Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso reckons the Autodromo Mugello circuit is "on the limit" regarding rider safety, and may need neutering in the future.
Mugello has hosted the Italian round of the championship since 1991, and has always been a rider favourite due to its fast and flowing nature.
Speaking in the Thursday afternoon press conference at Mugello, Dovizioso, as well as Honda’s Marc Marquez, were asked whether they thought Mugello was too dangerous to continue without modification for future races.
While in agreement regarding their enjoyment of the circuit, both were concurred that the crest located during the large braking zone, where the MotoGP machines need to slow from well over 300km/h, needs attention for future events.
"I agree with Marc, I think its a really nice part of the track but we are on the limit [of safety]," commented Dovizioso.
"I think its OK but we are really on the limit, it depends on the rules. The winglets have a big effect on how the bikes handle the crest, as stability (without them) is reduced."
Marquez added: "We have already spoken about it [the safety] at the riders commission meeting, because it is a very nice circuit because it’s of its natural flowing layout, and it’s really nice to ride.
"But the critical point is the end of the straight, and we were thinking and already around 2013/14 we changed the wall because it was really close.
"We have also been speaking about making the crest (at the end of the start/finish straight) different, because now it goes from uphill to downhill right in the braking zone, which causes the bike to shake.
"We were speaking about it because we know that the bikes every year are faster and faster, and for me in the future we need to do something there, make the area more flat because it will be safer while not affecting the show."
Discussion about this post