UPDATE: We can now see that the switch does indeed lower the rear of the bike for the race start...
The horizontal lines on the barrier clearly show the rear of the bikꦑe squat down when the holeshot device is activated.
— Peter McLaren (@McLarenMotoGP)
It's not clear exactly how long it's been there, but a new win🌱gnut-style switch was spotted on the triple clamp between the front forks on the Desmosedici GP19s at this week's Sepang MotoGP test.
Unsurprisingly, Ducati wo♔uld not confirm what the switch is for, but the popular rumour was that it operates some form of 'holeshot device'.
In motocross/supercross a 'holeshot (first to turn onꦯe) device' is basically a kind of clip that hold♔s the front fork in a semi-compressed position for the start of the race, therefore helping to reduce wheelies by putting more weight on the front.
When the rider brakes fꦐor turn one, the clip releases and the suspensi🙈on works as normal thereafter.
It certainly isn't a crazy idea to use something similar in MotoGP, experienced Honda cre♚w chief Chris Pike tweeting that they had used such a device in BSB a decade ago:
Honda’s back in 2006/7 I think I remember correctly, that out of 26 races in 2007 JR and Kiyo got the hole shot in 25, 19-6 to JR.— _Chris (@cp23109)While in motocross the rider or a mechanic has to compress the forks by hand, with the bike at a standstill, the holeshot system used on 🎀the factory Hondas in BSB locked the forks d𒅌own when the rider braked approaching his grid slot (thereby compressing the front suspension).
Launch control only controls the engine, hole shot devices physically keep the centre of gravity lower so it is more difficult to wheelie off the start. Therefore allowing you t🍒o apply more power with the launch control strategy.
— _Chris (@cp23109)
The HRC one never malfunctioned, the slightest touch of the front wheel on the ground🍷 released it
— _Chris (@cp23109)
Slip is o🐓nly an issue in the wet for a motorcycle race start. The pitch generated by the clutch release makes wheelie the main issue to control in a start.
— _Chris (@cp23109)
I deleted my ꦫoriginal answer because I wasn’t happy with it Clutch release is important to be aggressive to get an initial ‘jump’, after tha🥂t you try to keep rpm high so you are over the peak torque point to reduce wheelie tendency. A low c.o.g. is always better for launch
— _Chris (@cp23109)
But is that actually what the D✅ucati switch is for?
The switch is certainly large enough to be operated by the rider while wearing gloves on the bike and is mechanical, rather than electrical, mean🌳ing it could legally change the suspension (electronic changes being banned):
MotoGP rules: Suspension and Dampers
'Electric/electronic controlled suspension, ride height and steering damper systems are not allowed. Adjustments to the suspension and steering damper systems may only be made by manual human inputs and mechanical/hydraulic adjusters.'
There is a device on the forks to help with the starts?
"I also hear some media say about this… I don't know if that is the work [it does]."
So what is 'the work' [it does]?
"I don't know… [Ask the] engineers, they know!"
Did you use it today?
"Yes."
Did it work?
"Ummm… I don't know! [laughs]'
But as word spread around the paddock, and with more photos emerging, a closer look at the cable running from the switch seemed to suggest it was going towards the back of the bike, rather than the front.
Assuming the cable direction is not a decoy, theory number two was that the switch might therefore lock the rear shock at the start of a race, to prevent it compressing as the bike accelerates, again to try and stop the frontꦫ wheel lifting.
However, the front forꦕk would be more effecti﷽ve, assuming it's a holeshot device.
Why might a holeshot device appear now?
As with the increase in the importance of wings since the 'simpler' single ECU in 2016, keeping the front wheel down at the start means less use of power-sappiౠng anti-wheelie electronics.
But there was also a third theory: That the switch is not actually linked to the suspension at all and instead to the '168澳洲5最新开奖结果:salad box' at the back of the bike, to engage or disengage whatever is inside. A mass damper is most commonly rumoured, but has never been pr💯oven.
The 'salad box' seems to grow larger eꦚver♚y year, suggesting that whatever it does, works...
Either way, the size and location o❀f the new switch suggests it is used by the rider while the bike is in motion, but not during a race/fast lap, since a hand would need to be taken off the handlebar.
As if all that technical speculation wasn't enough to keep its rivals and the media guessing, Ducati also 168澳洲5最新开奖结果:unveiled a new fairing at Sepang and tried the rear brake 'torqu𓆉e bar' for only the second time in pu💝blic.
And of course, if HRC was successfully using a holeshot device in BSB back in 2006-2007, it's🍬 hard to believe they haven’t at least tried such a system on the RCV…
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’💞s injury issues.