Repsol YPF

So that we understand right please explain what telemetrics are. What can they measure? How long have they been around? What did people do before their arrival?
“Telemetrics are based on a series of sensors located around the bike and which tell us everything that is happening. This generates a curve that allows us to see what is happening at any moment. All the data is synchronised so that we can understand why some things happen. For example you can see if the front suspension is sinking too much when braking, how far it sinks, and draw conclusions about what and why certain things happen.”

What sensors do you have? What do they measure?
“Practically everything is measured. There are two large groups: a system that measures everything that has something to do with the engine, and the other that measures things on the chassis. The engine section measures the ignition, oil pressure, temperature, revs, anything in fact... There are four cylinders and each one functions independently so each cylinder is analysed separately. Referring to the chassis, this monitors the movement on the suspension, brake pressure, speed of the wheels, turn and inclination on the bike. We do not always analyse everything, many are for safety reasons.”

Can riders be recognised or distinguished by their telemetrics?
“Recognnise them no, but you can see the differences. You look at a graph and it is impossible to say that this is so and so and this another. If you look at two, that you know more or less, you can recognise one of them and the other, because of their style.”

After being proclaimed champion with a 990cc bike, Nicky Hayden is suffering quite a bit with the 800cc model. How do you think he has been affected by the change?
“Nicky is a very aggressive rider, his style tends to make the bike slide. When there was extra power and not a lot of electronic controls the times were good. But now, with a 800cc, there is less power and it is more controlled. For him it is turning out to be very difficult to adapt to a different type of ride. If we look at all the riders near the top they come from 250cc, and I think that bikes nowadays are more suited to this system. He has never ridden a 250cc, he has always been in MotoGP, and before that in Superbikes. This change has affected him more than any other rider, and now he is still adapting to the new situation, above all with more powerful bikes because with the new engine it seems it is how he likes a bike to be and I think he will gain in confidence and get back among the leaders.”

Do you think that the 250cc category is now a better school for MotoGP than other four stroke competitions?
“It is not a better school. The truth is that the riders that move up to MotoGP come mainly from 250cc, and so the MotoGP bikes tend to be like what thay have there. Those that develop them come from 250cc, the bikes that are developed tend to have the features that they have there. If the riders came from Superbikes, or the AMA, for sure the bikes would be different.”

What are Nicky Hayden`s best points?
“First, he is a hard worker. It is incredible how enthusiatic he is. But in addition he is sincere and a good person. As a rider, I would emphasise how aggressive he is and how passionate he is about bikes. I imagine that like all riders, the bike is his life, but for him I think that it is more than his simple work tool. It is fun for him. He never rejects doing absolutely anything, he does all the laps he thinks are necessary, it is incredible how much effort he makes to be up near the leaders. He never pulls a face because he has to try a set up out, or listen to advice that one day is very good and on another not so good. The best thing about him is that he is open to everything that his team can give him.”

8/4/2008

Latest news

> Puig still sees Pedrosa winning the title
> The Hungarian GP substitutes China in 2009