Michelin ’s MotoGP ™ tyres were put to another strenuous test in today’s race as Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) produced a masterful display at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya to take his second successive victory following success at Mugello two weeks ago . The newly resurfaced Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya at Montmelo, produced a difficult examination for all riders and for the race rubber which Michelin had supplied. High track temperatures on the different asphalt gave the riders a new set of conditions to overcome from that which they faced at the test recently, when temperatures were much lower.
Lorenzo was the one that adapted best to the surface and the Michelin tyres which had been selected for the event. He set Pole on Saturday and recorded the fastest lap in today’s race on his way to a commanding victory by more than four – seconds. Michelin had made the selection for this weekend’ s race prior to the start of the season – due to new rules which had been introduced – and despite having to prepare for an unknown entity the tyres performed well all weekend and gave some impressive lap – times, as well as consistency on race – day.
The data gathered from this race will now enable the Michelin technicians to prepare optimum tyres for the Barcelona track for next season, which will give even greater performance and faster times . Lorenzo raced to victory at the 4,627m circuit on a pairing of soft MICHELIN Power Slick tyres for the front and rear, whilst second – placed Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) opted for the hard front and rear, with third place Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) making the same choice as the race winner , this trio meant the podium had three different manufa cturers filling the top – three positions.
Fourth , and the position of First Independent Rider , went to Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) using a medium front and a soft rear, whilst Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team) took fifth with a machine shod with a front and r ear medium tyre, meaning that the first five positions saw all six compounds available this weekend used in varying combinations , again highlighting the choice Michelin gives to all combatants.
Maverick Viñales (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) was next across the line in sixth with Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) in seventh. Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Racing) and Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team) raced their Ducatis to eighth and ninth respectively, with Andrea Iannone (Team SUZUKI E CSTAR ) rounding out the top – ten. Michelin will now remain at the Circuit de Barcelona – Catalunya with the majority of the MotoGP field for an official one – day test, before the series moves to its most northerly race of the season on Sunday 1 st July, when the Dutch TT takes place a t Assen in The Netherlands.
Jorge Lorenzo – Ducati Team: “ We had to manage the front and rear well today, because the track temperatures were high and after the Moto2 race the track had changed, so I had to adapt my riding style – as I had done in Mugello. It was also difficult because Marc never gave up and he made it very tough. Michelin did a good job here, because it was a new track . It was a hard race, but I didn’t lose concentration and in the end, we made possible what looked i m possible two – months ago!”
Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two – Wheel Manager: “This was a difficult weekend as we had not raced on this surface before so had no data when we had to select the tyres at the start of the season. We made what we thought was the best choice a nd after a recent test we decided on the three front and rear which were the best of the four we originally selected. After today we have more information on how the surface behaves and will definitely use this to make our decision on the tyres for next ye ar . That said, we brought three different front compound and three rears to here and all six were used today and all to good effect. This is always a pleasing thing as it justifies our choices and shows that we are constantly supplying tyres that all rider s and manufacturers can use . We now have a test on Monday where we will get more info and we have a new front tyre for all to test as we begin to prepare for 2019.”
