Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola disclosed that the manufacturer had to advocate strongly for changes following a significant safety concern related to the rear tires during the MotoGP Sprint at Motegi. Jorge Martin, the championship leader, experienced serious blistering on his soft rear tire, with rubber debris even damaging the rear wing of his RS-GP bike.
Pecco Bagnaia from Ducati was forced to retire one lap before the finish, and Rivola mentioned that even tires without outward signs of damage were found to have internal blistering when inspected. This included the medium rear tire used by Marco Bezzecchi; Yamaha’s Jack Miller, the only other rider on that compound, had already reported extensive visible blistering.
Rivola explained to Sky Italia, “It was evident there was a safety problem. On Saturday, Jorge finished with only half a tire left, Pecco retired early, and others faced the same issue. Those who didn’t experience immediate problems still had significant internal blisters that were likely to burst eventually. With double the race length, the outcome was unpredictable.”
Despite the clear risk, Aprilia had to act as a “single team” to push for the necessary changes before the grand prix. “We confronted this safety hazard head-on and lobbied hard for modifications,” Rivola said. “We were quite successful, as everyone ended up using the hard tire, which Michelin confirmed was the safest option. Still, I hope in the future such actions won’t require just one team to fight for them.”
Michelin eventually withdrew the soft rear tire from the race and recommended the reinforced hard tire that had not been previously used that weekend. The warm-up session was extended to 20 minutes to allow riders more time to test the hard tire, which ultimately outperformed the medium and was universally selected for the grand prix.
Rivola also noted that not everyone supported Aprilia’s stance, stating, “Only we pushed for this because I know some were against it. I believe the medium tire should have been banned too, since it shares the same construction and poses a similar risk. You can’t be certain until you’re racing.”
He further highlighted the dangers, recalling how Jorge’s bike suffered wing damage due to tire rubber coming off. “We’re talking safety risks here. Maybe nothing would happen, but if there’s a fix available, it should be applied.”
In the end, Ducati’s Marc Marquez won the Japanese Grand Prix, with Aprilia riders Martin and Bezzecchi finishing strong, narrowing Martin’s championship lead to just two points over Marquez.
Fan Take:
This development is crucial for racing enthusiasts because it underscores the ongoing challenge of tire safety in MotoGP, which directly affects rider performance and wellbeing. Ensuring the prompt implementation of safer tires can prevent accidents and maintain the high level of competition that fans love, potentially setting new standards in the sport’s approach to safety.
Source: www.crash.net
