Preview – PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia 2024 – R19

Press Release Michelin has revised its tyre package based on the constraints of the bikes and the weather • The 19th and penultimate round of the 2024 MotoGP™ World Championship takes place this weekend at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, a track well known to Michelin teams. • Heat and humidity will be key to the weekend's performance so Michelin will bring a tyre package appropriate to the conditions, and one that is also tuned to the characteristics of the 2024 bikes. • As the end of the season approaches, the Riders' World Championship title is still at stake, while all Sepang records date back to 2023, and could be broken again. The PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia is an important event for MotoGP fans, with more than 90,000 making the trip in 2023 for the Grand Prix race day alone, and 183,000 for the whole weekend. So many enthusiasts braved the intense heat (more than 35°C air temperature and almost 60°C on the track) and also the high humidity of South-East Asia to come and support their MotoGP heroes. The fast 5.543km Petronas Sepang International Circuit consists of 15 corners, 10 of which are right-handers. It also has two straights, one of which exceeds 900 metres, which allows the bikes to flirt with top speeds of 340 km/h (337.5 km/h last year for Jorge Martin). The weather conditions and the very demanding nature of the track dictate the use of very versatile tyres, with high performance levels that remain consistent over time. Drawing on its experience at Sepang, where official tests are held at the start of each season, Michelin Motorsport has prepared an advanced tyre package for its partners, that takes into account this situation. "This is a race with very high stakes," says Piero Taramasso, Michelin's two-wheel racing manager. "On the one hand, we are approaching the end of the championship and anything is still possible in terms of the Riders' title. On the other hand, as our tyres continue to break records, we know that expectations will be very high. Last year our MICHELIN Power Slick range demonstrated a very high overall level of performance and impressed our partners with its great consistency – with the fastest lap in the race being set in the second half of the Grand Prix. This year, we have selected a package that continues to highlight the versatility of our tyres, and which meets the requirements of the 2024 bikes. At the start of the season, the tests carried out here revealed a need for increasing front tyre stiffness, and as a result we have moved the hardness of our rubber compounds up a notch. This year, the 2023 Medium front compound will be Soft, the Hard becomes Medium, and we have introduced a new Hard option. At the rear, there is no change in the tread compounds, however we have reinforced the internal structure of the tyres to better control high temperatures. These options will allow us to perfectly support our partners, while the heat and humidity will put men and machines to the test." For the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, Michelin’s partners will have three symmetrical front compounds (Soft, Medium and Hard) at their disposal. While at the rear they will be able to choose between Medium and Hard compounds, both with an asymmetric tread, where the right side is harder due to the greater number of turns in this direction. In case of rain, Michelin will offer its MICHELIN Power Rain ranges in Soft and Medium compounds for the front and the rear, the latter of which will also be reinforced on the right side like the MICHELIN Power slicks.   Records to beat Tissot Sprint (1st edition in 2023) The record for the fastest lap in a Sprint race is held by Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team, in 1’58.996. The reference duration for the Sprint race was set at 19’58.713. Grand Prix The all-time circuit lap record of 1:57.491 was set in last year's Q2 session by Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). The record for the fastest race lap is 1:58.979, which was set by Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing), also in 2023. The best race duration time was also set last year, in 39:59.137. This was the first time it had gone under the 40-minute mark. The Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia track action will start on Friday 1 November with the first practice session from 10:45 to 11:30 (local time). Then a second session, scheduled for the afternoon from 15:00 to 16:00 will allow the 10 fastest riders to directly access the second phase of qualifying (Q2). After a final free practice session on Saturday morning from 10:10 to 10:40, Q1 will allow two additional riders to progress to Q2 in order to determine, at the end of Q2, the starting grid for the weekend. The start of the 10-lap Sprint race will be on Saturday at 15:00, and that of the 20-lap Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday 3 November, again at 15:00. About Michelin Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare. The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. (www.michelin.com) Preview - PDF Press Information Season 2024 - PDF For further information on Michelin Motorsport please visit:   www.michelinmotorsport.com     Alessandro Barlozzi - alessandro.barlozzi@michelin.com - Phone: +33 6 42 23 55 93 Copyright © 2024. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe?