MotoGP, Michelin: we have tyres that are 'up to Phillip Island'

Phillip Island is a red alert track for tyre technicians. Fast turns and low temperatures are two significant issues for the tyres and Michelin has done its best in preparing for the Australian GP, of which it is also the title sponsor.

For the race, the French manufacturer has decided to provide the MotoGP riders with asymmetric tyres (with a harder left side) for both front and rear, in the usual three compounds of hard, medium and soft.

Piero Taramasso, manager for the two-wheel division, knows just how important this race is.

“Although every race is important to Michelin, the Phillip Island event has an added significance in that it bears the company’s name as the official sponsor. This gives a lot more involvement and added interest from all involved, not just from within the two-wheel sector, but throughout the whole company. The Asian-Pacific market is very important to Michelin, so to have a race under its name in that region is a great honour and has a lot of significance.

For this reason, there can be no mistakes.

“Phillip Island is one of the one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar and this adds to whole narrative for us as we have the added pressure of such a complicated and challenging circuit, alongside the association of being the title sponsors, so we obviously want to provide good racing and a strong performance from our tyres. We’ve created a range for here that must contend with high lap-speeds and very fast corners, so we need good grip and durability, as well as the facility for the tyres to warm up quickly as it can be quite cold at Phillip Island. This year’s selection has been produced from the data we gathered  last season in our first race here for seven-years and from February’s winter test. We have created tyres that will be able to perform at whatever limits Phillip Island can supply – which knowing the history of the track, that could be very extreme in either direction.”