MotoGP, Michelin: 4 tyre options for the Argentina GP

Michelin doesn't want to find itself ill-prepared for Termas de Rio Hondo, a circuit that has really put the French tyres to the test in recent years. High temperatures and an abrasive asphalt make for stressed tyres, but this year there's another issue, in that some parts of the track have been resurfaced.

Michelin has not had chance to carry out any testing following the work and so, in order to prevent any problems, it has asked Dorna if it can bring 4 different compounds (for both front and rear) rather than the usual 3 as cited in the regulation.

Special dispensation has been given and riders will have one soft, two medium and one hard compound of slick tyre available for the weekend. The tyres are all symmetrical in construction, with the exception of the hard rear, which has a more resistant right shoulder.

Michelin two-wheel manager Piero Taramasso explains how they arrived at this decision: “Argentina has been a circuit that has certainly given us a number of challenges during the two years we have raced there. It is a track that can be very hot, have high abrasiveness and then it can rain and the temperature drops quite a lot, so we must be ready for every eventuality. This year those uncertainties have been added to with parts of the track being resurfaced, so we are going there with very little knowledge of what exactly to expect."

This led to a need to preempt possible issues.

"Track staff has been very helpful with advanced info, but that is different from having existing data from races or tests on a new surface. That is why when Dorna asked us to fix the tyre allocation at the start of the season we had it included that we could take a fourth option front and rear slick to Argentina, so that we can give all the riders the best opportunity to find a balance of tyres that best suits them, their bike and the altered track. We believe with the knowledge we have gathered since our return to MotoGP we have the right compounds to take on the Termas track and hope to see some very fast times recorded during the weekend.”