MotoGP winglets look like “just fins”… until you see the numbers.

In this episode we break down a CFD research paper on motorcycle aerodynamic wing kits and answer the real questions: how winglets generate downforce, what they cost in drag, what configuration performs best in simulation, and why the rulebook forces designers into a compromise.

You’ll see the key results (including the ~+360% downforce headline in the study’s setup), the performance-vs-legality trade-off, and what this means for MotoGP-style aero — and for the winglet kits sold to everyday riders.

🎓 Learn more (if you want to go deeper)🔹 RC Airplane Design CoursePropellers, airfoils, performance trade-offs, and aircraft-level design👉 https://premieraerodynamics.com/RC-Airplane-Course/🔹 Learn OpenFOAM for Aerodynamics & CFDFrom meshing and validation to interpreting results correctly👉 https://premieraerodynamics.com/Courses/🔹 Automotive Aerodynamics CourseDrag, downforce, cooling flow, wakes, and real CFD case studies👉 https://premieraerodynamics.com/Automotive-Aerodynamics/🚗 Commissioned CFD simulationsIf you want answers without learning CFD, I also do commissioned aerodynamic simulations for real vehicles.If you’ve ever wondered what the airflow around your car is actually doing, you can find details here:👉 https://premieraerodynamics.com/Simulate-Your-Own-Car/

Paper discussed:

“Numerical study of motorbike aerodynamic wing kit” (Journal of Mechanics, Oxford Academic) https://academic.oup.com/jom/article/doi/10.1093/jom/ufae025/7693724, licensed under: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

#MotoGP #Aero #CFD #Engineering #Motorcycles #Winglets #OpenFOAM