MotoGP Sporting Director Carlos Ezpeleta shared responses from first trial test of Radio Communication for Safety on number of riders at Misano test day, September 15th.
Emphasizing the importance of relaying information to riders for the improvement of safety on track during racing, Carlos explained what the preliminary tests aimed to achieve along with feedback from riders.
Carlos: 1) ‘The preliminary tests were to find out riders were able to hear messages on the earphones and 2) to see if they were distracted by messages that would arrive mid-corner or moments of more concentration’.
With information already arriving via flags and on-bike screens the initiative proposed greater efficiency in delivering pre-recorded messages from Race Direction as direct warning signals to riders, with the possibility of rider-Team communications in the future.
With positive feedback from test riders, Carlos placed importance for improvements to the system which included: 1) listening to the riders and seeing what are the requirements for the future 2) if there is going to be a cable, no cable 3) the size of the receivers on the leather suits 4) the earphones and how much noise they cancel from the motorbike’.
Speaking from test day at Misano, Andrea Dovizioso highlighted how radio communications system worked well with changes to clarity of hearing messages through earphones along with no cable uppermost in Ducati’s leading rider’s mind.
MotoGP 2nd podium at Misano last weekend Pecco Bagnaia tried the radio set without riding, stating it is important to make communications not just from flags. And, as stated by Petronas Yamaha SRT Fabio Quatararo ‘we already get information sent which arrives at the end of the sector, and that is at least 20 seconds later’.
‘So, to have clearer messages would be important, for example if there is a bike in the middle of the track’.
MotoGP Round 8 Misano, September 20th.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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