Guidotti: Tyres, electronics key to MotoGP success

"Tyres and electronics are the main areas that influence results" in MotoGP, despite the use of a spec ECU and single tyre supplier.

That's the opinion of experienced crew chief Giacomo Guidotti, currently working alongside Takaaki Nakagami at LCR Honda, who also explains that:

“Nothing can be overlooked and everything must be right, down to the smallest detail.

"The differences in the bikes are not very big and the riders are still very important in motorcycle racing, as are the team, to give you the necessary confidence.”

Prior to joining forces with Nakagami, Guidotti spent two seasons working with Dani Pedrosa at Repsol Honda (pictured).

"They were two very intense years, in which we had highs and lows in terms of results, but they were important times professionally speaking," Guidotti said.

"I had to learn the way HRC works and also look after Dani Pedrosa in the box, at a very particular moment of his career. I consider that this time marked a very big step forward in terms of my personal growth."

While team-mate Marc Marquez romped to the riders' title in both 2017 and 2018, Pedrosa and Guidotti celebrated two wins and nine podiums in their first season together. And despite a barren run for Pedrosa in terms of rostrums last year, Honda again secured the triple crown of riders', constructors' and teams' titles.

“Basically, team-mates study each other and improve thanks to their rivalry. HRC developed the RC213V by combining the requests of their two riders, both in 2017 and 2018," Guidotti said.

"Dani and Marc had different results, but both riders were necessary in order to be successful. Personally, I was very interested in sharing a box with Marc and his team; we have an excellent relationship.”

HRC's signing of Jorge Lorenzo in place of Pedrosa also resulted in a change of team for Guidotti this season, who swapped places with Ramon Aurin.

Guidotti remains full of praise for Lorenzo's talent, despite the rocky start to his Repsol Honda career.

"Jorge is a great talent and a fabulous rider; I’ve liked the way he has been riding for a long time and I am sure he will get there soon," Guidotti said.

"He had so much bad luck [injuries] at the end of last season and is still recovering from that. He still has to adapt completely in order to be able to reach his full potential.”

Nonetheless, Guidotti thinks the #99 "could surprise with a good result" at Mugello this weekend, when the Italian will be aiming to pass on some local secrets to Nakagami, riding a 2018 spec RCV.

"It’s my home race; I was born and live in Florence, and Mugello is my favourite circuit," said Guidotti. "I’m sorry but I can’t reveal my secrets; I’ll try to transmit them to my rider, Takaaki Nakagami.

"It’s a difficult circuit that is fast and twisty, so the key is to be smooth and consistent, as well as going very fast on the main straight."

Nakagami, competing in his second season of MotoGP, is currently eleventh in the world championship with a best race finish of seventh.