Radio Contact with Riders

Unnecessary weight, wireage & expense, also with instructions from the pit it would take the race even more out of the riders hands.



The flag system is just fine if used properly, the only real problems I recall are ride throughs for Toseland & Iannone.

Get Stuart Higgs into Run Race Direction / Safety calls

Problem solved



we dont want DJ Ezpletive

Goatboy said:

Unnecessary weight, wireage & expense, also with instructions from the pit it would take the race even more out of the riders hands.



The flag system is just fine if used properly, the only real problems I recall are ride throughs for Toseland & Iannone.

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Agree, flags and pitboards are enough. I voted no radios.

I voted for the safety only. They would assist with the age old issue of riders on hot laps in qualifying, rain, oil, rider/bike down on the race line. Lapped riders? These bikes are nearing 350 klicks, physics can be a painful and sometimes deadly force.



Do not replace the flags though, do not make them compulsory, just an option for additional safety if desired by the team.



I would consider it to be against the spirit of motorcycle racing to have team to rider communication however. The rider managing his own race is part of the appeal of the sport.

Andy Roo said:

I voted for the safety only. They would assist with the age old issue of riders on hot laps in qualifying, rain, oil, rider/bike down on the race line. Lapped riders? These bikes are nearing 350 klicks, physics can be a painful and sometimes deadly force.



Do not replace the flags though, do not make them compulsory, just an option for additional safety if desired by the team.



I would consider it to be against the spirit of motorcycle racing to have team to rider communication however. The rider managing his own race is part of the appeal of the sport.

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Fair point, I wavered between that option and no radio at all. Definitely no tour de france type tactical instructions though.

michaelm said:

Fair point, I wavered between that option and no radio at all. Definitely no tour de france type tactical instructions though.

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Totally, the urge to give team orders or cool an inflated ego would dull and devalue the sport.



I've often wondered why there isn't a trackside flashing light system for safety. I have seen people miss flags, or flag marshals with their heads in the clouds.



Right at this point MD raised Sepang 2011.I don't think any of us could see a cause higher than rider safety. Whether it would have made a difference to #58? Who knows, I think it was all too sudden for Colin and Valentino to react to.

Pit to Stoner: "Ezpeleta is here. He said if you don't slow down and let the Sun catch up he is going to make you ride on solid tyres next season."



Stoner back to Pit: "Tell that Euro Metro Man to lick my balls, it is the closest he will get to having his own set."



Maybe the radio comms might add something to the sport show!

I think not - it's part of racecraft to be aware of what's going on, including using your pit boards.



I hate it in F1 - it shouldn't be allowed.

Only from Stoner to all the other riders during practice sessions. So he can tell them to get the .... out of the way.

Shut up and drive!

Would be good in the practice/qualifying sessions to make it more entertaining.



Not in the race though as it should be everyman for himself.

this is an interesting subject.



Part of me thinks that it is taking away from the sport in the fact that the rider is usually alone with his thoughts, and aside from the pitboard has no contact and that is cool.



But, it would be pretty cool to hear them talking during the race, especially if they are confused about something (like if they need him to go back a spot)

doesn't coordination get ...... up when youre leaned over and you have something in your ear?

i don't know how good ear protection is with these guys , but i imagine it a bit difficult to understand instructrions from the crew when revving a 1000cc monster above 14.000 rpm....

I say let em use it if they want. It would be interesting to see who uses it and who doesn't. It would be cool to see if there is any real benefit from using it.

Full radio communications is a preposterous proposition.



Voice is a rich communications format. A noble laureate can explain the complex inner workings of scientific discovery, economic systems, cultural challenges, etc on a 1-way radio system. "Rain", "Caution", "Race Stopped", "Oil Down" do not require spoken word, and that's why the flag system works. Each day, 1 billion people drive around without 2-way radio communication. We use lights and posted signs to orchestrate the entire system. No radios involved.



F1 has radio communications. When they started using it for safety, they had to hire someone to make sure safety signals were sent correctly. But it turned out that an vast majority of the communications were coded b/c teams realized that everyone was eves-dropping on everyone else. The teams also spoke several different languages. So F1 made a rule about English-only communications, and when the TV people put radio conversations on TV, code phraseology was banned.



Replacing flags with 1-way or 2-way radios for MotoGP competition is like changing your commuting vehicle from a bicycle to a Saturn 5 rocket. No need to control and administrate that mess. If you need to improve the visibility of flags/signs, and the riders must have equipment on their person, put a spec heads-up display in the visor. It's the appropriate communications method and it has little possibility of being corrupted.

Radio would be cumbersome and overkill but certainly they could have text messages displayed on the bike's dash to tell the riders whatever may be needed, -- and discreetly.

Wouldn't be surprised if some already do that.

Don't like it. Riders should be on their own. If safety is a concern put a light on the dash to warn about flags.

This has already been debated on several previous threads.



Almost a decade ago Team Roberts were given dispensation to trial a ship to shore system with Aoki - the general rider consensus was not in favour of such a system. Such systems have remained illegal.



Whilst on the subject of ship to shore.....didn't Dani recently experiment with a covertly hidden earpiece during his yachtmaster examination? (That was also deemed illegal).