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Tag: Michelin
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It’s Something Super Special, says Quartararo as MotoGP Roars into Le Mans
Le Mans, 8 May 2025: The 2025 MotoGP World Championship ignites once more at the legendary Le Mans circuit this weekend, as the Michelin Grand Prix of France hosts Round 6 of a season already brimming with drama, unpredictability, and sibling rivalry. With just a single point separating championship leader Álex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) from his brother Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), the stage is set for another unforgettable showdown.
Home Heroes and French Passion
Le Mans is more than just a race, it’s a celebration of French motorsport culture. Local favorite Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) returns buoyed by a podium in Jerez and the debut of Yamaha’s updated inline-four engine. While not yet the long-awaited V4, the new power unit offers improved performance in fifth and sixth gears, potentially giving Quartararo an edge on the Bugatti Circuit’s long straights.
“It’s something super special,” Quartararo said of racing at home, where the atmosphere is electric and the expectations sky-high. He’ll be joined by fellow Frenchman Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol), who’s eyeing a strong performance amid speculation about a potential factory seat in 2026.
Márquez vs. Márquez: A Family Feud at Full Throttle
Álex Márquez’s maiden MotoGP victory in Jerez has catapulted him to the top of the standings, but the younger Márquez remains grounded. “La victoria no tiene que volvernos locos,” he cautioned, emphasising the need for consistency over euphoria.
Marc Márquez, meanwhile, is determined to bounce back after a costly crash in Spain. Reflecting on his misstep, he acknowledged, “Hay que controlar el exceso de confianza,” recognising that overconfidence led to his fall. Despite the setback, Marc remains a formidable force, having won every race he’s finished this season.
Technical Tweaks and Tactical Turns
Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is also in the mix, aiming to rectify past mistakes at Le Mans. Recalling a pivotal moment from last year, he noted the need to “frenar más fuerte en la curva 9 de la última vuelta” to avoid a repeat of losing position in the final moments.
In the paddock, discussions extend beyond the track. The Grand Prix Commission has approved a new regulation allowing riders returning from injury to train with prototype bikes, a move prompted by Jorge Martín’s recent challenges. This change aims to ensure that returning riders can safely reacclimate to the demands of MotoGP machinery.
The Le Mans Experience
Beyond the racing, Le Mans offers a festival-like atmosphere with fairground attractions, live music, and stunt shows, making it a highlight of the MotoGP calendar. The circuit itself is renowned for its demanding layout, particularly the Chemin aux Boeuf chicane, which tests riders’ braking prowess.
As the championship battle intensifies, all eyes will be on Le Mans to see who can master the moment and emerge victorious in this high-stakes contest.
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MICHELIN Power Slick tyres, first in the history of MotoGP
The 2023 MotoGP World Championship explores new territories with, for the first time, a Grand Prix on Indian soil.
• Michelin Motorsport brings an extraordinary tyre package to a circuit where no Grand Prix motorcycle has yet ridden.
• The 13th round of the Championship will make history with the first lap times to be set on a track that’s known to be fastNew Delhi, 20 Sept. 2023: Inaugurated in October 2011, the Buddh International Circuit is located approximately 50 km southeast of the country’s capital, New Delhi. Designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the recently revised circuit is 4.96 km long, and is expected to be fast, with its eight right turns and five left. Its one kilometre straight, as well as the mix of hard braking, acceleration and rapid curves will generate significant stress on the tyres. With a width of 12 metres, the Buddh International Circuit benefits from a configuration which will allow the riders to fully express themselves, and should produce exciting racing. After practice and qualifying, the Sprint race and the Grand Prix will offer a high-intensity spectacle relying on the consistent performance of Michelin tyres.
“The discovery of this circuit will be the same for our partners as it will be for us”, said Piero Taramasso, manager of Michelin two-wheel competition. “It’s a very interesting situation because everyone is starting from zero and the strategy adopted at the start of the event will be crucial. For our part, we carried out computer simulations to try to assimilate the thermal stresses and select the best compounds, but it is clear that physical tests will be essential to refine the set-up of the motorcycles. This is the only time this season that we will race without benefiting from any prior data. The analyses that we have made of this circuit show similarities with the Red Bull Ring, in Spielberg (Austria), or Buriram (Thailand). As a result, we expect very demanding conditions for the rear tyres, and particularly on the right side. As the regulations allow, we will bring an additional compound for the front and rear. To meet the expected demands, we have selected symmetrical tyres for the front, and asymmetrical at the rear – which will be reinforced on the right side. We can’t wait to get there and see the first bikes out on track!”
