MotoGP’s new slogan: Don’t eat!

When Maverick Vinales appeared this Thursday in the press room of the Losail circuit, his extreme thinness attracted a lot of attention. “Yes, I lost 4 kilos this winter,” confirmed the pilot from Figueres. “Last year I weighed 68 kg, now I’m 64.” Asked what method she followed for her stunning weight loss in just a few months, Viñales He replied very briefly: “Stop eating, there is no other way.” Maverick’s decision to fast would be nothing more than an anecdote if it weren’t for the fact that just a few minutes later the South African Brad Binder who, without knowing about Viñales, explained that he appeared in the first race of the season with 2 kilos less than he had when the previous one ended more than 60 days ago.

Each explained that this weight reduction will help them reduce rear tire consumption, something that is important for them in a MotoGP as close as we have today. “It’s undeniable that less weight, less consumption,” he said. Davide Tardozzi, manager of the Ducati team. “Now, if the difference you say is influenced by 1% or 20%, I don’t know how to tell you because I’m not an engineer, but from my experience I would say that it is more the former. But the key is whether the pilot truly believes that what he is doing will help him that much. In my view, this is more of a mental thing than a real one.

Opinions are divided among Viñales and Binder’s colleagues. Although Bagnaia and Martín do not believe that those 4 and 2 kg will make a difference, Maverick’s partner, ALeix Espargaro He was very clear about the importance of ‘traveling’ with as little luggage as possible.’

“I’m surprised they’re thinking about it now, it’s something I’ve been very aware of since 2019, when I was with Scott Redding. In the middle of the race I didn’t have a rear tire because I was 8 kilos heavier than me. The light you, you certainly have other disadvantages, but when it comes to tire consumption, which is now very important because of the equality that exists, it is fundamental. That is why I have been at the weight limit for a long time. Unfortunately, I am no longer will disappear, I’m 1 meter 80 and I’m 65 kilos,” he said.

“I’ve been starving every day for five years. I’m not eating the recommended calories for a 34-year-old adult, and I’m doing a lot of cardio. So the basis of my training is cycling . I have a balanced diet, I eat a lot, very healthy, but very little. I do a lot of training on an empty stomach, but in the end it’s part of your routine, you get used to it, you have your tricks and this paid me a lot. Of course, be careful because there are races that are very physical like Indonesia, Malaysia…”, he stated.

“Playing on the theme of emptying carbohydrates during the week and then just adding carbohydrates on race weekend helps me a lot because it gives you a little more energy than you’re used to when training. I love it.” Many also play with caffeine, which helps a little in races. I try new things every year. Well, everybody has their tricks… For me, training and nutrition, you know, helped me a lot to get where I am,” it’s okay

It is impossible to know the exact relationship between weight and rear tire wear percentage because it depends on each motorcycle’s power delivery mode, type of asphalt, etc. But what is clear is that the more you weigh, the more you tear the tire because you load the rear axle more and when you accelerate the inertia is more abrupt, which translates into higher tire consumption. From here, counting it is difficult, but being in the weight limit in any case helps… By the way, at his 64 kilos, Viñales He was at the same weight 11 years ago, he won the 125 cc World title at 18 years old.

The weight of MotoGP riders

* According to official data

Marco Bezzecchi (Ita/Pertamina VR46) 61 kg
Pedro Acosta (Esp/GasGas Tech3) 62 kg
Brad Binder (South/Red Bull KTM) 63 kg
Pecco Bagnaia (Ita/Ducati Lenovo) 64 kg
Miguel Oliveira (By/Trackhouse Aprilia) 64 kg
Marc Márquez (Spain) Gresini Racing 64 kg
Maverick Viñales (Esp/Aprilia Racing) 64 kg
Fabio Quartararo (Fra/Monster Energy Yamaha) 64 kg
Jack Miller (Aus/Red Bull KTM) 64kg
Enea Bastianini (Ita/Ducati Lenovo) 64 kg
Jorge Martín (Esp/Pramac Ducati) 65 kg
Àlex Márquez (Spain) Gresini Racing 65 kg
Aleix Espargaró (Esp/Aprilia Racing) 65 kg
Franco Morbidelli (Ita/Pramac Ducati) 67 kg
Raúl Fernández (Esp/Trackhouse Aprilia) 68 kg
Johann Zarco (Fra/LCR Honda) 68 kg
Fabio di Gianantonio (Ita/Pertamina VR46) 68 kg
Luca Marini (Ita/Repsol Honda) 69 kg
Joan Mir (Esp/Repsol Honda) 69 kg
Takaaki Nakagami (Jap/LCR Honda) 70 kg
Augusto Fernández (Esp/GasGas Tech3) 72 kg
Alex Rins (Spain) LCR Honda Castrol 72 kg