Brno’s MotoGP round traditionally marks the time for introducing new ideas. Aerodynamic wings have been banned but the aero work done to replicate their benefits occupied engineers of all manufacturers during the winter – especially at Ducati, the pioneers and also the most penalised.

With the restrictions to the homologation of only two fairing for the season, manufacturers had to spend more money and time in wind tunnels.  We saw most of the solutions already in winter testing and the homologation of  two fairings at in Qatar.

This was not the case of Ducati. The Italian didn’t homologate the second fairing tested in Qatar as the results were not satisfactory: the bike was a lot heavier in the change of directions and was penalized with a loss of top speed. The ‘hammerhead’ fairing, as it was defined,  had to be developed and modified.

After five months of studies, the revolutionary fairing brought and homologated in Brno showed a very different shape from what we saw at the start of the year.  As it happened with the aerodynamics studies of the wings, Gigi Dall’Igna and his engineers surprised all the competitors interpreting the regulation in their very own way.

Ducati have been able to stay inside the new limits, maximising the dimensions of the ‘wings’ that are now incorporated into the fairing. The upper part is separate from the lateral part that includes the appendages. They are also very large, compared to those seen on rival bikes, closed at the side in accordance with the regulations.

They are not fully incorporated though, there are large side vents that should ensure better aerodynamic performance,  with less loss in speed of the 'ventilated' air which, as we know, causes a loss in pressure.  

Jorge Lorenzo and Danilo Petrucci went on track with two different versions of the same fairing, reproducing in a way the different use of the wings that was done last year with a double-wing solutions positioned at different heights according to the characteristics of the track.

At Brno  Lorenzo used his in FP2 and in FP3 a version with one lateral appendage, while Petrucci (Octo Pramac Ducati) went on track in the FP3 with a fairing equipped with double appendage.

Lorenzo expressed satisfaction for the new fairings that Michele Pirro and Danilo Petrucci tested in Misano two weeks ago.

“Thanks to the team for the great work” said the five-time world champion at Brno after FP2. “I could only do five laps but the feeling was positive. We will continue testing it over the race weekend. The positive sides of this new fairing represent the 80 per cent  versus a 20 per cent of side effects, such as feeling more wind on the shoulder and hands.

“Compared to the first fairing we tested in Qatar, this new one is a huge step forward. I don’t feel it heavier in the change of directions and it doesn’t slow us down too much in the straights.”

According to Dall’Igna, with the new aerodynamics they have recovered around 40 per cent of the down force they used to have with the wings.

Andrea Dovizioso preferred to postpone the test of the new fairing to the Monday test. “I prefer to study the data of Jorge Lorenzo and then decide” said Dovi. “I’m in the position to fight for the title and testing such an important item requires time, so I prefer to focus on the race set up and then to test it on Monday”.

The GP17 of  #4 was equipped with a different swingarm, but Dovizioso preferred not to comment about it. As Lorenzo said, Ducati is testing many new items: “I can tell you about the new fairing because is visible, but I prefer not to speak about the new items that we are using but you cannot see.”

Will the new fairing be crucial in Austria? “Last year we used the wings almost in all the tracks”,”said Paolo Ciabatti, Ducati Corse Sporting Director. “We used different types of wings, only up or only down or both versions according to the characteristics of the circuit, so the new fairing will be useful in Austria.

“Last year it was particularly effective. We used it already in Brno because Jorge Lorenzo required more weight on the front and the new faring can help me. Dovi is in a different position in the championship so he will evaluate to use it or not after having studied Lorenzo’s data”.   

Hond has gone down a more conservative path. The first reactions to Ducati’s revolutionary fairing came also from the Honda side and from their two factory riders. “It’s exaggerated”, commented world leader Marc Marquez. “The wings were banned for a safety reason, but these new solution proposed by Ducati is also bulky,” said Dani Pedrosa, “We have to wait and see”.

Since opening practice of Brno, the two Honda factory riders worked at the development of the RC213V equipped with a new aerodynamic fairing and other solutions related to the chassis.

The championship leader explains the difference between the new and the old fairing: “We tested the new fairing in occasion of the last test. The feeling was positive and we decided to use it starting from this race weekend. So far it works well on this track, we have a good anti-wheelie effect”.

Pedrosa used a slightly different fairing.  The version that he is using is smaller as he used to prefer smaller wings. Dani, in fact, suffers more in the change of directions. “The feeling is good”, said Pedrosa. “All the aerodynamics work aims at having more traction in acceleration. I’m trying to adapt to the new aerodynamics. At the same time we are working on the setup.”

HRC’s Shinichi Kokubu confirmed that since the start of the season Pedrosa and Marquez are using two slightly different fairings.