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Is MotoGP losing its racing thrill?

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Is MotoGP losing its racing thrill?

MotoGP earns an unwanted tag: boring. Fans and drivers claim the sport is losing its thrill with meagre overtakes and defence-heavy racing.

Recently, MotoGP has increasingly been likened to a parade with drivers starting and finishing in the same order, featuring little to no overtakes. The circuit in Misano, Italy, has long been a stage for intense battles and close calls, the most memorable of which has been the 2019 last-lap shuffle between Marc Marquez and Fabio Quartararo. However, even a track like Misano, which has showcased MotoGP at its finest, fell flat this time around.

This past week in Misano, the sprint and race featured a shameful single overtake altogether between the top 3. The criticism has not been recent or limited to fans. 6-time MotoGP champion and legend Marc Marquez openly opposed the aerodynamic upgrades and driver-height adjustments all the way back in March 2023. He stated, “Every time, it’s getting more and more difficult to follow riders

His statement, in hindsight, seems like a foreshadowing of exactly what MotoGP is going through at the moment. As the technology improves its game, fans are not being treated to closer racing but rather, only to higher speeds.

Marquez remarked, “For the performance, we are riding faster. But for the show, I feel it’s not the best way. But we need to keep going because it’s what we have now.”

Drivers have blamed the rule changes in terms of aerodynamics. Whether we like it or not, these rules stay until 2027. With these constraints in mind, drivers try to secure a high grid place in qualifying and then defend through the race. However, this means drivers simply take turns around the circuit without fierce fighting for track positions.

In the post-race press conference, Aleix Espargaro added that a small and tight track does not aid overtaking on newer bikes. In his words, “This track is very, very small, like a karting [track], with a lot of grip. The way MotoGP is right now, with a lot of good electronics, with wings, it’s almost impossible to overtake.”

Still, aerodynamics has hindered racing in yet another way. A rule enforcing a minimum tyre pressure of 1.88 bar in the front tyres, in combination with harsh turbulence, skyrockets the pressure in the front tyres. As pressure balloons, traction decreases and makes overtaking tougher.

These regulations are set to remain till 2027, leaving us another 3 years to adjust to a shift in the riding style. At present, MotoGP is struggling to maintain its fan base due to its procession-like racing and aero-focused development. While dedicated gearheads will undoubtedly follow the sport, more casual fans may find their interests diverted towards more exciting series

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