Following the Mugello race weekend, the Michelin Motorsport team will be heading directly from Italy to Spain as the MotoGP™ paddock relocates to Montmeló near Barcelona for the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, the ninth round of the 2022 season.
Originally built in 1991, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya was reconfigured and resurfaced in 2018, and then some further changes were made in 2020 to improve safety at Turn 10. At 4.627km (2.894 miles) in length with a 1,047m straight, the circuit features elevation changes throughout its six left- and eight right-hand corners, along with a highly abrasive surface and a fast and sweeping layout. These characteristics make the track a favourite amongst riders and fans, and it oftens serves up exciting racing, along with a fantastic atmosphere.
The Michelin tyre allocation has been selected to handle the demands of the circuit and the usual warm weather conditions expected at this time of year. Front and rear Michelin Power Slicks will be available in the usual Soft, Medium and Hard compounds, with all front options being symmetric, whilst the rears will all be asymmetric, with a harder right-hand-side to manage the stresses placed on the tyres by the greater number of corners in that direction.
Although unlikely, rain showers can still make an appearance at this time of year, so if wet weather does arrive a range of Michelin Power Rain tyres will be available in Soft and Medium symmetric fronts, along with Soft and Medium asymmetric rears, again with a harder right shoulder.
Speaking about the Catalunya race, Piero Taramasso, Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, said: “Last year, due to the safety changes made to Turn 10, the lap records were all new, but this year I will be hoping to improve on these times with our 2022 tyre allocation. I’m sure that the tyres will give the riders the confidence to push, and this will no doubt be helped by the electric atmosphere that will be created by the expected capacity crowd.
“As always, this is a challenging race logistically due to the fact that our team will have to drive the 875 kilometres from Mugello to our base in Clermont-Ferrand immediately after the race. Here they will unload the Mugello tyres before loading the trucks with the Catalunya allocation, and then continuing their journey for the final 600 kilometres to Barcelona.”
The track action will get underway on Friday with the first two Free Practice sessions, and this will be followed by two more Free Practice sessions ahead of Qualifying on Saturday afternoon. On Sunday, the lights will go out for the start of the 24-lap race at 14:00 local time.
