Game of wakes and slowdowns in qualifying, changes, stricter regulations and more severe punishments
Mike Webb, Race Director of the MotoGP World Championship explains the new guidelines
Mike Webb, Race Director of the MotoGP World Championship, in an interview given to the official MotoGP website, spoke about the imminent changes that will be made to the regulations with a view to slipstreaming and slowdowns in qualifying. An issue that is becoming too dangerous, especially in Moto3. On the Thursday preceding the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community, all drivers will (obligatorily) be asked to be present in a meeting where the topic will be discussed.
"It's a safety issue. In fact, it is possible that one or more drivers who are on their fast lap find themselves in front of a slower one: the first driver sees him and perhaps manages to avoid him, but the problem lies with the other one who arrives and who cannot see him, except when it's too late – said Mike Webb – In some cases the pilots wait because they just want a free track to launch. But lately we see more and more drivers slowing down and waiting for a faster driver to match up and take advantage of the slipstream."
A game that is becoming truly dangerous. “Until now I have always told the drivers that going slow is allowed, as long as they are off the racing line and do not disturb the other drivers. Unfortunately, however, now more than half of the Moto3 competitors proceed slowly at various times: as a result, they do not leave room for a rider on his fast lap, representing a limit for safety. Therefore, drivers who go slowly, looking behind and waiting for a slipstream, will be considered “irresponsible and dangerous driving”, regardless of whether they think they are not bothering anyone. We will penalize this behavior at our discretion by intervening in the modification of the regulations."
In practice, any driver caught proceeding at low speed during qualifying without valid reasons (e.g. technical problems) could be penalized not only with points on the license, but could also be demoted one row on the grid.
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I agree with the main point and the motivations.
I disagree with the final part, where "by Regulation" it is left to the discretion of the judges whether or not to punish a driver.
By making regulations like this, we only increase the controversy because not everything is always clear.
Perhaps a different, clearer solution can achieve a better result.
The first thing I thought of was to set a percentage limit, let me explain:
a driver completes his best time in 1.30.000. subsequent laps, even if done more slowly, must not be higher than 10% (for example, and the next lap must be completed in 1.39.000 or you choose 5% and the lap must be completed in 1.34.500.
In short, give a percentage referring to the fastest lap and the percentage can vary from circuit to circuit.
Do you have other ideas? Expose them, have your say on the topic.
@ligera
Hello,
in this article I agree with you, regarding the opinion you asked me about Laguna 2008, honestly, my opinion, I don't consider Vale's overtaking inside the corkscrew to be incorrect.
Internal overtaking (random) at the limit and risky, but it's okay; Marc also did the same with Vale and I liked it, he paid him back (I would have liked to see Vale's face at that moment).
Regarding Casey's off-track…, Vale studied it and slipped it in at the right moment…
Jorge and Marc have been talking a lot lately but no one says anything... let's say that if they don't risk their lives, is it part of the show or not?
Let's not make MGP like F1...
Of course we don't all think the same way ;-)
Would you leave things as they are, or do you have any solutions to propose to resolve the issue?
The response to your post is below.
@Ligera
it might be a good idea to use telemetry for the times as you say and also in the opposite direction: you are in front and I, the first lap I do 1.35.58, behind you I randomly arrive at 1.31.00 or the penalty kicks in or it freezes the tour waiting for other passages…
Unless... but the visual spectacle would be affected (in addition to the rubber of the track) you would go out 4-6 at a time at a distance...
Lyon66
Luckily we don't all think the same way, you know how boring.
The regulation was different and everything took place within its terms.
Otherwise the issue would have dragged on longer (I think).
I consider overtaking at the corkscrew at Laguna Seca to be "incorrect" (although perhaps not the right word), for 2 main reasons.
The first refers to the fact that Valentino left the road with both wheels
The second because, when returning to the track, Vale widened a lot, hindering Stoner who was unable to open the throttle and was unable to overtake Vale.
I don't know what would happen today with the current regulation, but a situation like this should at least involve abandoning the position thus achieved.
