Brembo unveils the 2019 Czech MotoGP

7/29/2019

 An in-depth look at the premium class' use of braking systems on Automotodrom Brno

​​After the long summer break, the MotoGP bikes are revved up for the 10th race of the season scheduled for August 2 to 4 at the Automotodrom Brno, in the Czech Republic. ​

The circuit was originally named after Tomas Masaryk, the founder and first President of Czechoslovakia, and the current layout was opened in 1987. ​

The track measures nearly 5,403 km (3.4 miles), making this the fourth longest track in the World Championship. The straightaways are fairly short: they range from 35 meters (115 feet) to 636.56 meters (2,088 feet), this last one positioned at the finish line. Although there are 14 corners (8 to the right), the average per lap is almost identical to the number at Losail (Qatar), where the MotoGP bikes reach speeds of more than 350 km/h (217 mph). ​

Between the second km (1.2 miles) and fifth km (3.1 miles), the track stands out for steep slopes. The lowest point has an altitude of 376 meters (1,234 feet) above sea level while the highest point measures 450 meters (1,476 feet). ​

This element influences braking because it is one thing to slow a bike down on flat stretches, but it is totally different to do so at the bottom of a downward slope. ​

Another variable that conditions the braking is the weather. The temperature of the tarmac stayed in 2018 it got up to 48°C (118°F) while in 2016 the rain drove it down to 24°C (75°F). 

Depending on the situation, the riders have to avoid vitrification of the friction material and excessive overheating. ​

 

 

According to Brembo technicians, who assist 100% of the 2019 MotoGP pilots, Automotodrom Brno is demanding on the brakes. 

On a scale of 1 to 5, it earned a 4 on the difficulty index, exactly the same score given to the Spanish tracks, Jerez and Aragon. ​

 
 

The demand on the brakes during the GP​​

On one full lap, the MotoGP riders use their brakes 11 times for a total of 33 seconds. This may seem like a lot but on three other tracks the time spent braking is greater.
The reason why is because three of the braking sections at Brno last less than 2 seconds each. In spite of the five corners with a deceleration of at least 1.4 G, the average deceleration on the track is 1.18 G.
That doesn't even come close to the 1.23 G at nearby Spielberg circuit, which has just seven braking sections, each one very intense.

Summing up all of the force applied by a rider on the Brembo brake lever from the starting line to the checkered flag, the result is about 0.8 tons (1,764 lbs). Each lap the riders have to apply a force of 38 kg (84 lbs), which is similar to that at Jerez.

 

The most demanding braking sections

Of the 11 braking sections at the Automotodrom Brno five are classified as demanding on the brakes, 2 are of medium difficulty and the remaining 4 are light. ​

The most challenging by far is turn 3. The MotoGP bikes arrive at it going 294 km/h (183 mph) and then brake for 4.4 seconds to slow to 105 km/h (65 mph). ​

To make this happen, the riders apply 4.7 kg (10.4 lbs) of pressure on the brake lever and are subjected to a 1.5 G deceleration. During the 230 meters (755 feet) of braking, the pressure in the Brembo HTC 64T brake fluid reaches 10.1 bar. ​

There is more space to brake at the Frantisek Stastny corner (turn 1): this measures 232 meters (761 feet). However, braking is more intense and tighter: 4 seconds with 4.4 kg (9.7 lbs) on the brake lever. ​

At turn 9, right after the second split time, braking lasts a mere 1.5 seconds, just enough time to go from 130 km/h (81 mph) to 102 km/h (63 mph).

 
 

Brembo performance

The Brno circuit is famous because it was here that Valentino Rossi won his first race. It was August 18, 1996 and he was riding an Aprilia RS125 equipped with a two-piece Brembo front caliper with a radial mount and four small pistons.
The caliper operated in conjunction with a Brembo carbon disc measuring 273 mm in diameter and a standard braking band.
At Brno, Rossi has won seven races, every time with Brembo brakes, while Marc Marquez has been victorious only 3 times, most recently in 2017.
​Since 1993, the year the race was named the Czech Grand Prix, the bikes with Brembo brakes have won all 26 editions in the 500 cc - MotoGP classes. ​