MotoGP: maximum finger strength at Misano

10/19/2021

Record force is applied to the brake lever for the Made in Italy GP with the Brembo radial master cylinder, designed for road motorcycles too.

Just like 2020, there will be two MotoGP World Championship GP races at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli this year although last year the two events were held one week apart. This year, the Losail International Circuit and the Red Bull Ring have both been used twice.

According to the Brembo technicians who work closely with all the MotoGP World Championship riders, the Italian circuit is a moderately demanding circuit for brakes. On a scale of 1 to 5, it is rated 3 on the difficulty index since it has no straight sections which are at least 600 meters (656 yards) long.

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 and especially the need for smaller dimensions. It was fitted on Eddie Lawson’s Yamaha YZR OW the year after, the very year he won the World Championship in the 500cc class.

MotoGP technology for street-legal motorcycles, too

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, the conditions of the asphalt or the weather.

Would you like to know more?

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

Strong fingers are needed

Deceleration exceeds 100 km/h (62.1 mph) and braking lasts for more than 3 seconds on only three corners at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. These braking points are all before reaching the second intermediate timing point whereas in the second half of the lap maximum deceleration is 93 km/h (57.7 mph) on turn 9 and maximum braking is on the last corner where the brakes are used for 2.7 seconds.

The MotoGP riders use their brakes 12 times for a total of 31 seconds on each lap, the equivalent of 34% of the entire Grand Prix. From the starting line to the checkered flag, each rider applies a total force of 12 quintals to the brake lever, the highest in the entire 2021 World Championship.

11 bars on the first corner

Of the 12 braking sections at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, 3 are classified as demanding on the brakes, 3 are of medium difficulty and the remaining 6 are not very demanding.

Just like turn 8, the braking distance on the first corner is over 200 meters (218.7 yards): riders go from 272 km/h to 116 km/h (169 mph to 72 mph) in just 4 seconds and experience a deceleration of 1.5 G over 201 meters (229.6 yards). The pressure on the lever is 5.3 kg (11.6 lb) and the pressure of the brake fluid reaches 11.4 bar.