Radio systems have been implemented for years in different motor categories, but for one reason or another they have not reached MotoGP. Of course, the championship is working on it together with Pedro Acosta and the Murcian has been testing the latest version during the last two Grands Prix.
These radio systems are by no means something new on motorcycles. In fact, already in the ’90s and seeing how important they could be in car racing strategies, Team Roberts came to try it. In the first decade of the 21st century they were also tested and this has been happening, including relatively recently, to end up being discarded again and again.
There is no doubt that at certain times radio communication can be important, especially in dangerous situations or when changing motorcycles to get the right moment. However, the system that Acosta has tested for now is more aimed at that first point and receiving information from the Race Direction.
From what Acosta says, the audio still needs to be developed
According to Acosta himself, he was commenting with his Crash.net colleagues that he has been testing the latest prototype they have prepared: “They are the plugs that Dorna wants us to use for audio, but it was the first test, I would say”to add: “I’m a bit particular with stoppers, and they found a good compromise. Pretty happy about this.”
Furthermore, from what Acosta comments it seems to be in an initial phase of development in which he implies that he has not done radio tests: “They (Dorna) found a way to fit the plugs I like with a (new custom earmold). I don’t know how they will develop the audio thing, but the minimum is that it is comfortable. The other ones we tried before were not good. I was using (the new design) at Sachsenring and here, but I wear them because they are comfortable for me.”
So now we need to know the rest of the development, although as we say we have been working on it for a long time. An important part, in addition to the issue of comfort that Acosta mentions, will be the time when to use it. In F1, one of the categories that uses it, it is common to see how drivers ask their track engineers not to speak to them in certain circumstances, so on a motorcycle the situation would be even more critical.
In any case, the idea is, first of all, that the pilots receive messages and that, in the future, it will be a standard radio with two-way messages. What is certain is that many things in the race could change if radio is used, but we will have to see what the drivers think.
