MotoGP's helmet radio experiment achieves mixed results in Jerez

Entertaining? Sure. Practical? Maybe. Necessary? Probably not. That's the general feeling among MotoGP riders and fans regarding the new communication system, which is supposedly aimed at increasing safety by allowing stewards to deliver on-the-fly information, much as the current flag system already does.

Fabio Quartararo gave his thoughts after trialling a new helmet radio system at the Jerez test:

"They made a big step, to be honest," said the 2021 world champion, "But still a lot of work to do to hear like really clear. Because I can hear, but not so well."

His fellow countryman and French Grand Prix winner last year, Honda's Johann Zarco, also had quite a damning assessment of the technology following his own test in Aragon last year:

"It's not pleasant to have this radio, the system is not good." said Zarco.

However, complaints from riders don't appear to hold much weight with the upper echelons of MotoGP these days. Carlos Ezpeleta, MotoGP's current sporting director, seems adamant that helmet radios will be implemented regardles - the latest in a string of attempts to make MotoGP more like Formula 1:

"The idea is for the system to be GPS marked, so if you’re approaching an area with a yellow flag, rain or a slippery surface, you warn the riders on the straight leading into that sector," Said Ezpeleta.

"At a later stage, if the teams agree, and once they’re more comfortable with the system, two-way communication from riders to race control or teams to riders is something that will probably happen."

While there are no evident problems with the current flag system, these types of changes can be expected under MotoGP's new American ownership, Liberty Media. In addition to discomfort and distraction, the technology could also raise new safety concerns of its own, particularly given that the current models rely on in-ear positioning, which is certainly not ideal if a rider crashes.

With that said, Saturday's dramatic sprint race in Jerez does provide a perfect example of when radio calls between teams and riders could have a strategic impact. Pit stops are something that riders want to avoid at present, but flag-to-flag rules mean they inevitably have to change bikes to adapt to wet or drying tracks at times. The introduction of radios could help signal riders when to change, but again there is already a dashboard system which effectively communicates this.