An extraordinary situation, an exceptional tyre allocation
The regulations for each race weekend allow the use of three tyre options for the front, and two for the rear. However, in the case of a circuit without any prior testing it is possible to increase the number of compounds offered. Thus, for this first Indian Grand Prix, Michelin Motorsport will provide its partners with front tyres that have a Soft, a Medium and two Hard compounds (instead of one), with one of the two having a slightly stiffer construction than the other. For the rear, three compounds – Soft, Medium and Hard – will be available instead of the usual two. With these options, the riders will benefit from the widest tyre choice to refine their settings. In the event of rain, the MICHELIN Power Rain range will be available in two compounds (Soft and Medium) for the front and rear, and all rear tyres will benefit from a reinforced right side due to the number of turns in that direction.
On the Buddh International Circuit, the Grand Prix motorcycles will take to the track on the morning of Friday 22 September for a first free practice session scheduled for 1 hour 10 minutes instead of the usual 45 minutes. A second session, again lasting 1h10 instead of an hour, will take place in the afternoon, and this session will allow the 10 fastest riders to progress directly into Q2. Saturday will start with a 30-minute free practice session in the morning, followed by Q1 and Q2 (15 minutes each), and these will be followed by the Sprint race (12 laps) in the afternoon. As usual, the Grand Prix (24 laps) will take place on Sunday afternoon, after a 10-minute warm-up in the morning.
About Michelin
Michelin’s ambition is to sustainably improve its customers’ mobility. The leader in the mobility sector, Michelin designs, manufactures, and distributes the tires best suited to their requirements and uses as well as services and solutions to improve transport efficacy. Michelin also puts forward offers that allow its customers to enjoy unique moments when traveling. Michelin also develops high-technology equipment intended for multiple fields. Based in Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin is present in 175 countries, employs 132,200 people and operates 67 tire factories that, together, produced approximately 167 million tires in 2022. (www.michelin.com).
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Michelin’s new MotoGP range set for 2021 race début at Losail
Doha, 22 March 2021: An intensive programme over the winter break has seen Michelin make further improvements to its tyres for the MotoGP™ World Championship. Despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Michelin Motorsport’s development experts have responded to Dorna Sports’ call for technical stability by building on the range’s existing strengths, with the accent on fine-tuning the tyres’ respective casing/compound pairings. The result is a more streamlined and more versatile range for 2021, along with greater consistency, in perfect keeping with the brand’s ‘Grip made to last’ pledge.
The official test sessions earlier this month saw Michelin complete its groundwork and preparations ahead of this year’s MotoGP™ World Championship which will kick off with two grands prix under the floodlights of Qatar’s Losail International Circuit. With assistance from the state’s government, and in compliance with strict sanitary measures, Dorna Sports has effectively succeeded in organising back-to-back races there, beginning with the Barwa Grand Prix of Qatar on March 28, followed by the Grand Prix of Doha on April 4. In keeping with the tradition that gives the action in Qatar its unique flavour, both clashes will take place after nightfall.
Because of its desert location and the frequent presence of wind-blown sand on the track, Losail International Circuit’s surface is notoriously abrasive and tends to become more slippery as grip levels drop off due to the cooler temperatures encountered after sunset. However, the ability of Michelin’s MotoGP tyres to take these characteristics in their stride has contributed actively to the setting of new fastest-race-lap, shortest-race-duration and top-speed records for the 5.380-kilometre circuit.
Tyres available for the two Qatar races
MICHELIN Power Slick tyres: SOFT (white sidewall markings), MEDIUM (no markings) and HARD (yellow markings) front and rear. The SOFT and HARD fronts are symmetric, while the MEDIUM front and all three rear options are asymmetric, with a harder compound for the right shoulder due to the circuit’s 10 right-hand turns, compared with just six left-handers. The tyre allocation has also been adapted to the characteristics of the track. Each rider can choose a maximum of 6 SOFT, 5 MEDIUM and 4 HARD tyres for the front and rear.
In the case of poor weather, and subject to their use being authorised by Race Control, SOFT (blue sidewall markings) and MEDIUM (no markings) front and rear MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will also be available (asymmetric rears).
