To close up a grey area in the rulebook, MotoGP has enforced a minimum front and rear tyre pressure that riders must not run below for at least 30% of a sprint and 50% of a grand prix.
The rule came into force from the British Grand Prix in August when the new Tyre Pressure Management System was installed.
From the outset, riders were unhappy at the forced minimum front pressure being set at 1.88 bar (27.26psi), as it left them little margin to play with before the front became harder to manage once it went above 2.0 bar (29psi).
Riders have repeatedly noted how the pressure rises quickly when following other bikes, leading to more front tyre locking, while trying to set the right pressure for the type of race you might have opens the door for penalties.
Martin, who already has a warning for breaking the tyre pressure rule this year, believes riders cannot “ride at our 100%” because of this regulation.
“I mean, it’s a pity that we cannot ride at our 100% because of this rule,” he said at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
“It’s a pity. I don’t know how to say it, but I think this rule… they need to try to understand from our side and try to make it [the minimum front tyre pressure] lower because at the end of the day we are not seeing real races.
“We are seeing technical races, because if my technician puts the wrong tyre pressure, then I cannot push and I cannot show my potential.
Source: Autosport