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MotoGP, Michelin Tyre Tech Notes GP Malaysia

As is the often the case here in Malaysia, there was one session in the dry this morning and another with a wet track this afternoon. A lot of sliding was felt in general with the rear slicks in these difficult conditions

MotoGP: Michelin Tyre Tech Notes GP Malaysia

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As is the often the case here in Malaysia, there was one session in the dry this morning and another with a wet track this afternoon.
Track temperatures were 41° C in FP1, dropping to 37° C following the rain prior to FP2.
 
The track surface was very dirty this morning, with little rubber to help with grip, however the lap times and the feedback to the riders improved from lap to lap. As a result it was difficult to really get a handle on the performance of the different slick options that were tested.
A lot of sliding was felt in general with the rear slicks in these difficult conditions, with some riders getting the sensation of a slight drop-off in performance, especially on the right side.
The Soft front was appreciated because of the high levels of feedback and confidence it gave to the riders, and the performance was easy to manage. The Medium front also worked well, but offered more stability.
 
The track was wet at the start of FP2 and gradually dried towards the end of the session. Most riders started the session with the Medium front/Medium rear rain tyres and they generally lasted around 18 laps, so almost to race distance. The appearance of the tyres following the session was very good considering they had done half of their laps on a drying/dry track. However, in these conditions there was excess heat generated and subsequent sliding.

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