Aero the Downfall?

Aero the Downfall?

Aero in MotoGP in 2024 has become a contentious topic. Looking back at the mid-2010s and seeing what Ducati was doing with aero development was exciting! At the time, it seemed that a lot of people in the MotoGP universe loved it. Wings were the rage—they were different, and they were beautiful. But somewhere along the way, the winglets and aero innovations have lost their shine. Did this shift begin with the introduction of tail “stegosaurus” wings? Or is it because racing now seems to have suffered because of aero? Perhaps the lines have blurred.

Looking at Moto2, the racing has become excellent, especially since the switch to Triumph engines. Moto3 has always been, and likely always will be, the purest form of racing there is. But where does this leave MotoGP? The 2027 rules will introduce changes meant to dilute the impact of aero. Will these changes improve racing? It’s hard to say. What we do know is that manufacturers are already seeking loopholes. This is the essence of Grand Prix racing: looking for the edge and finding every tenth of a second possible. Can we blame them? Absolutely not.

Will aero ever go too far? If you consider recent events, such as the Phillip Island sprint race, possibly. The horrific crash at over 320 km/h between Marco Bezzecchi and Maverick Viñales at Turn 1, with Marco being sucked into the slipstream, was a terrifying reminder of the dangers. Could we see a traumatising outcome as technology progresses, speeds increase, and loopholes are exploited? We hope not, but in a sport where there are no roll cages, the boundaries will always be pushed.

James Shaw

Back to blog

Leave a comment