Braking for victory: from the F1 to the MotoGp, the 46 Brembo titles

Twenty years ago the 250 cc debut with Aprilia

“We debuted in the world championship in 1998 with Aprilia and the 250 cc. Beginning with the radial-attack gripper: a revolutionary idea destined to overturn the dominant thought ", says the engineer Andrea Pellegrini, who for 14 years followed the company in F1 and from last season has chosen the bikes. "A different but equally special environment, with impressive similarities to my debut on the single-seaters: the almost personal relationship with the drivers, for example. Above all, the awareness of being part of a moment of great change: today in MotoGP there is much more attention to aerodynamics, data analysis, details ”. Once they all had the same braking system, today every team – official and satellite – has specific products: "We get there by collaborating with the engineers of the teams themselves, also adapting to the needs and characteristics of each driver".

The "secret" of the right temperature

Every race, all the free practice sessions, the tests: the bikes run on the track and the Brembo engineers take note, cross the reports with the team's colleagues, make projections. "We emphasize whether this or that is soliciting too much or too little of the plant, we indicate a range of use to which they must adapt". The secret is the temperature: always between 300 ° and 800 °, with maximum peaks at 900-950 °. "We must be very careful, be patient. Because there are some drivers who get carried away by enthusiasm, they make a mistake on the temperature of the disks (for example, below 300 °) and end up going along to the first corner. Unfortunately it happens ”. With the great balance that reigns in MotoGP, just a little oversight on the management of the brakes at the start to end up in the front row at the back of the group.

Valentino, the best stripper

Yes, but who is the best "world champion"? "Those in front of the standings all have a special talent. But let's say that Valentino is constantly in the top 5, in every race and in all conditions ”. That vary enormously, from circuit to circuit. "And then on the slopes where it is hotter they need disc aeration systems, in the one where on the contrary it can get cold – see Phillip Island or Assen – the discs end up being covered, partially or completely. If then the thermometer rises with the passing of the hours, naturally we remove the covers ”. Then there is rain, which spoils the cards. "And there are technical innovations: like the fins, which create greater load on the front wheel, immediately increasing the temperature". With the Bridgestones we attached ourselves to the brakes in very tight, almost impulsive times. Now with the Michelin it takes more patience, and a real "break-in" of the brakes: "To put everything in temperature you always need 2-3 laps of the track. Sensitivity is needed for the brakes. Even if some drivers want to do the time trial as soon as they get in the saddle ”. Because the speed world championships are won by braking.

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