Then you can also look at the danger of the action which, from my point of view, exceeded all limits, both at the moment of leaving the track (if he slipped there, they stopped him at the end of the descent after having "mowed down" a few " bush”), and at the time of return, because the action could have pushed Vale against Stoner with more vehemence, risking bringing both to the ground.
The most important thing, to establish the degree of danger, but which We will never know, is how much "Voluntary" there was in Vale's action.
It's logical that Vale couldn't have foreseen the right exit and re-entry so as not to fall and still stay in front of Stoner, but this action was done at: "oh la Va, oh la va and smashes it", at the moment of braking and of going off track, or had he calculated the "limit" and exceeded it by chance, while, in the action of returning, how voluntary was the widening of the trajectory?
It is these 2 aspects that determine the behavior (and the responsibility with consequent penalisation) of the pilot, but We will never know anything about it.
Finally, I understand well that the show can also require "door contacts", but as long as the latter are "given" due to the trajectories, I'm fine with it, the thing becomes more problematic, when these "contacts" become voluntary, then they don't it suits me better.
As an example, I cite the 250 world championship of 1998.
The world championship won by Capirex in 250 against the Japanese whose name escapes me now, is a classic example of this.
Capirex entered very strong knowing full well that he would only stay on the track by touching his rival for the championship (using him as a "bank").
In the race he "knocked him out" and he went on to win the 250 title.
We know well that it is a very dangerous sport and, to maintain a good level of entertainment, the duels that take place on the track cannot be limited, but unfortunately, I must point out that, more and more often, the "knockdowns" that are given to the opponents, they increasingly have the "flavor" of Voluntariness.
@Ligera
In my opinion..., and I think you know a lot more about motorbikes than I do..., Vale had a bad time: he could have fallen on the gravel and hurt himself, he had made a mistake and found himself on the track, he doesn't even know how. …
I consider him a champion but it seemed to me that he was crazy at that moment.
Marc, I repeat that I liked his pass last year on Vale at the same point..., he cut on the concrete...
It's also true that the track is delimited by curbs but certain maneuvers can happen in a strange way: it doesn't have to be a habit but it can happen, for everyone, not just for some obviously.
I admit that I will say something "very unlikely to be shared" but these guys (the first 4 and not only) are cannibals, Martians, Killer DNA... so you become absolute champions, willingly or unwillingly...
Villeneuve, Senna, Prost, Arnoux, Hill, Shumacher, etc. come to mind, just to give examples in other sports.
Beyond personal preferences, I believe that first of all there must be physical safety (escape routes, etc.) and if they give it to each other...
They get a thousand thousand euros every year to do this job and risk their skins...
They are not cannon fodder but neither are they virgins in their second year of high school...
Twenty years ago it was different with motorbikes and cars: today between electronics and protective shells (4 wheels) it's a little different...
Then, ok... Marco is no longer here and Bianchì unfortunately...
But there are cats on motorbikes: they fly and land, fortunately, with irrelevant consequences in 99% of cases...
To say what...: technically I am ignorant of motoring matters but sporty and... spectacle, overtaking and quick turns excite me, I watch the MGP and sometimes SBK for this...
Fans of Vale but also of all those who provide emotions, as always said...
For example, I neglect F1 not so much for Ferrari (I'm a fan but I'm sporty), but because... between flaps, rule changes during construction, limited tests, etc. etc. a real sadness.
And finally... between team orders, communications (push that button, push, slow down for petrol, etc. etc.) but what is it???
W the motorbikes and let them have fun and let us have fun...
That's all, not to defend Vale; to defend a sport and a category still made up of men with balls who don't give up until the last meter and want to finish first.
Yesterday Vale, today Marc, tomorrow Jorge and tomorrow the other Dani (all four of whom today want the same thing: to just win!!!).
@Ligera
Sorry ...
I also include Casey among the cannibals: I have always considered him and still consider him great despite a short career, by his will.
At times I too took it for a ride like many others just to repay in the same coin those who have always taken Vale for a ride.
I'm one of those who would like to see him on track this year and the next ones to come, the World Championship would be even more exciting.
This year however, for bike and handle, Marc has significantly raised the bar; the kid is tough...
If he's lucky enough to get hurt late like Vale, this will make everyone stick their tongues out for a while ;-)))