Overview
To compensate for reduced limb function, Rossi used the technical solution that had been experimented on first by the Australian rider
This
is just one more challenge that enriches the legend of Valentino Rossi
in another chapter of his riding history: 23 days after he broke both
the tibia and fibula on his right leg and the successful operation that
followed, Rossi secured a spot in the front row at the Aragon GP and
came in 5th in the race, having held second place for 11 laps.
A finish like this was unimaginable only a few days ago and
was made possible through Rossi's incredible talent and through a
specific braking solution Brembo made available to the Doctor to remedy
the problem of having a right leg working at less than 100%.
Designed for the Racing world, this brake master cylinder is controlled by the rider's left thumb and uses a 13mm diameter piston and has a lever center distance of 16. The lever type is STD.
This Component is designed and manufactured to be used exclusively in racing competitions and, therefore, the product shall be installed through specific adapters not included in the packaging of the component and by highly qualified and competent professionals working in the racing field.
To mount this particular type of brake master cylinder a custom bracket is required.
TECHNICAL FEATURES
- Material: Billet aluminum
- Single/double disc: SINGLE
- Piston mm: 13
- Lever ratio: 16
- Surface protection: Hard anodized
- Weight (gr): 175
- Note: Left side only
Brembo supplied the Doctor with various components at Aragon, including carbon discs and Brembo calipers, as well as a Brembo-made special thumb brake master cylinder. This solution enables the rider to control the rear brake without using his right leg to operate a pedal. Instead, he simply relies on a small lever mounted under the left handlebar that is controlled by his thumb.
Valentino had already tested the Brembo thumb brake master cylinder after the Brno race. The configuration he tested was the “standard” version with a thumb master cylinder and a pedal connected to the same rear master cylinder. With this version it isn't possible to operate the rear brake with the thumb master cylinder and the pedal simultaneously, only one of the two can be used.
But after the injury, Valentino wanted a solution with two separate circuits in order to operate the thumb master cylinder and the pedal at the same time. The Brembo technicians made this change in record time with a new rear caliper that met Valentino's demands.
After all, Brembo knows Valentino really well having been at his side since his debut in the World Championship. In 22 years of activity, the Doctor has ridden with four manufacturers (Aprilia, Honda, Yamaha and Ducati) and three tire brands, but he has always been loyal to Brembo brakes.
Even though this technical solution was conceived of and built by
Brembo 25 years ago, only recently has Rossi begun to use the thumb
brake master cylinder. It was Mick Doohan who asked for it when he was
the victim of a serious accident during test runs at the Dutch GP in
1992. Dutch doctors had operated on his right leg but there were
complications during the night that put him at risk of amputation. The
Australian made an urgent call to Dr. Claudio Costa, who loaded him on a
stretcher and brought him to Italy. The founder of the Mobile Clinic
managed to save Doohan's leg, however it never regained the strength it
once had. Doohan was no longer able to operate the rear brake with the
right pedal. He needed a control on the handlebar that could carry out
this same function.
And this is how the thumb-controlled rear brake master
cylinder came into being. As the months passed, Doohan developed
increased sensitivity and went on to win five consecutive World
Championships in the 500cc class from 1994 to 1998, every time with
Brembo brakes.
