MotoGP's new battleground: Ducati borrowed Aprilia's fins, so Aprilia built better ones
MotoGP aerodynamics has a new frontier: Aprilia bolted two vertical fins to the RS-GP swingarm at Silverstone, and the part reappeared months later on Marc Marquez's Ducati at Phillip Island. In Malaysia Aprilia answered with an L-shaped version, and next year's rules, with 850cc engines, still say nothing about swingarms.
Full text available in Portuguese only. Read the Portuguese version
A aerodinâmica vai ser contida pelo próximo conjunto de regras técnicas da MotoGP, mas a era atual ainda recompensa invenção, e a nova fronteira não é mais a carenagem.
Depois de carenagens escalonadas, aletas de cauda, asas de garfo e asas de assento veio o braço oscilante, progressivamente escondido atrás de painéis aerodinâmicos. A Aprilia abriu uma nova linha de ataque em Silverstone, depois da pausa de verão, parafusando duas aletas verticais na traseira do braço oscilante da RS-GP, provavelmente para domar a turbulência que sai do pneu traseiro.
A peça ficou na moto de Noale por meses — até Phillip Island, onde uma similar apareceu na Ducati de Marc Márquez. Os engenheiros italianos evidentemente estudaram o rival com atenção: Márquez usou a peça durante todo o primeiro dia em Sepang, onde liderou as duas sessões.
A Aprilia não ficou parada. Na Malásia apareceu uma versão nova na moto de Marco Bezzecchi, um L anguloso que sobe e também avança para trás.
Que as fábricas continuem gastando nessas peças com quatro etapas a disputar sugere que a ideia sobrevive às regras atuais. As restrições do próximo ano atingem principalmente as dimensões laterais, e esse elemento sai muito menos do que o ponto mais largo da carenagem. O pacote de 850cc também vai exigir homologação das peças de cauda, sem dizer nada sobre os braços oscilantes.
Read also
StandardAutomobilismoWolff takes blame for Mercedes error and apologises to Russell in Mexico
Toto Wolff admitted Mercedes let George Russell down at the Mexico City Grand Prix and apologised to the driver. Russell started second, lost places and took a 10-second penalty after contact with Isack Hadjar, dropping from second to fourth in the standings.
Redação
StandardAutomobilismoGasly and Colapinto lose their points after Mexico penalties as Hirakawa scores on debut
Gasly and Colapinto lost their Mexico Grand Prix points for failing to slow under yellow flags: a 30-second penalty for the Frenchman and ten for the Argentine, dropping them to 17th and 15th. With Piastri also penalised, Ryo Hirakawa took tenth and scored on his Haas debut.
Redação
StandardAutomobilismoPiastri penalised for Lindblad clash and drops out of the Mexico points
Oscar Piastri took a ten-second penalty for his collision with Arvid Lindblad at the Mexico Grand Prix and finished out of the points after nursing a damaged car home. His run of 60 straight Q3 appearances also ended with 12th in qualifying.
Redação
StandardAutomobilismoLarson needs nine points to clinch third NASCAR Cup title
Kyle Larson heads to the NASCAR Cup finale with a 67-point lead over Christopher Bell and 70 over Denny Hamlin; nine points next week would seal a third title in six seasons. He finished ninth in Mexico after losing a lap in the first stage and then recovering.
Redação
StandardAutomobilismoF1 drivers congratulate Antonelli, the youngest champion in history
On the Mexico City Grand Prix podium on Sunday, Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen congratulated Kimi Antonelli on becoming the youngest F1 champion ever at 20. Hamilton celebrated his former team Mercedes, where he raced from 2013 to 2024. Sebastian Vettel, record holder at 23, and Lando Norris also paid tribute.
Redação
StandardAutomobilismoAntonelli becomes F1 champion as Verstappen wins Mexico City Grand Prix
Kimi Antonelli is the new Formula 1 world champion after third place at the Mexico City Grand Prix gave him a first title at 20 years and 68 days, the youngest ever. Max Verstappen won for Red Bull with Lewis Hamilton second. The Italian is the first champion from Italy since Alberto Ascari in 1953.
Redação
StandardAutomobilismoHamilton calls for serious talks at Ferrari after Leclerc clash costs him Mexico win
Lewis Hamilton finished the Mexico City Grand Prix second, eight tenths short of the win, and wants an internal Ferrari debrief after a first-lap clash with Charles Leclerc. The Monegasque took a five-second penalty but lost a further 6.3s in the pit lane, and the race was red-flagged after Valtteri Bottas crashed.
Redação
StandardAutomobilismoPedro Lima hit three corners from the end of the Italian F4 finale at Mugello
Pedro Lima did not finish the Italian F4 season finale at Mugello, the VAR driver hit by a rival three corners from the end while running 11th and fighting for the top 10 after starting twentieth, with team-mate Thomas Bearman struck in the same move.
Redação