Piero Taramasso (Two-Wheel Manager, Michelin Motorsport)
“I am very proud of what Michelin Motorsport’s teams in Clermont-Ferrand and on the ground have achieved. In spite of the difficult circumstances they had to contend with, and working within the existing technical framework, they have succeeded in building on the experience we acquired in 2020 to revisit our MotoGP range in depth. Our pre-season test programme saw us meet our development targets and the results are extremely encouraging. They mean we will be able to provide the riders with a range that is both more streamlined and more versatile, and that in turn will facilitate their bike set-up work. We have also improved consistency by a move to slightly harder compounds, while at the same time maximising grip and overall performance. These gains were praised by our partners at the pre-season test in Qatar where our tyres played a part in the establishment of two new MotoGP records for Losail: that of the fastest lap for the track – which was the work of Ducati Team’s Jack Miller, with a time of 1m53.183s – and that of the highest speed ever reached there when Johann Zarco’s Pramac Racing Ducati was clocked at 357.6kph down the main straight!”
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MotoGP moves to Montmelo for the triple-header final: A Michelin view
Barcelona, 23 Sept 2020: Michelin has travelled straight from Italy to Spain for the third race in a triple-header as MotoGP™ heads to Montmeló near Barcelona for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya which is the eighth round of this truncated fourteen-race season.
Originally scheduled for June of this year, the race at the 4,627m Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was rescheduled for late September following the worldwide pandemic. It was reconfigured and resurfaced in 2018, and this high-abrasive circuit features fast and sweeping corners, a straight over a kilometre long and elevation changes throughout its layout. It’s a track that is favourite amongst riders and often serves up exciting racing and a fantastic atmosphere, which will sadly not be there this season as due to the health protocols there will be no spectators at trackside.
Michelin has prepared a range of tyres that is ideally selected to face the requirements of the circuit and with weather conditions expected to be similar to those that would have been experienced earlier in the year, the data from previous races and tests proved invaluable when choosing the best compounds for the range of MICHELIN Power Slick tyres. Front and rear slicks will be in the usual soft, medium and hard versions, the soft and medium fronts will be symmetric, whilst the front hard and all the rears will incorporate an asymmetric finish with a harder right-hand-side, this is designed to manage the eight turns which go in that direction, compared to just the six that go left.
Rain is an unknown factor at this time of year, as autumn approaches Catalunya, so the circuit could experience some precipitation. If wet weather does arrive the range of MICHELIN Power Rain tyres in the allocation will be a soft and medium symmetric front, with soft and medium asymmetric rears, with the harder right shoulder.
Michelin’s work at Montmeló will get underway on Friday morning with the first Free Practice session, followed by a second in the afternoon, the next day will have two more practices ahead of the excitement of Qualifying on Saturday afternoon. The race will get underway on Sunday 27th September at a later start time than usual, as the MotoGP field will line up on the Michelin tyres for the start of the 24-lap race at 15.00hrs local time (14.00hrs BST, 15.00hrs CEST, 13.00hrs UTC).
Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager:
“It seems strange to head to Barcelona as the autumn is arriving and not in springtime, but we are expecting similar conditions to what we would have had if the race had been on its original date, so the range of tyres we have supplied is the same as we would have used if the original calendar had stayed in place. The track is one that gives a really good workout for the tyres, due to its comprehensive layout that features fast corners, a long straight, hard braking and is also very tough on the right-hand-side of the tyre, due to the long corners that go in that direction. This means that what we bring to Barcelona has to do a bit of everything, but has to do it very well and we certainly have a range of tyres for that.”
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Michelin Tyre Test Session planned for Phillip Island
Buriram, 4 Oct 2019: At the Pramac-Generac Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, there will be an extra 20-minute tyre test session for the MotoGP™ class on Friday. This will take place from 15:55 to 16:15 local time and will not count towards combined practice time classification.
The session is to give Official MotoGP™ tyre supplier Michelin the opportunity to assess a new specification slick rear tyre at an especially demanding circuit for the rear. This latest evolution has a new construction designed to improve performance at all tracks and has already been tested at the Barcelona, Brno and Misano Tests with the aim of introducing it in 2020. The version that Michelin will bring to the Australian Grand Prix is asymmetric with a harder left-hand side and features the existing compounds specifically designed to combat the huge stresses the tyres are placed under at Phillip Island.
Each rider will have one rear tyre in the new specification available and will be able to choose between a soft and a medium compound. Riders will also be given an extra front tyre of their preferred specification – soft, medium or hard – and will be asked to do a minimum of 11 timed laps. Following the 20-minute evaluation session, a decision will then be taken as to whether the rear tyre will be added to next year’s race weekend allocation.
