Which MotoGP rider is the fastest starter? Is Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo or Marc Marquez the best at the start line? Brembo has created an indicator called the Brembo Unofficial Best Starters in MotoGP to try to figure it out.
It’s easy to understand why: to spring into action effectively you need a highly reactive clutch at the starting light and brakes that are ready at the first curve. Brembo produces both for the majority of the MotoGP riders.
For years, Brembo has been the main supplier of braking systems for MotoGP. All of the winning bikes in the last 21 World Championships of the 500-MotoGP (Suzuki, Honda, Yamaha and Ducati), were equipped with Brembo brakes. However, few are aware that Brembo also produces most of the clutch master cylinders used in this class.
The Brembo Unofficial Best Starters in MotoGP is based on a concept that is similar to that of the motocross Holeshot when a rider passes in front of everyone at the first curve, right after the start.
In the same way, the Brembo Unofficial Best Starters in MotoGP is based on the positions held by the MotoGP riders at the first curve, right after the start.
To get ahead of everyone at the first curve requires important rider and bike qualities. The rider needs to have cold blood and ninja reflexes to bolt forward as fast as possible at the starting light. He also has to be good at forcing the first break away, but if he exaggerates, he risks going long or rolling over colleagues.
A reliable clutch master cylinder is just as important for a good start. With the exception of three riders, Brembo supplies radial clutch master cylinders to all of MotoGP.
On the other hand, the presence of a proven quality braking system is decisive for the first break away: 24 out of 25 MotoGP 2015 riders use Brembo brakes.
For every World Championship race, Brembo has analysed the order of the riders as they entered the first curve. A score that is inversely proportional to their position is appointed to the first seven in every GP.
To put it more simply, first place receives 7 points, second gets 6, third 5, fourth 4, fifth 3, sixth 2 and seventh place receives 1 point.
However, this point system alone would give an advantage to the best-placed rider on the starting grid. To compensate for this imbalance, Brembo issues a bonus in proportion to the position gained at the first curve with respect to the position on the starting grid.
For example, in Barcelona, Bradley Smith came to the first curve in third position after having qualified in eighth for the start. For this race, the British rider earned 5 points for taking third position and another 5 for the five positions he gained after the start.
These two components were summed together for all of the 13 racing competitions. The resulting classification registered Jorge Lorenzo in the lead with 91 points, Marc Marquez in second with 60 points, and Bradley Smith in third place with 58. Valentino Rossi is only in sixth place with 46 points. 12 riders received at least one point.
Brembo Unofficial Best Starters in MotoGP
Updated Classification after 13 GP
Jorge Lorenzo 91 points
Marc Marquez 60 points
Bradley Smith 58 points
Andrea Dovizioso 51 points
Pol Espargaro 48 points
Valentino Rossi 46 points
Andrea Iannone 41 points
Aleix Espargaro 28 points
Dani Pedrosa 22 points
Cal Crutchlow 20 points
Dani Pedrosa 19 points
Yonny Hernandez 7 points
Scott Redding 1 points
