It’s perhaps one of the most noticeable differences between a regular road motorcycle and a MotoGP™ bike: the absence of mirrors.
There are a few key reasons why MotoGP™ bikes have no mirrors, with the two major areas of consideration being safety and performance. Although the bikes in MotoGP™ travel at speeds of over 360km/h (over 223mph), there is no requirement for them to carry mirrors and the riders do not need mirrors to stay safe.
In this article we'll look at these safety and performance considerations in more detail and explain how MotoGP™ riders and their teams manage without mirrors.
Mirror Use in Road Bikes vs. MotoGP™
Motorcycles using public roads on a daily basis use mirrors for a number of reasons, the most important among them being safety.
Road-using motorcyclists need to have good situational awareness of their surroundings to be able to carry out routine manoeuvres such as pulling away and lane changes, monitor their blind spots (which even mirrors do not fully cover), and generally being alert to the ever-changing environment in which they are riding.
Mirrors are also a legal requirement in most countries and jurisdictions, and aside from their importance in terms of safety, they also provide a greater level of comfort for riders who can observe their surroundings with ease.
When it comes to a race track, a high number of the risks faced on public roads are eliminated as the environment is far more controlled, predictable and has bespoke safety measures for motorcycle racing in place that are adapted to the very specific requirements of MotoGP™.
MotoGP™ is an inherently dangerous sport with strict safety measures and while risk can never be completely removed from the race environment, rear view mirrors in MotoGP™ are less practical and not as useful as they are on regular road bikes.
The incredible speeds at which MotoGP™ bikes race would make mirrors a potentially dangerous distraction to a rider, and the reality is that at such high speeds there is very little benefit to be gained from them.
Aerodynamic Impact
Millions of euros (dollars, pounds and yen!) go into the development of MotoGP™ bikes, with aerodynamics a critical and highly important area of research and development. The impact of aero on a MotoGP™ bike’s performance is huge, and directly affects a rider’s performance too.
Recently retired but still heavily involved as a test rider, Aleix Espargarò has been vocal on aerodynamics in MotoGP™. “At the beginning, we didn’t realise how important the aerodynamics are but in these last four or five seasons we understand how the aerodynamics can change the behaviour of the bike”.
The use of mirrors would disrupt the aerodynamic efficiency of a MotoGP™ machine significantly, directly affecting the required downforce and adding drag to a streamlined machine.
The chassis and fairings of a MotoGP™ bike are designed and constructed to minimise drag and maximise airflow, something that mirrors would disrupt and therefore impact the bike’s stability, top speed and overall performance.
This video on aerodynamics gives a comprehensive overview of how MotoGP™ bikes are affected by the addition and removal of even small parts from a fairing.
Rider Awareness Alternatives
With no mirrors, it’s a logical question to ask how the riders remain aware of what’s happening around them during a race and just why there are no mirrors in MotoGP™ racing.
Teams provide key race information such as time gaps and the number of laps of the race remaining on pit boards, which they display on the pit lane wall. This way, riders can see how far behind the next rider is and react accordingly. Riders also receive certain critical info via the digital dashboard on their bike.
Much less technical but just as, if not more important, is a rider’s spatial awareness and experience. Riders gain an expert, nuanced level of perception through their racing careers of being able to make split second judgements on what is happening around them without the need for mirrors.
Instinct is a skill honed over time by MotoGP™ riders, and their senses become heightened as they learn the countless scenarios, sounds and visual cues that come at them at 360km/h+ in a race situation.
MotoGP™ Safety Considerations
Aside from the potential for distraction at high speeds previously mentioned, there are other serious safety issues to consider about adding further parts to a MotoGP™ bike.
With MotoGP™ bikes already carrying protruding elements such as winglets, mirrors would add further material that could cause injury in a crash should they break off.
Mirrors could also cause issues when riders have contact with one another - there have been incidents in races where aerodynamic winglets have snapped off bikes when riders have been unable to avoid contact. Mirrors would add yet another element that could break off and create debris on the track.
Concluding thoughts: mirrors are not needed on MotoGP™ bikes
MotoGP™ is a fine balance between safety and squeezing the absolute maximum out of a machine in terms of performance, and it’s an equilibrium that has a delicate tipping point.
There are various reasons MotoGP™ bikes have no mirrors. There is the clear safety perspective of the avoidance of unnecessary extra parts on a bike that could create dangerous situations with material on track, as well as the limited benefit vs the potential distraction they could cause a rider at high speeds.
There are also the performance considerations. A MotoGP™ bike’s aerodynamic balance is developed painstakingly to the point of near-perfection, and any excess material on the fairing of the motorcycle could upset the bike’s aero performance, as well as its stability.
The lack of mirrors on MotoGP™ bikes comes down to a calculated decision that takes into account the above factors, as well as the ability of riders being able to navigate the racetrack without the need for mirrors.
Ready to learn more about MotoGP protocols and safety? Check out this article on how the MotoGP flag system enhances rider safety on track.