Radio testing is a step in the right direction in MotoGP: "They have made progress"

The Official Jerez Test gave some riders the opportunity to MotoGP to retest the radio devices. While previous tests of this type of equipment had not convinced the pilots, fabio quartararo said he was surprised by the progress made in Spain.

After testing the new radio device developed for MotoGP riders, the rider from Nice seemed quite impressed: "They've taken a big step forward, honestly."he confided to the media present in Jerez, including AUTOhebdoHowever, he adds a caveat: "There's still a lot of work to do to hear really clearly, because I can hear, but not very well. That said, they've made progress. I think that's positive."

These advances have made him want to come back and test the radio device again during the tests scheduled by the discipline in Barcelona, ​​the day after the Catalan Grand Prix (May 17).

A new device

This prototype, tested by Fabio Quartararo, differs from previous communication devices installed in riders' helmets during testing: "It was a device inside the ear. So it covered my ears, plus the earpiece with the sound, it was pretty good. I think it was the first time they were testing it, or the second. It was nice."

Until the 2025 Valencia Grand Prix, drivers tested devices attached to their jaws that transmitted sound via bone conduction. Their operation was enabled by contact with the face, through slight pressure on the skin at a specific point, to facilitate the transmission and reception of messages. However, the device was far from universally accepted: "For me, it's insane to be so completely off the mark.", Johann Zarco confided after his radio tests during the test organized the day after the last Grand Prix of the 2025 season. The Cannes native complained of crackling that prevented him from understanding the simplest messages.

Initially, many riders were also concerned about being distracted in the corners, where the rider's center of gravity is constantly shifting, and where a slight moment of hesitation can lead to a crash. However, it seems that testing has dispelled these doubts.

What are the uses of radios in MotoGP?

Initially, the communications system is primarily designed for safety purposes. The idea is for race marshals to be able to alert drivers to hazards on the track via very short messages. Subsequently, the plan is to allow drivers to, in turn, alert race control to potential hazards, such as oil spills on the track, thus making communication bidirectional.

In the second phase of the project, the drivers' microphones could be used to enhance the entertainment. This would allow us to hear their immediate reactions after the race, similar to what is regularly done in... Formula 1Finally, the last stage of radio development would involve allowing riders to communicate with their teams during the race. This is a widespread practice in Formula 1, but one that appeals less to riders in MotoGP, who don't really see the need for it. The strategic dimension of races, when they take place on a dry track, is indeed different, since the motorcycle's settings are fixed before the start and riders don't have to stop in the pits to change tires.

Interview by Luca Bartolomeo, in Jerez (Spain).

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