Alex Rins Unveils ‘Ducati-Style’ Ride-Height System for Thai MotoGP

Alex Rins and Yamaha are set to test a groundbreaking ride-height system inspired by Ducati technology at the upcoming Thai MotoGP.

With its roots in Ducati’s original system, first introduced in 2018, the ride-height technology is designed to provide an advantage by lowering the bike during the exit of a corner to minimize the front wheel lifting under acceleration.

The ‘Ducati-Style’ ride-height system operates by using hydraulic or pneumatic actuators to adjust the motorcycle’s suspension during specific moments of a race. As this system lowers the bike’s ride height, it reduces the center of gravity, which in turn improves handling and speeds mid-corner. This works especially well on circuits that feature a combination of long straights and challenging curves, like those found at the Buriram International Circuit in Thailand.

Despite recent rulings prohibiting front ride-height devices from 2023, Alex Rins and his team have ensured that their system aligns with current regulations by only adapting the rear ride height.

Rins said the following at Buriram:

“Yamaha created an automatic one – we say automatic, but you still need to press – so here we are going to use it.

“[It] looks like the same system as Ducati. For example, we are going to use it exiting from the second last corner. I mean we activate it and we then [don’t] push again until before corner four.

“So for sure, it’s less demanding for the finger!

“This is the main benefit because, for example, the first time they brought it was in Austria and it was not working at 100%. So I was using a mix.

“But in the end, it’s quite similar [performance] and in my case – since they were introduced in ’20 or ’21 – I’ve always used manual, so I’m used to use it.”

Comparing his setup to teammate Fabio Quartararo, he continued:

“We have the same engine but with a different configuration. Inside is quite different,” Rins said.

“What I like about my engine is the cornering. My one corners a little bit better than his engine.

“It’s a configuration that we tested quite a lot of times in Valencia, Mugello, and I always prefer this kind of engine.

“So they allowed me to use it and like this also we are taking information in both directions [for next year].”

There’s also another engine coming from the constructor:

“We will have, I think, before the end of the season a new spec [engine] with more top speed.”

The Buriram International Circuit is an ideal platform for the system’s advantages to bear fruit. This track, with its distinctive composition of long stretches and tight curves, requires an adept balance of speed and control. As the Thai MotoGP approaches, expectations are high.