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MotoGP, Goubert: super soft tyre? We could change our minds

Michelin ready to do an about face: "We will analyze the data collected, then we will take a decision"

Goubert: super soft tyre? We could change our minds

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On Friday at Phillip Island it rained… criticism on Michelin. Many riders, Valentino at the head of the queue, complained about the decision to bring the super soft wet front tyre and then limit use to a maximum of 10 laps. The French manufacturer’s fears stemmed from the Brno GP, when the tyre went to pieces during the race. In the Czech Republic, however, it was summertime and the track was drying out. In Australia, on the other hand, it seems like winter and the asphalt was a lake.

We brought that tyre because we thought that the riders might find a lot of rain and low temperatures in the morning - Michelin top man Nicolas Goubert defends the decision - It was done for those kinds of conditions.

The French manager admits that the characteristics of Phillip Island are quite different from those at Brno, “This is not a demanding track for the front tyre and there are no abrupt braking sections”, and therefore, the reason for the decision to restrict the riders to only 10 laps is not resolved.

However, it opens up the possibility of changing their minds: “We will examine the data collected and then we will decide.

Michelin had tried to prepare for this round, historically one of the most difficult of the season for the tyres, as best as possible.

We brought three options for the front and two for the rear, including an asymmetrical tyre because this track turns almost all to the left and the right side heats up less and needs a softer compound - he explains - For conditions like the ones we had today, you cannot do very much. Theoretically you could make a tyre with deeper sculpting, but it would become unstable and in any case it would be pointless: when there is this much water, usually Race Direction suspends practice.

Translated by Jonathan Blosser
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