Winglets

[duccarlos]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/sport/motogp/2016/may/marquez-wants-to-see-motogp-winglets-banned/

It seems this is the new controversial tech. I do agree with MM on one point, these bikes will soon become 2 wheeled F1 vehicles.

[Mhanis]

I am personally not a fan of them but I am kind of "meh" on their continued use as long as they don't get too big. Just based on the way the appear I think the Honda (in the link you posted) is the most aesthetically pleasing and the Yamaha the least. I think the Ducati wings are really cool looking and about the most "integrated" (as in, they BELONG and weren't just thrown on) looking, but they are too big (for my tastes).



Mark

[triangleforge]

Dall'Igna's response to the winglet debate:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/229988/1/ducati-rejects-winglets-are-dangerous-argument.html

He makes a useful point: a bike with its front wheel on the track is safer than one with it up in the air.

While I personally don't particularly like the look of 'em, I applaud the way Dall'Igna has got the racing department thinking way outside the box about everything with the bike. I do think the biggest safety issue is not so much hitting other riders (Iannone's snapped off with just minor contact on Marquez at Argentina), but the turbulence they create for riders behind in the draft - which also makes for racing with fewer passing opportunities.  to that.

I also think it's unlikely to go too far in the direction of F1 front wings - compared to the relatively stable package of a Formula 1 car, you'd have to model the aerodynamics of the bike through 90+ degrees of lean angle from side to side, and throw in each individual riders' size and style of hanging off the bike in corners. I don't think even Honda is willing to put up the kind of money that would take.

[kopfjäger]

This is next

[DarkMonster620]

 

[triangleforge]

I bet the snot-slick track at Jerez had a bunch of riders wishing for something like those winglets to create a little more downforce on the rear wheel.

Or maybe more like:

[MadDuck]

Jim Hall Chapparal.    

[HotIce]

I bet the snot-slick track at Jerez had a bunch of riders wishing for something like those winglets to create a little more downforce on the rear wheel.

Or maybe more like:

That seems like a very good design if you want to do car front wheelies 

[OT]

"......you'd have to model the aerodynamics of the bike through 90+ degrees of lean angle from side to side...."

Also, if the winglets are effective enough to hold down/stabilize the front end at high speeds, what happens when a bike does a big wheelie? Fly over the bike in front of it? Do a back flip? Would think winglets would magnify the wheelie effect, once its started. 

[Speeddog]

At some point, yes, the wings would magnify the wheelie.

[duccarlos]

I feel pretty confident saying that the winglets are likely used because of the spec ECU. Only Ducati used winglets last year and only on specific tracks. HRC and Yamaha's electronics were probably so sophisticated that they could control the power delivery to keep the front planted. Yamaha generally does not need them since the power delivery is the smoothest of all the bikes.

[Speeddog]

If you've got more power than the other bikes, then it's beneficial to give away a bit of it to generate downforce.

MotoGP bikes are wheelie limited until ~4th gear, so there's definite benefit.

Re-watch PI from last year, and watch Iannone drive past Rossi like he was tied to a tree about a third of the way down the front straight.
There's a little hump, Rossi's bike wheelies, Iannone's stays planted and sails past.

[triangleforge]

Is that a bulge in your fairing, or are you just glad to see me?

Final rules on winglets/bulges/fairing protuberances:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/233581/1/motogp-wing-ban-wording.html

Interesting note from the end of the Crash article: the rule doesn't ban aerodynamic devices that are enclosed within the bodywork...

[ducpainter]

Is that a bulge in your fairing, or are you just glad to see me?

Final rules on winglets/bulges/fairing protuberances:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/233581/1/motogp-wing-ban-wording.html

Interesting note from the end of the Crash article: the rule doesn't ban aerodynamic devices that are enclosed within the bodywork...

It also doesn't specify that race direction, the sole judge of what's permissible, will allow them either.

[Speeddog]

Pandora's Box, once opened, cannot be closed.