Following the American leg of the series, which was marked by unpredictable weather and low-grip conditions, from rain and a cold track in Argentina (20°C) to intense heat in Texas (45°C), the MotoGP™ paddock returns to Europe for the Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España. Round 4 of the 2023 MotoGP™ World Championship will take place from April 28-30 at Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto.
Located in the south of Spain, the track was built in 1986 and hosted its first grand prix the following year. It has since gone on to establish itself as a staple of the championship’s calendar, invariably attracting a large and enthusiastic crowd of fans who flock to the circuit to enjoy the two-wheeled entertainment underneath the Andalusian sun.
Jerez's 4.423km lap comprises five left-hand corners and eight to the right in addition to two short straights, the longest of which is just 607 metres. Its technical layout – allied to generally good weather – means the track is used all-year-round by different types of bikes. Its tight, twisty nature features a wide variety of corners and repeated weight shifts put tyres to a relentless test.
To tackle this challenge, this season’s allocation of MotoGP tyres for Jerez consists of a choice of three MICHELIN Power Slicks for the front (Soft, Medium and Hard) and two for the rear (Soft and Medium). The fronts are all symmetric and generally a notch stiffer than in 2022, while the asymmetric rears have a harder compound on the right to handle the eight corners that turn in this direction.
Whilst Jerez is usually warm and sunny at this time of year, rain cannot be discounted, and MICHELIN's Power Rain tyres will duly be available to riders in Soft and Medium specifications for both the front and rear. Like the slicks, the rears are asymmetric, with a harder compound on the right.
The weekend's action will begin on Friday, April 28 with Practice 1 (45 minutes) at 10:45am local time and the longer, 60-minute Practice 2 session at 3:00pm. Following Free Practice on Saturday, April 29, Qualifying will take place from 10:50am to 11:30am, with the 12-lap Sprint due to get underway at 3:00pm. The lights will then go out to signal the start of the 25-lap Gran Premio MotoGP™ Guru by Gryfyn de España on Sunday, April 30, at 2:00pm.
"The twisty nature of Jerez results in constant shifts in weight distribution, which makes life particularly hard for the front tyres," notes Piero Taramasso, the manager of Michelin's two-wheel motorsport programmes. "This year, we have revised the tyre allocation in order to address the way the bikes have evolved. To optimise performance and rider confidence, the fronts will have a more rigid compound compared with 2022. The rears will be softer globally, with the main spec being the Soft, plus a Medium alternative that will be available on hand should the weather prove particularly hot.”
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