what about the brake pads? I am told they are 'working on it'.

Also, it's been intimated, in the not too distant past, by Valentino Rossi himself, (directly to Carmelo Ezpeleta - Dorna CEO) that there needs to be a period of time allotted for the riders and teams to practice the changing of wheels and the assessment of just how the safety in pit-lane will be monitored with multiple machines roaring in to change tires.

It would appear that Brembo and Dorna (in conjunction with the rest of the GPC) need time to work on the mechanics of such suggested changes, but the season starts on April 10th at Jerez. Just what will the final decision be? Will the ruling as passed by the commission stand or will they revise the ruling to simply allow brake disc swaps with no motorcycle changing allowed?

Just where should the buck stop in regard to allowing riders to remain on a damp track to race for the win on slick tires, which has been frowned upon in the past (and rightly so) rather than pitting for wet-weather tires on a compulsory basis? The gray area appears to remain.

If the MSMA got their way, based on intimations from that organization, the old aggregate timing system could be a likely escape route for them, but that in itself was panned for confusing the crowd and still causing television coverage to be delayed. However, it would surely be even more confusing should half the field decide to stay out on dry tires during a short downpour whilst the remaining competitors decide to pit and re-join.

I can see no clear-cut way of finding a solution that will appease everyone, but a solution must be found that makes sense in terms of safety, even if spectators find the whole thing a little perplexing. We shall see how it pans out during the 2005 season, but one thing is for sure: as a motorcycle racing puritan, I am somewhat ill at ease with seeing the phrase "pit-stop" being used in relation to Grand Prix racing.

ENDS

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