In a season in which the level of grip becomes more and more decisive, the traction of the MotoGP prototypes must be subjected to continuous evaluation. And it is that, after a test in which the management of the tires was critical, the importance of not skidding on the asphalt becomes a mere necessity when fighting for good results.
When the fall of the tire is high, in most cases there is a lot of ‘spin’, translated as a skid that, during the Catalan event, has greatly concerned the riders of the premier class.
Despite being a problem that does not concern the same level as top speed or aerodynamics, suffering from spinning can truncate the weekend of a competition team. This phenomenon prompted tire suppliers to consider an evolution in the design and durability of rubber, leading to the arrival of a change in the carcass of the hard tire for races such as Le Mans.
This problem is noticeable on tracks like Jerez and Qatar, which are very prone to accumulating heat, dust or dirt on the asphalt. In addition, factors such as temperature, age and condition of the track also play an essential role in the appearance of this problem. Some tracks like Silverstone had to be reinvented to eliminate this drawback completely.
One of the main consequences of this phenomenon is found at the moment in which the pilot begins to open the throttle, since it causes a decrease in grip in the rear axle. This translates, in turn, into the loss of seconds in certain sectors of the layout, mostly coinciding in the fast steps through the curve.
Aleix Espargaró and Pecco Bagnaia were two of the proper names added to the list of riders affected by this phenomenon.
Conclusively it can be understood that if the prototype has spin, it loses the level of traction. This is where the role of the well-known and much desired aerodynamics comes in, which plays a leading role relying on elements -for example, spoilers- to improve the rear end, which translates, in turn, into an increase in grip.
