In 2028 the FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) Moto3 feeder class that provides the stepping stone for motorcyclists hoping to make the bigtime in MotoGP is scheduled for a top-to-tail regulation revamp and it could be a perfect opportunity for companies to explore the potential of White Motorcycle Concepts’ innovative aerodynamic thinking.
By 2028 we’ll have had 16 years of the current Moto3 regulation set. It’s proved a breeding ground for a generation of MotoGP riders, six members of the current top-class grid have Moto3 championship trophies in their cabinets, but it’s not a championship without faults. Most notable, perhaps, the overreliance on slipstreaming that’s bred by limited power and the parity of performance between the two bikes – Honda and KTM – on the current grid.
It’s long been known that MotoGP’s organisers want to shift to a single engine supplier, and it’s increasingly likely that there will be a standard, one-make bike used across all teams. The engine is expected double in size, going from a 250cc single to a 500cc twin with around 80hp, potentially making slipstreaming less vital than in the current formula, but the use of a single bike could have the opposite effect. While slipstreaming makes for close racing, it’s often criticised for adding an unnecessary element of danger.
That’s precisely where ideas like White Motorcycle Concept’s aerodynamic thinking can come into play. The patented duct that’s demonstrated most clearly on the WMC250EV has clear benefits when it comes to reducing frontal area and outright drag, and it may have the side effect of making slipstreaming less effective. With air directed straight through the centre of the bike, exiting below the seat, a bike with the WMC duct is less likely to create a pocket of low-pressure air behind it that can be exploited by a pursuing rider. Even if Moto3 shifts to a one-bike series, it’s logical that whichever company is charged with developing that bike should look at the best route to reducing drag while diminishing the potential advantages that can be gained by riding inches from another bike’s tail.
WMC’s duct concept also has a second benefit as it allows reduced drag without making the bike physically smaller. That could be a huge opportunity for a series like Moto3, which thanks to the relatively low power and small dimensions of the bikes tends to offer an advantage to physically smaller riders who fit them more snugly. Because the WMC duct runs through the bike it allows for a fairing without increasing frontal area and drag, giving overall dimensions closer to those of a larger-capacity bike and allowing taller riders to fit comfortably without introducing an aerodynamic disadvantage.
Next-generation Moto3: is this an opportunity for improved motorcycle aerodynamics?
