MotorsportSmart
MotoGP winglets: what they are and why they matter
From early experiments to today’s limits: why aerodynamic appendages have become so important in MotoGP.
2 September 2026 1 min read 14 views
Winglets are small aerodynamic devices fitted to bikes to increase front-end downforce. On track, they help reduce wheelies, keep the bike more stable under acceleration and improve precision through direction changes, especially on today’s more powerful MotoGP machines.
Their spread accelerated in the mid-2010s, when teams started chasing more grip and control. MotoGP later tightened the rules: today, shape, size and placement are closely regulated to contain costs and avoid technical excesses.