This Tyre Test Session may only be conducted in dry conditions and Race Direction may therefore be required to modify the Time Schedule accordingly
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Dovizioso wins a thriller: A Michelin’s view as it battles the heat
Dovizioso wins at Brno. on Sunday. A Michelin image Brno (Czech Republic) 5 Aug 2018: Michelin faced excessive track temperatures all weekend at Brno during round 10 of the MotoGP™ World Championship before a cooling of the surface today saw the Monster Energy Grand Prix České Republiky produce another exciting race with Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) taking a stunning victory.
This weekend saw asphalt temperatures rise to above 50°C – which is the highest it has been for MotoGP at the 5,403m Brno circuit this century – and the MICHELIN Power Slick tyres had to contend with this as well as the complexities of this technically demanding circuit. With its heavy-braking downhill sections and hard acceleration zones, all of which were magnified with the extreme heat, the riders and teams worked unstintingly with their respective Michelin Technicians to get the optimum performance for their respective machines in preparation for the race.
Today saw a drop in temperature as the clouds cooled things down and the track thermometer read just 38°C and this change caused many teams to rethink their plans and alter the choice of tyres as the race approached. When the lights went out to signal the start of today’s main event, the front medium and hard compounds and the rear soft and hard versions were all that were favoured by the 25 riders that lined up on the grid for the 21-lap race.
Dovizioso was on pole, but he was beaten to the first corner by Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP), before the Ducati man regained the lead to head the field at the end of Lap 1 The initial stages of the race were a guarded affair as no rider wanted to show their hand and chose to preserve their Michelin tyres for the long race ahead. As the laps ticked by lap-times improved and a battle started to form at the front. Dovizioso and Rossi were joined by Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) and Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team). These five swapped places numerous times as the race drew to a close, with some impressive overtaking as the top riders in the world put their faith in the performance of the rubber and pushed their Michelin tyres to the limit. The latter part of the race gave the 84,678 fans at trackside, and the millions more watching on TV around the globe, huge excitement as Dovizioso, Lorenzo and Marquez fought for the podium positions. As the flag dropped Dovizioso took victory on his Ducati, Lorenzo followed him home with Marquez third, as this trio also set the three fastest laps of the race on the last circulation, demonstrating the durability of the MICHELIN Power Slicks over such a demanding race. Rossi finished in fourth, with Crutchlow taking fifth and the position of First Independent Rider. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) was sixth, with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) securing the seventh place. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) was eighth, Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) on his 150th MotoGP start taking ninth and Alex Rins (Team SUZUKI ECSTAR) rounding out the top-ten.
Michelin will now remain at Brno for a one-day official test, before travelling straight to the Red Bull Ring at Spielberg in Austria for round 11 of the championship, which will be held next Sunday.
Andrea Dovizioso – Ducati Team:
“The front worked really well and I’m very happy with its performance today, especially on this track where there are a lot of bumps and it is normally very difficult. We are very focused on the rear because on our bike we are always trying to preserve the tyres for the end of the race. Overall this weekend it has been very good as we had an advantage with our bike with acceleration, so we always have a chance to fight right until the end. We are still trying to adapt the bike to the tyres and get the very best performance and that is something we will continue to work on.”
Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager:
“This has been a real complex weekend for us. We did not anticipate the extreme track temperatures we would face and the working range that the tyres would have to contend with. Due to how we have progressed during our three seasons in MotoGP the operating windows are now much larger and this was highlighted as every rear compound was a raceable option today. The durability of the tyres was a very important issue, but we knew that the tyres could withstand the 21 tough laps around here no matter what the temperature and that was proved as Jorge, Marc and Andrea set the three fastest laps respectively on the very last lap. This has been a very positive weekend for Michelin and we will now stay for the test where we have a new tyre to evaluate, before we head to Austria and another tough examination at a very unique track.”
ends/db
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New asphalt and layout awaits in Barcelona; three tyre options available
The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya with new layout. Source: MotoGP Barcelona, 13 June 2018: The Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya hosts the seventh round of the 2018 MotoGP™ season, with the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya having undergone a complete resurfacing, as well as modifications being made at Turn 13.
Michelin had initially planned to bring four tyre allocations to the Catalan GP, however the test that was completed here last month meant the Official MotoGP™ Class Tyre could narrow the options down to three.
The three front slick tyres in a soft, medium and hard compound will all be symmetric in design, whilst the three rear slicks – also in soft, medium and hard – will feature a harder right-hand-side, giving them an asymmetric performance to cope with the eight right turns that the track possesses, in contrast to just five left corners.
