Call made to limit MotoGP winglets before they become 'dangerous'

The Japanese manufacturer and Aprilia became the last two MotoGP brands to try winglets during Friday's second practice session at Jerez, following the path established by Ducati and then Yamaha and Honda.

Espargaro tried them on his Suzuki, but was not using his fairing-equipped GSX-RR when he set the third-fastest time of the afternoon.

While the Suzuki winglets were on the smaller side of the scale, the devices on other bikes have continued to grow in recent weeks and months, and become more complex.

"For sure we need to talk with Dorna and set a limit," Espargaro said.

"If not, one day somebody will arrive like Formula 1 and it can be dangerous.

"But if you see our winglets, they were very small, I think we need to know where is the limit.

"For example, for me, the Yamaha winglet (below) is so high, so big and these winglets can be dangerous.

"But I don't think that our winglets can be dangerous."

After his first experience, Espargaro surmised that the winglets helped "push the bike into the asphalt" a little bit more to reduce wheelies.

However, he added that Jerez is not a circuit where they would be expected to make a big difference.

"It can have a little bit less [electronic] wheelie control, so it means a little bit more power and less shaking to the front, so it's easier to ride the bike," he said.

"This track is not really a demanding track for the winglets, but when we go to Mugello for example, or Aragon, some fast tracks, it will be something very good."

Espargaro's team-mate Maverick Vinales did not try the winglets ahead of this weekend's first European event of the season, but expects to during Monday's post-race test at Jerez.