MotoGP working on pit-to-rider communication system

The system is designed to be an alternative to the radio communication system that Formula 1 uses, which is deemed too costly and impractical for use in MotoGP.

A visual form of communication is also preferred by teams, who have expressed reservations about trying to talk to their riders while they are at full lean or in close battle with an adversary.

The system that is being worked on is in effect an enhanced version of the system that Race Control uses to communicate certain messages to riders in races.

Currently, only four types of messages can be sent: notification of a jump start, black flag, red flag or a bike problem.

The idea is to expand this system to be able to transmit 20 or more short messages to riders, who could be informed about gaps to riders in front and behind them, or laptime comparisons with a rival - and in more detail than is possible to transmit on a pitboard.

For example, during last month's Sachsenring race, Valentino Rossi could have been shown the message '93 / S / 1:28.525' - telling him the laptime being set by Marc Marquez on slick tyres - to help him work out the right time to pit.

Such messages could also be used by promoter Dorna to enhance TV coverage, as with radio transmissions in F1.

"We decided to talk to our engineers to see if the system used by Race Control to warn riders of certain things could be used by teams," Dorna's Javier Alonso told Spanish newspaper El Periodico.

"There is no point in having radio communication, but if we implement this system, riders can have better access to information at the time they need it."

It is expected that the system will be tested during the three late-season flyaway races in Japan, Australia and Malaysia in October.

As the system makes use of existing technology, it could be implemented quickly without teams having to make any modification to their bikes.