Bautista returns to MotoGP in Malaysia and finds carbon fiber brakes

11/8/2023

 After a week’s rest, MotoGP begins again in Malaysia for the trio of races that closes the season.

​

After a week’s rest, MotoGP begins again in Malaysia for the trio of races that closes the season. According to the Brembo technicians who work closely with all the MotoGP World Championship riders, this track is demanding for the brakes. On a scale from 1 to 6, it is rated 5 on the difficulty index because of its critical temperatures due to the tropical climate and the high number of braking episodes and how long they last.

To solve this problem, in 2022 Brembo introduced a 355 mm (14") carbon fiber ventilated disc which increases heat exchange and therefore improves disc cooling. To function perfectly, the carbon disc requires an operating temperature of between 250°and 850° (482–1562 °F).


​​ ​​
 

Bautista finds carbon fiber

​​

One reason for interest in the Malaysian GP is the return of Alvaro Bautista to MotoGP, as a wild card with Ducati. The two-time World Superbike Champion hasn’t raced in the premier class since the 2018 Valencia GP and hasn’t been on the MotoGP podium since the 2014 France GP when he was 3rd with the Gresini team’s Honda. A few months ago, Bautista visited Brembo Racing and explained the differences in braking between MotoGP and Superbike.

“It’s very big because with carbon the first part of braking the bike doesn’t stop, because carbon needs a certain temperature. Then as you approach the turn, the discs and pads heat up, the motorbike brakes more and more and you have to keep a really close eye on the lever. You have to know how to handle the moment. With Superbike it’s easier to control, you control it immediately, and it is also easier to adjust the braking because the brake feel is the same from the first part of braking to the last.”

​

​

​

 

​

Liberally from 4 to 7

​​

At Sepang International Circuit, MotoGP bikes use their brakes 11 times per lap for a total of 38 seconds which amount to 32% of the entire GP. It’s one of the highest values in the World Championship, tied with the Argentine and Japanese GPs. From turns 4 to 7, drivers always have to use the brakes while in the other sections of the track they don’t use them for more than 2 turns in a row.

In one lap in Malaysia the brakes are working for more than 4.5 seconds no fewer than 4 times, as only in India and at Motegi. Summing up all the force that a rider applies on his brake lever from the starting line to the checkered flag, the result comes in at more than 850 kg (0.94 t), an average value for the championship: the 3 curves with at least 6 kg (13 lb) are offset by the 4 curves that don’t even go so high as 2.5 kg (5.5 lb).

​

​

​

 

A 6.2-second long braking episode

Of the 11 braking sections on the circuit, 4 are classified as very demanding on the brakes, 1 is of medium difficulty, and the remaining 6 are light.

The most challenging turn is the Pangkor Laut (turn 1): the MotoGPs approach it at 327 km/h (203.19 mph) and after 6.2 seconds of braking where they cover a distance of 306 meters (335 yards), they come onto the turn at 67 km/h (41.6 mph).

The riders apply 1.8 G of deceleration and exert 6.8 kg (15 lb) of pressure on the brake lever while the pressure of the Brembo HTC 64T brake fluid hits 13 bar.

 

And in video games? 


Tackling the first corner of Sepang International Circuit in the MotoGP video game is tricky, but you just need to keep an eye on the left side of the screen: the brakes should be applied after the curb appears but just before the white rectangular area that interrupts the grass.

You downshift and decelerate to 180 km/h, before starting to lean. Taking the inside curb right away means going wider afterwards, leaving a gap for pursuers.

Better to stay in the middle and aim for the curb only later and then go wide when coming out of the turn.