Michelin Tyres To Go Digital For 2017 MotoGP

The embedded wireless technology in tyres should give a clear, realtime race info to race control and viewers

Michelin and the Grand Prix commision have officially announced that they will introduce embedded wireless technology in tyres for the upcoming MotoGP season. Michelin is the official supplier for MotoGP tyres for all the competing bikes.

Not much was disclosed on how the technology will function. Going by wireless technology, it seems a sensor in the tyre will send a signal to a receiving unit on the bike which in turn, will transmit it to race control where data will be entered into the timing sheet. The new tech should give a clear picture and remove the confusion that followed after a hot race as the data will be in realtime and should be accessible to everyone, viewers included.

The other major news is the commission's granting riders an additional soft slick tyre for the second qualifying session. The riders who went in for the second qualifying session after completing the first one, had to do so on the same tyres as the rules didn't permit them to go for new ones. This led to a few crashes prompting competitors to raise this issue with the Safety commision.