Franco Morbidelli looks back on a very disappointing first MotoGP race of 2021 on Sunday evening at Losail Circuit, in Qatar.
The Petronas Yamaha SRT rider finished in a disappointing 18th place, which has now become known due to a faltering “holeshot device”.
“We are still looking for the cause, all we can say is that it is a technical problem. We discovered a technical problem on the starting grid, it could not be solved, but despite this we still started.” Morbidelli said.
“This is because we wanted to collect data and find out what actually went wrong. It’s a problem we need to get to the bottom of, because it has happened before this weekend. I can’t say what it is, because we’re not sure yet.” Morbidelli added.
The rider Italian provided a slightly more comprehensive statement about his disappointing race and the technical problems that had plagued him during the race.
“It is as if the shock absorber does not behave normally, as if something is missing. I can’t submit – okay, I can submit, but I do lose a second. I can accelerate, but I also lose one second per lap.” Morbidelli said.
“That’s the effect, but we still don’t know the real cause. We will investigate further. I am sure the guys from Yamaha will help me with that.” he added.
Holeshot device has been used in the MotoGP class since 2019. The rear of the motor can be lowered by means of the holeshot device.
At first, this system was only used at the start. By lowering the rear of the bike, the front wheel remains easier on the ground for the first few meters after take-off, which saves time. This system is now used by the entire MotoGP starting field.
However, the system has already been developed to the point where it can be used even while driving and is used when exiting the corner.
