How to win a flag-to-flag race

BT Sport’s Michael Laverty analyses just what a rider has to do to deliver the perfect race result in changing conditions

Slicksona 1 wettrack

The trickiest part of a flag-to-flag race is when raindrops begin to fall whilst the riders are on slick tyres. In light rain the riders continue for as long as possible in the hope that the shower will pass. Adhesion diminishes with each drop, but an incorrect decision to pit early will ruin your race. From the moment the rain starts it’s difficult to predict how much grip is available, the majority slow their pace, brake, lean and accelerate gently, which in turn causes tyre temperature to decline and if they drop beneath 80°C grip suffers. It’s a double-edged sword; grip remains good if you can push the tyres and maintain the temperature, but by pushing the risk factor increases significantly.

Lesshaste, 2 morespeed

The bike swap cannot be rushed. Marquez has always been the fastest to transition between his machines, previously hopping from one bike to the other before that was outlawed and machines had to be spaced apart. Riders practice the swap throughout the weekend, but it’s always different in a race as the pit lane is busy and the stress levels are raised. Quartararo pulled into his teammate’s pit box and copped a long lap penalty. The problem is when the pit building is on his left à la Jerez, Fabio is the first Monster Yamaha pit box, when the pit building is on his right, as in Le Mans, he is the second. An easy mistake under pressure.

In-lap 3 gains

The in-lap when there has been a downpour is where Marc Marquez excels, his decision making is almost never wrong, judging the best moment to pit under gradual rainfall is key. The way he manages his pace on a wet track with slicks is something to behold. Jack Miller ended up in the gravel on his in-lap, it’s a tightrope but you can’t afford to be too cautious if you want to win.