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In racing, no stone is left unturned. The bikes are tuned to perfection. Development takes place for months behind closed doors. Wind tunnels, fluid dynamic testing, analysis of data and tyre modelling are all key components in getting the most out of the motorcycle. It’s a never ending cycle of constant improvement with the goal of going ever-faster. The process of fine tuning the machine mechanically was always in stark contrast to that of the rider. For much of the sports history, the partnership of man and machine has been talked about, but while the bike is fine-tuned, riders were largely left to their own devices.

Training, nutrition and mental preparation have been areas focused on by all teams for years, but now they are starting to open their eyes to rider coaching. Over the last five years, we have seen this area become increasingly important. When Valentino Rossi and Jonathan Rea both employ a coach, it’s clear that even multiple World Champions can enjoy the benefits of another pair of eyes. In WorldSBK, Yamaha have taken this a step further. By hiring Nico Canepa, the manufacturers official test rider and a former Endurance World Champion, the manufacturer is doing what they can to help the rider to find improvements.

IN HIS OWN WORDS

“I think that to achieve the best performances in racing now, you have to take care of all of the little details,” explains Canepa. “The small details of the bike and the rider are very important and this type of analysis is very important to make a difference. Teams are now really trying to take care of the smaller details because all of the riders are super fast and super talented, so it’s difficult for the rider to make the difference.

“With my experience of knowing the bike so well, it helps and also I have a great relationship with the teams and crew chiefs. It means that when they make a change they ask me to check for the improvement they expect. I can give an opinion about the technical changes. For the riders I try and see if there’s an area they can improve – maybe it could be improving the tyre durability or finding an area where they can be a little safer – so I work with the team on the technical side and with the rider from what I see track side.

“Sometimes it’s easier for me to explain it to the rider with the video. When we talk about a single corner, where maybe the rider is a little wide on the exit, they are doing this for a reason, so I need to be able to understand this and explain to them how other riders are doing it. I think it’s a very effective way to improve.”

DATA DRIVEN ART

Using Canepa to unlock the last ounce of potential is possible only when the package is well understood and riders have experience. In preseason, Michael van der Mark opened up about the role Canepa played for him and said “it was very useful at Yamaha but now I have to learn a new bike. It takes time to do that but when you feel comfortable, you then look for the last bit of performance and that’s where the analysis can be important.”

Using video overlays, comparing riders has been a useful tool to Canepa but arguably the biggest insight comes from studying the data with the team. Being able to look at individual sections and corners on the track means that he then can use his footage to illustrate to the rider the improvements that can be found. Instead of relying on gut instincts of what looks right, he has to demonstrate the reasons behind it. In racing, there are no hidden secrets and all decisions are data driven.

THE PROCESS

“My process starts when I am at home before the races. I’ll analyse the previous year’s data and know the sector times and what we can expect from the Yamaha. I can analyse and see if there’s a sector that they struggled in last year and then use this as the first area I’ll focus on during the weekend. The level is so high this year, so you need to work really hard on all of the small details.

“Once I get to the track, I’ll have the live timing open so I can see who is pushing hard or who is worth watching. From watching track side and knowing the bike, I can see if there’s an area to improve. Sometimes I’ll use the video with a rider but other times it might be easier to just tell them what I see. This job is about using my experience, analysing the data and then using the videos to help the rider to understand everything. It’s all about the details.”

MORE THAN JUST A COACH

Whilst Canepa will work with the riders to explain what he sees, he’s also very involved behind the scenes. During the technical debriefs at the end of each day, when the rider has given their feedback and the team are trying to find an area of improvement, Canepa will be found with the engineers poring through the data. His input can be very important at this point to bring a fresh set of eyes to the table.

“For many years, I have worked as a test rider in addition to my racing. It has helped me to understand the technical side of racing but also to understand the technical language for the engineers. It helped me a lot in my racing career and now I get to work with some of the best riders in the world and pick up some of the things that they are doing on the bike. It’s actually helped me a lot for my racing in endurance, because I am working with riders with a very high level of talent. I can see how talented they are but they also really listen to me and want to get better for the next session or the next race and that’s what makes this job great.”

IN CONCLUSION

Having riders that are open to new suggestions is incredibly important to unlocking their full potential. Gone are the days when a rider could throw their leg over a bike and be let loose. Now there’s a lot more to the process of riding and getting the most from themselves. After decades of fine-tuning the process of developing a bike, we’re now starting to the see the same happen on the human side of racing.

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