Ducati was a pioneer in the holeshot, a device that was later copied in the rest of the prototypes. While it has become a welcome fixture in the MotoGP paddock, it is not the first time that the Borgo Panigale manufacturer has been forced to defend its technical innovation from attacks by rival manufacturers at Losail.
Initially introduced as systems intended to improve launch, these devices enjoyed an early evolution when Ducati was able to find a way to mechanically lower the rear when exiting corners while the bike was moving.
In this way, Ducati has made school regarding this device and, little by little, the opponents have been adapting. Since the introduction of the holeshot in the championship, Borgo Panigale’s men had the ability to raise the bar even higher, and in pre-season testing it was immediately apparent that the new Desmosedici GP was also capable of changing its ride at the front to out of corners, with clear benefits in terms of aerodynamics and a consequent reduction in electronic interventions.
Since there are no regulatory withholdings in this regard, the reasons for the protest would be essentially two: safety and excessive development costs for something that has no technological impact on street bikes. Not in vain, already at the press conference on Thursday there were several riders who showed some hostility towards the descent devices, especially Marc Márquez , who had already raised a ban for the future.
“I think it’s something that should be eliminated in the future, I said it last year after my injury and we riders should do it together: The manufacturers are always looking for more speed, more strength, but it doesn’t add anything to the show, to street bikes are useless. It’s good for aerodynamics, but all these systems allow us to go faster and they don’t make sense for the future”, criticized the man from Cervera during the press conference.
“It’s starting to be too much, we’re going faster, soon we’re going to reach 370 km/h, but it’s more difficult to make a difference if everything is easier, I don’t think it’s the best thing,” joined Joan Mir.
Reigning world champion Fabio Quartararo has admitted the devices are “beginning to be too much”, noting how complicated the start procedure has become since making his MotoGP debut in 2019.
“Already in 2019, the procedure was to press the control button and that’s it,” said the Frenchman.
“Now, you need to check too many things and I think in the end you win, but for me it’s starting to be too much.”
Maverick Viñales also echoed these concerns, but added that the device has made exiting corners safer in some cases.
“It’s much safer with the holeshot, because I remember corners like the last one in Austin, where you accelerate from zero and the wall is very close,” he said.
“Now it’s gone too far, too many things. But, at least for the start and the rear, it’s much safer.”
Otherwise, the official Ducati rider, Pecco Bagnaia, simply said that he does not consider it dangerous, as the riders are only asked to “press a button”. This confirms that Ducati has bet heavily on its intuition, but also appreciates that there is the possibility of making it something less invasive for the driver’s driving.
Now, the Grand Prix Commission (FIM, IRTA and Dorna as well as the MSMA) will be in charge of studying the future of the device.
