MotoGP rider communications will be introduced in 2025, after such system was proposed since three years ago.
Further tests had been carried out by Francesco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo after the Spanish GP at Jerez earlier this year. Following that, Dorna will introduce the system in stages. The first stage involves a one-way communication feature, allowing the new race director in 2025, Simon Crafar to communicate with the riders. Messages are expected to be concise to not distract the riders.
It was probably determined that the currect method of sending short messages to the motorcycles’ display is not adequate.
A meeting between Dorna and riders were held last Thursday just prior to the San Marino GP. The former laid out plans for phase two of radio communications, involving a two-way communication system between the rider and team and/or race direction, like that in Formula 1.
The system was tested again during the post-San Marino GP tests, but Bagnaia complained of discomforts wearing the gear. However, there are riders who wanted the system to be implemented, including Aleix Espargaro.
Such proposal for rider-team communications has also divided MotoGP fans. On one side, proponents say that MotoGP is a prototype racing championship and there are motorcycle communications devices in the market, anyhow. Detractors say that it will er… detract from the pure spirit of racing, where the rider skills and race craft are the most important factors rather than the race racing being determined by the team and engineers from the pits.
