Ducati trials two-way radio communication in Barcelona MotoGP test

Ducati test rider Michele Pirro was able to exchange spoken messages with team manager Davide Tardozzi over radio during Tuesday’s MotoGP test in Barcelona.

In the first minutes of the official test at the Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona, an intercom that Dorna had been developing was installed in Pirro’s helmet before he went out on track. On the other side, Tardozzi was given a headset with an in-built microphone.

During several outings that Pirro made in the first hour of testing to fine-tune the bikes of Francesco Bagnaia and Marc Marquez, the Italian was able to receive some messages from Tardozzi, while he himself was able to provide input to the veteran team boss while still circulating on track.

For the moment, the company that is developing the system together with Dorna does not want to offer too many details about the test, but Tardozzi could be seen both talking and putting his hand to the headset to listen to what was coming from the microphone installed in Pirro’s helmet.

For years, Dorna has been developing a system so that riders can receive and exchange spoken messages when they are on track from the box.

First, a series of short pre-recorded messages were developed that the riders could receive in their helmets, but to make a real leap, those responsible for the championship hedged their bets on a radio system similar to the one that has been so successful in Formula 1.

While a rider who racing at 300 km/h on a bike will never be able to have a calm conversation with his team, the idea is that he can receive comments, warnings or suggestions from the wall during races – and that a microphone picks up a rider’s voice in case he wants to respond.

This year’s San Marino GP was one race where a radio system would have come in handy.

Pramac rider Jorge Martin came in to change bikes while most riders remained on track after the first drops of rain. If this system had been in his place, he could have asked team Gino Borsoi or his chief mechanic for their opinion on this matter.