MotoGP
The LCR Honda team invited RedBull.com into its garage to see how a 45-minute practice runs.
A lot gets packed into a MotoGP practice session on a Grand Prix weekend.
Teams and their riders have just three 45-minute sessions and a shorter 30-minute one to get things right before a 15-minute qualifying run.
A 20-minute warm up before the race doesn't offer much more time in which to correct any lingering problems, so planning, organisation and structure is key during every session.
RedBull.com followed the LCR Honda MotoGP team and its rider Stefan Bradl during a 45-minute free practice session, to see how they utilise the precious time in preparation for race day.
A normal Saturday morning practice session starts at 9:55am and ends at 10:40am. This is how the session that RedBull.com sat in on ran for the LCR Honda MotoGP team, complete with commentary from rider Stefan Bradl and team manager Lucio Cecchinello.
09:40: Bradl arrives at the pit garage
The German rider gets to the box fully kitted up and ready for the session to start in 15 minutes. He settles down in his seat and a pre-session briefing with his crew chief Christophe Bourguignon, Honda technicians Makoto Nagayama and Yuji Kikuchi, and team manager Lucio Cecchinello takes place.
Stefan Bradl: I always arrive 15 minutes before the session, just to have a little briefing with the guys about what we're going to do, which tyres we'll use, how the track is in terms of conditions and everything, and then we also go through the electronic things I have to try, different mappings, different changes on the bike.
Lucio Cecchinello: The chief technician gives Stefan some pointers regarding how many laps he has to do with each bike, because we normally use two bikes. Then he explains the difference between the bike set-ups and what the plan for testing is.
We also think about some extra plans in case there is a technical failure or we want to test another technical item, so we always make our strategy a little bit flexible.
09:55: The session starts
The crew gets a nod from Bourguignon around 20 seconds before the clock strikes 09:55 and the tyre warmers come off. Bradl walks over, starts the bike up and heads out for the start of the session.
10:06: Bradl pits in for the first time
The first run, lasting four full laps, is completed and Bradl brings the bike in. He sits down to give his feedback to Bourguignon, who makes notes while the two HRC techs, a Bridgestone tech and Cecchinello all listen in. The second bike is readied and Bradl switches machines before heading back out four minutes after coming in.
Stefan Bradl: During the first run I check how everything is, how the grip is, how the bike's working, and then we sit down together after the first run and have a quick chat to try and improve the details about the tyres, the electronics and anything else that needs it. Then I head out for the second run.
Every run is structured, in terms of the number of laps we do.
Lucio Cecchinello: When Stefan comes back in from a run he only talks with the crew chief, to avoid any kind of misinformation or confusion.
Just one person is allowed to speak with the rider.
While he's in the box we also give him information about what his performance is through each sector and where he might need to focus more. At the same time I normally go out on track with a scooter and come back to the pit garage if I see something specific with regards to his riding style.
10:19: The second run is completed
This time only three flying laps are done before Bradl comes back into the pit garage. He heads straight to crew chief Bourguignon and gives him the latest updates on the bike's performance and feel, while the Bridgestone tech takes a tyre temperature reading.
While Bradl talks to Bourguignon, his father Helmut – a former Grand Prix rider – listens in on the conversation.
In the meantime the crew, under direction from Bourguignon, prepare the first bike with a new set of tyres. Bradl changes back onto his original machine and heads out after a six-minute stint in the pits.
Stefan Bradl: You have to be ready for everything. Things don't always go according to plan, you might have a small crash or something on the bike might not be working well so you have to switch to the second bike which probably has a slightly different setting.
Many times we have to change the plan very fast and go to Plan B or C.
10:33: The final stop
One last pit in, after a further three fast laps, and Bradl and his crew chief have the briefest of exchanges before he heads out for one final run.
10:40: The session ends
Two more laps and it's all over. Bradl gets a practice start in before coming back into the pits a couple of minutes after the flag goes out to signal the end of the session. He speaks with his father Helmut before giving his immediate thoughts to Bourguignon, and officials make their checks on the bike to ensure everything is within the regulations.
After a little time to digest what's happened in the 45 minutes, Bradl and his crew settle down for a detailed debrief.
Stefan Bradl: You have a reference after the first session of where you are and how things are going. You can see the gap, and you can get an idea of how the weekend may go.
We sit down for the debriefing around 15-20 minutes after the session, still in leathers, and then the guys take a look at the computer to analyse everything and see what's happening out on track, compare the lap times and everything.
About an hour-and-a-half after the session we sit down together again to compare the data with what I said. Then we can make the plan for the next session.
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