Once again Yamaha has shared a track map with speed and gear selection telemetry, this time for Catalunya.

Personally I was interested to see that Turn 5 is a 1st gear corner at 86 km/h for the Yamahas, and that approaching Turn 6 they climb up to 4th if only for a moment. Considering how short a time they spend in 2nd and 3rd in this section of track, it seems to me they could just extend use of those gears slightly and avoid going to 4th for that split second. Compare the acceleration after the final turn, for example. But that they get from 86 km/h to nearly 240 km/h in such a short section of track is remarkable.

Notice how far before Turn 1 the Yamahas begin braking from the top speed as listed here, 324.4 km/h. This is a good example of why the MotoGP lap record is 1’40.893 (Pedrosa, Honda, 2013) and the Formula 1 lap record is 1’21.670 (Räikkönen, Ferrari, 2008). With four fat tires instead of two relatively skinny ones, F1 cars can wait much later to begin braking for corners.

Thanks again to Yamaha for providing these telemetry maps!

Image: ©2015 by Yamaha Motor Racing Srl

[mgallery keyword=”Catalunya”]