MotoGP: Shinya Nakano supports rider aid reduction

Japanese rider Shinya Nakano has backed Valentino Rossi’s calls for a reduction in the amount of electronics that have now become a major influence in MotoGP racing.

Shinya Nakano is one of only four current riders in the MotoGP world championship to have witnessed the boom in electronics having ridden 500cc two-strokes, 990cc and 800cc four-strokes.

And the Gresini Honda rider told MCN: “Electronics help a lot now. I know the 500, 990 and 800 and now these bikes are a lot easier to ride.

“They are not easy but you have more electronic control to help. You can see in the box now there are so many electronics engineers.

“Maybe it would be interesting to reduce like in Formula One.”

Shinya Nakano says he won’t endorse any proposal to enforce a complete ban on electronics, with the issue again likely to be hotly debated in 2008.

Nakano said electronics had been crucial in improving safety in the premier class adding: “I’ve not seen any figures but sure there are much less high-side crashes than before and for safety maybe we need this amount of electronics.

“It is trying to find the balance, but I think less rider aids would be better. I agree with Valentino (Rossi). We need some help but maybe we can reduce it a little bit.”

Valentino Rossi became a strong critic of the growing influence of electronics last season, claiming rider aids were now taking too much away from rider skill.

And he branded world champion Casey the first of the ‘traction control generation.”