Source: MotoGP Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager, said: “Catalunya was another track that we had little knowledge of what to expect when we made the plan for tyre allocation before the season had started. The recent test we had there – which featured almost the whole MotoGP field – has changed that and given us a clear plan, this has allowed us to make the decision of what tyres we need to bring to cope with the new surface and layout.
“It was a very positive test and the riders gave some good feedback, which has enabled us to choose the specific compounds which are ideally matched to the new asphalt. The times were very fast, even though we were comparing them to the older layout, so we expect some very quick laps this weekend. This is always one of the best events of the season and the track gives some thrilling racing, so we hope we can play a big part in that excitement by supplying the riders with the optimum tyres to give them the best performance possible.”
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Marquez takes pole: Phillip Island
Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) will be starting from pole at Phillip Island, as the reigning Champion took back the honour on his final lap after being threatened at the top by Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and Motegi polesitter Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who now join the reigning Champion on the front row. Marquez’ key title rival Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) had a tough session, taking P11. Skies were dry, but it remained far from tropical on the Island.
Andrea Iannone (Team Suzuki Ecstar) heads up the second row as one of the key protagonists of the 2015 Island Battle was unleashed in Q2, with Jack Miller (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) another notable performance in P5 – equaling his best ever qualifying result, also gained at Phillip Island last season. Miller is also back on the grid for the first time since breaking his leg in training three weeks ago, making the second row start even more impressive.
Sixth on the grid is yet another stunning display of progress for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing as Pol Espargaro took the marque onto the second row – and in fully dry conditions. Espargaro has a good record at the Island, including the biggest winning margin in Moto2™ history in 2012.
Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) – the man who led the charge from Q1 – took P7, with Friday’s fastest Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing Team Gresini) just behind in eighth. Bradley Smith (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who followed Rossi through from Q1, will line up ninth – making it both KTM riders in Q2 in the dry for the first time. In 2014, Smith took his first premier class podium at the venue.
Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) crashed out on a hot lap and was left to complete the top ten, with Andrea Dovizioso just 0.067 seconds behind the Brit. A tough day at the office, ‘DesmoDovi’ will want to replicate his form from the early stages of the Japanese GP, when he moved through from P9 to get in the fight at the front and then take that stunning win. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) was P12.
Just left behind in Q1, Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) will start thirteenth, ahead of Tito Rabat (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) and Karel Abraham (Pull&Bear Aspar Team). Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) qualified in P16 after a big crash in FP3 – rider ok, but with a sprained left ankle. The Majorcan will be looking to his stunning record at smashing the pain barrier to move forward on Sunday. For full results, click here.
It’s Phillip Island, it’s uncertain weather, and it’s 11 points in it. Make sure to watch the rumble Down Under on Sunday, with lights out at the slightly later hour of 16:00 local time (GMT +11).
eom/MotoGP press release
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MotoGP to go with Michelin tyres till 2023
Couasnon, Director Michelin and Ezpeleta of Dorna at a press meet, Philip Island GP on Friday. A MotoGP photo Contract extension confirms the French firm will continue as official, sole tyre supplier of the premier class from 2019-2023
Dorna Sports announced a contract extension with Michelin that will see the French marque continue as the sole, official tyre supplier to MotoGP until at least 2023. The five-year agreement, covering the 2019 to 2023 seasons, is announced at the Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Phillip Island, Victoria, as the countdown continues to the grand finale of another stunning season of racing action.
Michelin, based in Clermont-Ferrand in France, joined MotoGP as sole supplier in 2016. Since then, the premier class has enjoyed two of the most spectacular seasons in the 69-year history of motorcycle Grand Prix racing – something both parties are delighted to extend for a further five years. As part of the agreement, the Michelin brand will also continue to be featured trackside at each event – and will be the title sponsor of a Grand Prix. The Michelin Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix in 2017 makes the perfect stage from which to announce this contract as MotoGP prepares to take on the fabled Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit in another classic encounter.
