Rossi: Aerodynamics make MotoGP more physical, but don't change style
500cc, 990cc, 800cc and 1000cc engines. Two and four-stroke. V4, Inline4 and V5. Honda, Yamaha and Ducati. Factory and standard electronics. Michelin and Bridgestone tyres. Wings and ride-height devices… - Valentino Rossi has tried them all during a 22-year premier-class career.
Each major technical change requires a corresponding adaptation in riding style. But while wings represent are the biggest visual alteration to MotoGP bikes in recent years, Rossi confirmed that it's still the less glamourous basics of tyres and brakes that have had the biggest impact on modern riding technique.
"For me in the last years the riding style has changed, especially the position on the bike and how everybody’s very much forward with their head, shoulders and elbows," Rossi said.
"Also for me the way to approach the corners, the lines, has changed very much because now with these bikes, tyres and brakes you can enter the corner a lot faster. So, you ride in a bit different way compared to the last five years.
"But I don't know how much of that is correlated to the aerodynamics.
"In the end the aerodynamics give you better acceleration, so you arrive at the next corner faster. You also have more load on the front, so you can brake harder and the bike becomes heavier in the change of direction, so you need to use more strength. In general, it's more difficult physically.
"Those are the differences that are created by the aerodynamics, more than a change in the riding style."
While some riders have an extreme body position on the bike, Rossi believes a more traditional style can also be made to work.
"Everybody has their own style, and I see a lot of riders that are very fast even if they have a more normal position on the bike, like Jack Miller or Franco [Morbidelli] also," Rossi said.
The nine-time world champion, who admits he isn't as comfortable on the softer construction rear tyres now used in MotoGP, is planning to decide on his racing future during the summer break after a best finish of just tenth place so far this season.
