Former MotoGP crew chief Ramon Forcada has revealed that Pirelli initially wanted to scrap the controversial tyre pressure penalty system when they take over as the sole official tyre supplier in 2027, but claims they have now been forced to retain the unpopular regulation. Speaking on the Duralavita podcast, Forcada shed light on the inner workings of upcoming tyre supplier discussions.
The debate surrounding minimum tyre pressure limits flared up once again during the recent Indonesian Grand Prix weekend. Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta voiced fierce criticism against the regulations after he was forced on multiple occasions to drop behind Marc Marquez in a desperate bid to elevate his front tyre pressure to meet the mandatory threshold mandated by series organizers.
A similar heartbreaking scenario struck championship contender Jorge Martin just a day earlier, costing him a valuable sprint race victory due to an infringement of the strict parameters. Current regulations dictate that riders must maintain their front tyre pressure above the 1.8-bar limit for at least 30 percent of a sprint race and 60 percent of a grand prix, with non-compliance instantly triggering time penalties of eight and sixteen seconds respectively.
According to Forcada, who previously engineered success alongside Jorge Lorenzo, Pirelli's original blueprint did not involve post-race classification penalties. He stated that the Italian manufacturer wanted a much cleaner process where pressures would be verified beforehand, drawing a parallel to how fuel tanks are sealed and checked an hour prior to lights out. However, technical complexities involving grid temperatures made pre-race verification exceedingly difficult to implement effectively.
While the incoming 2027 technical regulations featuring 850cc engines and the removal of ride height devices are expected to alleviate some of the severe thermal loads currently plaguing front tyres, Pirelli will ultimately inherit the enforcement framework. Forcada suggests they chose not to disrupt the existing sporting landscape immediately, ensuring the contentious penalty system remains firmly in place.
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