The first of three pre-season tests before the start of the 2016 MotoGP championship has just concluded at Sepang in Malaysia.
As well as working on the latest chassis and ECU changes, riders have also been evaluating the latest rubber supplied by Michelin.
The French manufacturer took five brand new tyres with different profiles and casings to Malaysia, and were pleased to see some excellent lap times and a more positive response from riders, very much the culmination of several improvements made over the winter break.
Michelin Motorsport’s two-wheel programmes manager Piero Taramasso commented: “Our new front tyres worked well and notably gave very good grip. The riders feel conformable with them and they sense the limit more clearly. They are pleased with the improvements and progress we made over the winter break.”
Jorge Lorenzo was the only rider to lap in less than two minutes over the course of the three days with a 1m59.580s circulation. Lorenzo is noted for carrying his speed in the corners, and is a big fan of rubber with plenty of grip and feedback on the edges. “The times speak for themselves,” he said. “I’m very pleased with the work that Michelin has done. Enormous progress has been achieved and we are close to the feeling we had last year. I felt comfortable and quick on all three days and we should be even stronger in two weeks’ time at Phillip Island [Australia] where we plan to do race simulation work.”
Valentino Rossi was fourth at the end of the test. The Italian was almost a second short of his Movistar Yamaha MotoGP team-mate only managing a 2m0.556s lap but was still upbeat afterwards. “I’m happy with how the three days went. We tried a lot of things which will help us improve for the next test. We’ve still got plenty to do but Michelin’s engineers have worked well, especially on the front tyre. I tried several other types of tyre which have all progressed, too.”
Two time MotoGP champion Marc Marquez was fifth fastest and also finished the test feeling positive. “We’re some way off where we would like to be but I believe we took our package forward at Sepang, although there are still many improvements we need to make. We also tried different front tyres.”
Italy’s Danilo Petrucci (Octo Pramac Yakhnich) was delighted to have been the second fastest rider over the three days, even clocking the best lap on the second day of testing with a 2m0.095s on the Ducati. “We were fast and I feel more and more comfortable with Michelin’s tyres. The electronics are improving, too.”
Spaniard Hector Barberá on the Avintia Racing Ducati was third after adapting quickly to the new electronics and his new Michelin tyres.
The second day was interrupted following the nasty fall of his teammate Loris Baz who happily escaped unhurt from the 180mph incident.
Michelin consequently decided to withdraw the soft version of its rear tyre as a safety precaution, and Baz’s damaged rear was sent back to the French firm’s headquarters for detailed analysis.
Michelin Motorsport’s MotoGP staff will be back at work in a fortnight’s time at Phillip Island which is hosting the second pre-season test.