Pascal Couasnon, Director of Michelin Motorsport: “After two seasons that have seen tyre performance and strategy make a real contribution to the show delivered by motorcycle racing’s premier series, Dorna Sports has decided to extend its collaboration with Michelin as technical partner and exclusive tyre supplier to MotoGP for five more years. We are naturally delighted to have earned the confidence of Carmelo Ezpeleta and his team. Michelin intends to use its continuing association with Dorna Sports to continue developing ever-safer and more competitive racing tyres, as well as innovations that will go on to benefit our road tyres. Michelin is also delighted to continue working with the teams and riders who gave us such a warm welcome back after our absence from the championship and also to be able to build on the sense of pride felt by our staff following our successful return to MotoGP.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO Dorna Sports: “I am delighted that MotoGP and Michelin will continue their collaboration for a further five years. MotoGP has only continued to grow, excite and thrill fans since Michelin came on board as sole tyre supplier in 2016, and we are proud that our partnership will once again form the foundations of a further five years of stunning racing. This is fantastic news for the Championship, teams and riders as we look to the future.”
eom/MotoGP press release
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Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi: A Michelin view
The MotoGP bandwagon is on the way to the first of the three back-to-back flyaway races head initially to the Far East for the Motul Grand Prix of Japan at Motegi before travelling to Australia and Malaysia respectively. Then the season will end in Spain.
The 4,801m Twin Ring Motegi circuit is located in the northern Kantō region of the Haga District within the Tochigi Prefecture, approximately a three-hour drive from the country’s capital Tokyo. Situated in vast woodland, the circuit features the road course which will see the MotoGP stars racing on during the weekend and an oval circuit which has been used for American-style motorsport such as NASCAR and CART. Initially constructed in 1997 by Honda as a test facility, the location became a permanent member of the MotoGP calendar in 1999, initially as the Japanese GP, before becoming the Pacific Grand Prix between 2000 and 2003, and then regaining the title of the country’s race in 2004.
Here we look at the Michelin’s view of the circuit: With demanding braking and hard-acceleration zones over the circuit’s undulating configuration throughout its six left and eight right-hand bends, the track is very stressful for the tyres, especially due to its abrasive surface. With all these factors – allied to the lower temperature which can be expected at Motegi at this time of the year – the tyres available need special attention to give the best performance for all riders and machines. The range of three front MICHELIN Power Slicks in soft, medium and hard compounds will be a symmetric design, whilst the rear compositions will be asymmetric with a harder right-hand-side to manage the increased turns which that side of the tyre has to contend with, and the compounds for all tyres have been specifically picked to match the track’s demands. Wet weather is always possible in Japan in October and the MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will be in a soft and medium option for the front and an extra soft and soft version for the rear, with all tyres being a symmetrical design.
As the season reaches its climax – with just four rounds to go – the championship is still wide open with the top-five in the title chase covered by just 56-points and with a maximum of 100 still up-for-grabs it looks like being a close finish. The first of the final-four races will get underway at Motegi on Friday 13th October, when Michelin and the MotoGP field take to the track for the first of two Free Practice sessions on that day. Saturday will see Qualifying take place as the riders battle for the best grid positions in readiness for Sunday’s 24-lap race. The main event gets underway at 14.00hrs local time (07.00CEST, 06.00BST, 05.00UTC) on Sunday 15th October as the pack will prepare to fire its way to the first corner and push the Michelin tyres to the performance limit in the search for MotoGP glory in the Land of the Rising Sun.
Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager:
“As we head towards the business end of the season – where the title will be decided – we have one of the biggest tasks we have to undertake all year. The three fly-away races present a massive logistical operation and we have already sent over 70% of the tyres – we will have to allocate – by sea-freight and then the rest we will send by air. It is never easy trying to guess what the conditions will be like, especially in Australia, but we have some good experience from last year and that will make sure we are prepared for most things – unless it snows!
“The first race in Japan is on a track that can create extreme stresses, especially with its hard-braking zones such as 90-degree turn, so we need to have tyres that can cope with these, as well as having good warm-up properties as it can be quite cold at Motegi in the mornings. The track has good grip levels and we will be taking the tyres that we are sure will perform at the best levels and ensure the show is as good as it has been all season so far.”
eom/with inputs from Michelin
Next up
Sepang, Malaysia
Motegi circuit. Image by MichelinOn Oct 29: The first Malaysian Grand Prix was held at the Shah Alam circuit in 1991 and saw a debut win in the premier class for John Kocinski riding a Yamaha. Shah Alam hosted the event for seven years before the Malaysian GP went to Johor for a single year in 1998.
In 1999 the brilliant Sepang International Circuit near Kuala Lumpur, designed by respected racetrack architect Hermann Tilke, hosted its first Grand Prix, with the 500cc race won by Kenny Roberts, Jr on a Suzuki. Since then Sepang has been a consistent fixture on the calendar and the circuit has also been extensively used for MotoGP™ preseason testing over the years.
