Ducati’s first MotoGP winglets: ‘Almost laughable today’

Winglets, side fairings and sophisticated air ducts characterise the appearance of modern MotoGP prototypes. Manufacturers invest enormous resources in wind tunnel testing and simulations in order to identify even the slightest aerodynamic advantages. Looking back at the early days of this development, however, the first attempts seem astonishingly primitive.

Ducati began exploring the potential of aerodynamic aids on the Desmosedici as early as 2010. At the time, the MotoGP prototype from Bologna was struggling with pronounced understeer. The engineers were therefore looking for a way to generate additional downforce on the front wheel.

16 years ago: Ducati experiments with wings for the first time

“In the 2010 season, we carried out our first experiments in the field of aerodynamics,” recalled Marco Palmerini from Ducati’s MotoGP vehicle development department in an interview with Bike World. What was considered an innovative solution at the time seems downright primitive when compared with today’s aero packages. “We had two small wings on the side fairing. Looking at it now, it seems almost ridiculous,” Palmerini admitted in hindsight. “These winglets produced very little downforce.”

Nicky Hayden auf der Ducati Desmosedici mit Flügeln

Foto: Gold & Goose

The creative mastermind behind the Ducati MotoGP project at the time was Filippo Preziosi. The objective of the initial trials was, at first, very simple. “To begin with, our aim was to press the front wheel down onto the ground,” explained Palmerini.

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Yet these unassuming wings gave rise to a technical revolution. Ducati gradually realised that aerodynamics could achieve far more than simply keeping the front wheel on the ground during acceleration. “Later, we realised that aerodynamics has a major influence on the forces acting on the tyres. And this is the case during every phase of riding, not just during acceleration. It also helps with cornering speed and braking.”

Valentino Rossi beim Valencia-Test im November 2010

Foto: Gold & Goose

This also fundamentally changed the importance of aerodynamics within the development department. “The handling of the motorbike has changed fundamentally as a result of aerodynamics,” emphasised Palmerini. “We quickly realised that we needed to expand our knowledge, invest greater effort and allocate more engineers to the task in order to carry out more in-depth simulations.”

Luigi Dall’Igna stepped up aerodynamic development

With the appointment of Luigi Dall’Igna as head of racing at the end of 2013, the subject gained further importance at Ducati. The Italian drove development forward for years and caused a stir with a constant stream of new ideas. The two small wings from 2010 gave way to increasingly complex aerodynamic solutions, with which Ducati played a pioneering role for a long time.

März 2017: Ducati testete eine radikale Front, die sich als Flop erwies

Foto: Gold & Goose

Meanwhile, the competitors have caught up considerably. Aprilia, in particular, has done outstanding work recently and is now at least on a par in terms of aerodynamics. What began as comparatively simple experiments in the early years has thus become one of the most important areas of development in the entire MotoGP series.

Consequently, the process from an initial idea to its implementation on the racetrack is now extremely complex. “Ideas emerge during brainstorming sessions. Then we carry out initial calculations,” explained Palmerini. “Next, we head to the wind tunnel. The test runs then consist of two phases: first, we measure the data, and then we carry out a performance test with the rider.”

Casey Stoner mit Ing. Marco Palmerini

Foto: Gerhard Schiel

For Palmerini, developments since 2010 highlight just how important aerodynamics has become. “It is an area in which we are very committed. Ducati has made a major contribution to the development of aerodynamics in motorbikes. We have not only ensured that performance could be improved, but have also optimised safety as a result.”

What is now a highly complex science involving numerous engineers, simulations and wind tunnel tests began at Ducati with two small winglets, the effect of which seems almost negligible from today’s perspective – and which even the pioneers of that era can now smile about.