The bikes’ 1000cc engines produce 270hp however their tiny contact patches and lack of downforce relative to vehicles prices them dearly in lap time when in comparison with a System 1 machine.
For instance, Valtteri Bottas lapped his 2019 F1 Mercedes in 1m32.029s in qualifying for the US Grand Prix at Austin’s Circuit of the Americas, in contrast with Maverick Vinales’ 2m00.864s in MotoGP qualifying there in 2024.
Nevertheless, just a few years in the past Crimson Bull pitted Dani Pedrosa’s KTM RC16 in opposition to Liam Lawson in an RB8 over 1 / 4 of a mile from a standing begin, and the bike gained hands-down – primarily because of its superior power-to-weight ratio (the RB8 weighing in at 640kg in comparison with the KTM’s 157kg).
Their slender nature additionally means little or no drag, permitting MotoGP bikes to max out at round that 220mph mark. Which is all nicely and good in a straight line, however how do you get them slowed down for the twisty bits?
MotoGP disc brake element
Photograph by: Brembo
What’s the expertise behind MotoGP brakes & who makes them?
For the ninth season operating, Italian-based Brembo provides all 22 MotoGP riders with a fully-customized braking system and repair. The parts of the system are brake calipers, carbon and metal discs, grasp cylinders, clutch pumps and pads.
Its monobloc caliper, referred to as the GP4, is machined from a stable piece of aluminum. It options an amplification system that permits the braking torque to be elevated, which signifies that the rider will get better profit from making use of the identical strain to the brake lever.
In the meantime, a spring machine on the anti-drag system reduces the residual torque and stops the pads and discs coming into contact with one another.
Immense stopping energy is generated by way of carbon entrance discs: Brembo provides completely different diameter sizes and every is accessible in three materials specs – finned, excessive mass and customary. A smaller diameter metal disc is used on the rear, as engine braking assists with the method on that finish.
MotoGP disc brake choices
Photograph by: Brembo
Throughout the season, most riders use 340mm diameter carbon discs, splitting between excessive mass (for higher-end necessities) and customary mass (low finish) – with 320mm additionally out there. Ventilated disc options, one possibility with a diameter of 355mm, can be found for extra demanding circuits comparable to Spielberg, Buddh, Motegi, Buriram and Sepang.
The thickness of the discs, no matter diameter, is 8mm, whereas their weight varies between 1kg and 1.4kg relying on the diameter and specification used.
So which means MotoGP brakes are literally bigger, when it comes to diameter, than an F1 automotive’s however far thinner (F1 brakes are 32mm extensive). General, between entrance and rear wheels, the MotoGP braking system weighs about 5.5kg in complete.
The working temperature of a MotoGP carbon disc have to be between 250°C and 850°C. Compared, the metal discs that Brembo makes for Moto2 and Moto3 function between 100°C and 650°C.
Jorge Martin, Pramac Racing
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
How shortly can a MotoGP bike decelerate?
MotoGP bikes weigh 157kg and, together with their jockey-sized riders, they will decelerate at simply over 1.5g. Let’s have a look at a real-world state of affairs, ultimately weekend’s Grand Prix of the Americas at COTA.
The largest cease at that circuit – which is classed as ‘medium’ when it comes to braking effort, at 26% of the overall lap spent slowing down – is on the finish of the again straight. The strategy velocity on the again straight to Flip 12 is 338km/h – near their most velocity of 220mph in imperial measures – and the minimal nook velocity is 65km/h.
It requires a 293-meter stopping distance, which takes 5.8s. The brake strain required is 12.5 bar (NOTE: One bar is roughly the atmospheric strain on Earth at an altitude of 111 metres at 15°C), and the utmost braking energy is 120kW x 2.
MotoGP carbon disc brake element
Photograph by: Brembo
“The half the place the carbon disc is handiest is when the warmth dissipation takes place,” says Brembo’s MotoGP race engineer Mattia Tombolan. “Because of the properties of the carbon materials itself, it could possibly soak up much more warmth than a metal disc, however it could possibly additionally dissipate it in a short time.
“To have that very same stage of dissipation with metal, you’d want a really large disc which might be quite a bit heavier. And the load has a huge effect on the maneuverability of the bike.”
The dimensions of a carbon disc additionally has a knock-on impact by the remainder of the system.
“Trying on the dimension of the disc, this has a direct influence on the braking torque utilized by the rider,” he provides. “A bigger disc additionally generates a better gyroscopic impact that hampers a motorbike and rider’s skill to vary course.
“If I’m placing the identical strain on the grasp cylinder, if I’ve a much bigger disc, with a better radius with larger momentum, I’ll put larger braking torque. So, the rider will really feel he has to place much less strain to succeed in the braking power he desires.
“Alternatively, a smaller disc means a rider has to place way more strain – so it is dependent upon the rider choice.”
