From 350 to 100 km/h (218–62 mph) at the Doha GP: Brembo’s MotoGP figures

3/30/2021

Interesting facts about the Brembo system for the second visit to Losail and similar solutions for street bikes

After the incredible beginning of the MotoGP World Championship, Grand Prix motorcycle racing is staying in Qatar for the Doha GP. As in the previous GP, this will be held at night, allowing us to admire the light produced by the most violent braking with carbon discs.

According to Brembo technicians, who work closely with all the MotoGP World Championship riders, Losail International Circuit is one of the moderately demanding circuits for brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it earned a 3 on the difficulty index, together with eight other tracks.

No friction or locking with the Brembo radial master cylinder for MotoGP

All 22 MotoGP riders use the Brembo radial brake master cylinder. Both the strength of the fingers on the brake lever and the strength of the lever itself move in the same direction, i.e. radially with regard to the point where the cylinder is fastened to the handlebar, without generating friction or locking. This ensures that no energy is wasted.

Brembo filed the first radial master cylinder patent way back in 1985. It was produced to meet the needs of racing, especially smaller dimensions. It was fitted on Eddie Lawson’s Yamaha YZR OW next year, the very year he won the World Championship in the 500cc class.

MotoGP technology also for street bikes

Drawing inspiration from its extensive experience in MotoGP, Brembo created the R19RCS Corsa Corta radial master cylinder, perfect for both free-time road and track riders. One of its particular characteristics is the rider’s ability to adjust the free play (i.e. bite point) to three different levels.

In other words, the rider can adjust the stage during which braking is not active, determining the point when the braking system starts to apply pressure according to their own riding style or the conditions of the asphalt or weather.

Curious?

Discover the benefits and uses of the Brembo 19RCS Corsa Corta.

950 kilos (1 t) of strain

The Losail circuit has two braking sections with 1.5g deceleration, another 1.4g couple and one with 1.3g, but only the last and first of these on each lap follow one another. There are however three turns with braking distance of more than 150 meters (164 yds) and deceleration of at least 130 km/h (80.8 mph).

Summing up all of the forces applied by a rider on the brake lever from the starting line to the checkered flag, the result comes in at more than 950 kg (1 t). To make things a bit clearer, we’re talking 23 kg (51 lb) a minute, not exactly a walk in the park, because the rider also moves a lot on the bike.

Discs at 660 °C (1220 °F) on the first turn 

Of the twelve braking sections at Losail International Circuit, three are classified as very demanding on the brakes, whereas five are of medium difficulty and four are light.

Thanks to the 1,068 m (1168 yd) straight before it, the nearly 5-second braking section at the first turn after the finish line makes the temperature of the carbon front discs shoot up to 660 °C (1220 °F). That’s a huge figure, but Brembo’s caliper and disc design decisions take it down to 480 °C (896 °F) for the second turn.