"Simon Patterson@denkmit Media centre theories are currently an arm for holding a sensor, or something that functions like a torque arm to keep weight on the rear during braking" when rear brake is applied,the caliper pushes the rod and loads the rear suspension (through the linkage) keeping the rear end (and thus the CoG) down. In theory ,this gives them the ability to brake harder
That makes sense as the Michelin rear slick is supposedly much better than the Bridgestone was, and the Michelin front is worse than the 'Stone, which requires using the rear tire for stopping (need to keep it on the ground during braking).
Shucks, Cal may see his factory ride with a "return to sender" sticker. #japan Forget Zarco, Tech 3 is probably like WTF did we get ourselves into.
I'm not sure it's loading. If you load (compress) the rear suspension during straight-line braking, you pull the swingarm away from the track. It's already wagging in the air. It's a curious device.
I don't see how this would ever be possible.......the hardest you can brake is determined specifically by the amount of force that can be applied before physics takes over and starts to lift the rear tire. You could supplement the front brake with the rear (which some riders certainly do for a litany of reasons), but if grip is constant the front tire will always be doing 100% of the braking at the limit of deceleration. Now, if that apparatus is being used as a method of mid-corner adjustment (as Lorenzo alluded to in the article I posted from last year) by altering the geometry of the bike slightly during these brake applications, then I could see the purpose.
I think it may be extending the suspension, overcoming the top out spring, trying to stick the rear wheel to the track. It also might be used during acceleration as most of these guys use the rear brake for controlling wheelies and grip exiting corners.
I think that if you can keep the COG lower the rear will stay on the ground longer. Ultimately yeah, front tire is doing it all and rear will come up since it's a bike.
Video on twitter shows a light coming on and shinning on the ground underneath the rear of the ducati when it leaves pit road.