MotoGP disc brake element
Photograph by: Brembo
Though the science is identical because the braking programs in F1, the best way the pilot initiates the interface – in F1’s case, stamping on the left pedal with big power – is completely completely different.
“Whenever you put over 100 bar along with your foot, you’re additionally utilizing the deceleration of the machine that can assist you,” says Tombolan. “In MotoGP, you’re speaking between 10 and 15 bar, making use of that along with your fingers.
“I’d say the sensation of a MotoGP rider is extra essential, and don’t neglect the rider can be transferring round on the bike, they aren’t strapped in. So, I’d say the rider suggestions is much more essential in relation to the engineering half, to translate the sensation of the rider and never simply the numbers.
“It’s fairly difficult, in MotoGP you actually need to construct a relationship with the rider and crew chief to tune the bike from the braking aspect.”
Miguel Oliveira, Trackhouse Racing Staff
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
The MotoGP rider’s information to braking
Trackhouse Racing’s Miguel Oliveira has been racing in MotoGP since 2019 and has 5 wins to his title within the premier class.
The 29-year-old Portuguese rider, who has gained races with each the manufacturing facility and Tech3 KTM groups, now rides an Aprilia for the American-owned squad.
He explains what it’s wish to experience one in all these 220mph machines, and to find the place the restrict is to sluggish them down from their prime velocity right into a 35mph hairpin bend.
“The primary query when it comes to the braking is: What’s 100%?” he asks rhetorically. “It’s a must to discover the restrict. And normally our restrict on the braking strategy is when the rear lifts off the bottom.
“Every time the rear tire lifts, or the entrance is locking, that’s the place I really feel the restrict and regulate the brake strain, to maintain as a lot strain as potential however with out going over that restrict all through the entire braking section.
“As you see these days, there may be not that a lot benefit to maintain the bike straight for braking. We are attempting to make use of all of the aero, all the rear tire, to cease.
“By way of the rear brake utilization, we attempt to preserve it to a minimal, to let the engine braking work extra successfully – however it is dependent upon the bike, and the electronics. We do regulate it quite a bit.
Miguel Oliveira, Trackhouse Racing Staff
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
“We work onerous on the nook entry, so we use that to maintain decreasing the velocity when we have to. After all, you can not preserve a lot strain if you’re in that [entry] section of braking into the nook, in order that’s the place we particularly use the rear brake.
“Along with the engine braking, and the rear brake, you try to work the stability to not be too sharp or aggressive as you rotate the bike into the nook, in any other case you overload the entrance finish and that’s when you’ll be able to lose the entrance.”
Not like others, Oliveira doesn’t use a thumb-controlled rear brake: “I desire to make use of the foot, as a result of I can use extra strain utilizing my foot,” he explains.
Whenever you watch F1 you’ll typically see drivers locking up their entrance wheels on the strategy to a nook. In MotoGP, this additionally occurs, however it’s a lot much less apparent to the watching eye…
“You are feeling it fairly simply,” he says. “When it occurs, you let it slide a little bit bit, you don’t launch the brake instantly, you’ll be able to let the bike slide a little bit on a locked entrance – however it’s actually a sense that you just get used to, and also you react to it fairly naturally.”
Miguel Oliveira, Trackhouse Racing Staff
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
And what of the power required on the lever, when you’ll want to make an enormous cease? As we talked about, F1 drivers generate big strain on the brake pedal within the cockpit through their foot – how in regards to the levers in MotoGP?
“It’s not that arduous, you understand,” he replies. “I feel it could be 11 to 12 kilos on the brake lever, to generate the robust braking energy you require.
“However the primary factor we have to focus on is how a lot to make use of it within the race, how exact you’ll want to be at over 300km/h, the braking marks are what’s super-important, and essentially the most troublesome factor is to maintain hitting them usually in a race, when you will have tire degradation and decreasing gasoline load. It’s not straightforward!”
Oliveira can be a seven-time winner in Moto2 and six-time Moto3 race victor, so nicely positioned to check carbon versus metal entrance discs.
“It’s been a very long time since I rode with out these brakes!” he quips. “However as I keep in mind, it’s actually that first chew that you just discover the large distinction. With carbon brakes – bwoah! – you actually cease onerous if you first hit them.”
Fabio Quartararo, Yamaha Manufacturing facility Racing
Photograph by: Gold and Goose / Motorsport Photos
Why do MotoGP riders dangle their legs underneath braking?
And, lastly, how in regards to the pattern of riders dangling their legs out into the airstream through the braking section? What does that obtain?
“We primarily use it as drag for air resistance,” Oliveira explains. “We additionally use it as a strategy to stability, to load the rear as a result of when you slide sideways, you kick your leg out and that creates an inwards and downwards centre of gravity, in order that lets you decelerate a bit too.”
