The current status of time penalties for under-inflation of the front tires for the riders and teams on the 2024 MotoGP grid
The system for automatically monitoring the air pressure in the front tires of motorcycles, which has been controversial since its introduction, will also be in place in the 2024 season in the MotoGP class, the premier class of the Motorcycle World Championship. Compared to last year, when the system was introduced in the middle of the season, MotoGP tire supplier Michelin and MotoGP promoter Dorna Sports have adjusted the minimum air pressure and penalty parameters for 2024
In the 2024 MotoGP season, the following applies: 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 respective rider’s race time.
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.
Below is the current overview of the penalties imposed for violating the tire pressure rule during the 2024 MotoGP season:
Tire pressure penalties imposed so far in 2024
Grand Prix of Spain (Jerez)
Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) – 8 seconds in the sprint
Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse-Aprilia) – 8 seconds in the sprint
Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46-Ducati) – 8 seconds in sprint
Jack Miller (KTM) – 8 seconds in sprint
Alex Rins (Yamaha) – 8 seconds in the sprint
Warnings, which were issued in the 2023 season for the first three infringements of the tire pressure rule, have been abolished for 2024. This season, the respective time penalty will be imposed from the first infringement. Nevertheless, the penalties are not quite as severe as feared.
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, with the time penalties that have now been set, there is not too much left for a “disqualification”, because losing eight seconds in the sprint and 16 seconds in the Grand Prix often means dropping out of the top 10-15.