Having just arrived from Malaysia, where a Grand Prix took place last weekend, the Michelin Motorsport teams accompanied their MotoGP championship partners in a special context on the Losail track (Qatar).
Most of those involved in the championship already knew the circuit, but the major work that recently took place on the site resulted in the race being postponed until the end of the season from its usual position on the calendar in March. Furthermore, the new asphalt laid in recent weeks invalidated most of the data in the possession of the teams and Michelin engineers. This unusual situation, combined with the natural pressure on the riders still in the running for the title of World Champion increased the pressure levels during the Sprint race as well as the Grand Prix. Fortunately, each rider was able to count on the expert advice of Michelin Motorsport, as well as the regulations in such cases.
These regulations allow for an additional tyre specification for the front and rear. It was then a voyage of discovery that the racing teams embarked on during the first test session on Friday afternoon. This involved testing four front tyres and three rears in order to define the best set-up for qualifying the next day – a complex job for which the Michelin Team Technical Advisors were valuable allies, allowing the riders to better understand which tyres were most appropriate for the situation. Good understanding of the data was all the more important, as the Qatar Grand Prix and the Tissot Sprint took place at 8 p.m., when track temperatures were cooler than during the daytime tests.
"This weekend, we helped our partners solve equations with several unknowns." stated Piero Taramasso, manager of the Michelin two-wheel competition department. "Not only was the track surface new, but it had never been run on by a Grand Prix motorcycle. No test could be organized beforehand, and the first test session, on a 'green' track, was truly a plunge into the unknown. We had to go very quickly into our analyses, but the lap times started to drop from the second session. Some records were then broken the next day during qualifying, a sign that we had made the right choices back at the factory by choosing the correct specifications, and then on the circuit during the set-up. Since the start of the season, we have clearly seen that despite changing and even unknown conditions, our tyres complement the increase in performance of the Grand Prix motorcycles. As we head towards the last race of the season, we can already say, given the number of records broken, that we have just experienced an exceptional period where the versatility of our tyres has been a key quality. And from a sporting point of view, we couldn’t have dreamed of better, since the World Championship title will be decided during the final round."
In Qatar on Saturday evening the Tissot Sprint was won by Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing) and Luca Marini (Ducati Mooney VR46 Racing Team).
The next day, the Grand Prix was won by Fabio Di Giannantonio (Gresini Racing) ahead of Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), with Luca Marini (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) taking third place.
In terms of the championship, only the third place of Marco Bezzecchi (Mooney VR46 Racing Team) has so far been confirmed. The championship title will be decided next weekend between Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).
The 20th and final round of the MotoGP World Championship will take place from 24 to 26 November at the Valencia circuit (Spain). It will also be the scene of Michelin’s 34th MotoGP title.
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