The current status of time penalties for underinflating the front tire for the drivers and teams in the 2024 MotoGP field
The controversial system for automatic automatic monitoring of the air pressure in the front tires of the motorcycles will continue to be in place in the MotoGP class, the premier class of the Motorcycle World Championship, in the 2024 season. Compared to last year, when the system was introduced mid-season, MotoGP tire supplier Michelin and MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports have adjusted the parameters for minimum pressure and penalty levels.
In the 2024 MotoGP season, if the prescribed minimum air pressure of 1.80 bar in the front tire is not reached for 40 percent or more of the race distance, a time penalty will be imposed immediately. This time penalty is added to the race time of the respective driver.
In the Sunday races (Grands Prix) of the 2024 MotoGP season, the time penalty for violating the tire pressure rule is 16 seconds. In the Saturday races (sprints), a time penalty of 8 seconds will be imposed.
The following is an up-to-date overview of the penalties imposed for violations of the tire pressure rule during the 2024 MotoGP season:
Tire pressure penalties imposed so far in 2024
Spanish Grand Prix (Jerez)
Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) – 8 seconds in sprint
Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse-Aprilia ) – 8 seconds in sprint
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46-Ducati) – 8 seconds in sprint
Jack Miller (KTM) – 8 seconds in sprint
Alex Rins (Yamaha) – 8 seconds in sprint
Dutch Grand Prix (Assen)
Marc Marquez (Gresini-Ducati) – 16 seconds in Grand Prix
German Grand Prix (Sachsenring):
Augusto Fernandez (Tech3-GasGas) – 1 6 seconds in the Grand Prix
Johann Zarco (LCR-Honda) – 16 seconds in the Grand Prix
Stefan Bradl (Honda) – 16 seconds in the Grand Prix
British Grand Prix (Silverstone):
Luca Marini (Honda) – 16 seconds in the Grand Prix
Grand Prix of Aragon (Alcaniz):
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46-Ducati) – 16 seconds in the Grand Prix
Jack Miller (KTM) – 16 seconds in the Grand Prix
Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse-Aprilia) – 16 seconds in the Grand Prix
Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix (Misano 2):
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46-Ducati) – 8 seconds in the Grand Prix
Cautions for the first three violations of the tire pressure rule in the 2023 season were abolished for 2024. This season, the respective time penalty will be imposed from the first violation. Nevertheless, the penalty is not as harsh as feared.
This is because the original plan to even impose disqualifications for violations of the tire pressure rule in the 2024 MotoGP season was averted at the last moment.
However, the time penalties that have now been set are not too far off a “disqualification”, because a loss of eight seconds in a sprint and 16 seconds in a Grand Prix often means falling out of the top 10-15.