After the natural disaster that recently struck the region of Valencia, Dorna Sports has worked to keep the season finale in Spain. It will be on the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit that the 2024 MotoGP World Champion will be crowned this weekend. This is the second time in six months that the championship has set foot on Catalan soil, and the third time in just over a year – the 2023 Grand Prix having taken place there in September. This seasonal change has led Michelin to review the tyre package dedicated to this track.
“Between May and November, the temperature differences are such that we had to adapt” says Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s two-wheel racing manager. "The configuration of the circuit does not fundamentally change the situation, but this difficult track is known for its low level of grip. It is also asymmetric, with much greater stresses being placed on the right side of the tyres. As the regulations provide for in such circumstances, we will bring additional rubber compounds for the front and the rear. We started from the package used in May, and we have added a softer rear compound in case the track is colder, as this will complement the Soft and Medium compounds (which become Medium and Hard), which worked very well during both the Tissot Sprint and the Grand Prix. These three rear tyres will be asymmetric, with a reinforced right shoulder. For the front we have decided not to bring the Hard compound MICHELIN Power Slick that we had in May because we think it would not be used. Instead, we are keeping the Soft and Medium options, to which we are adding two asymmetric specifications that we usually see in Valencia, at the Sachsenring (Germany) or at Phillip Island (Australia), but with a reinforcement on the right. We want to offer our partners all the possible solutions to effectively manage the temperature of the tyres, and to have an end to the championship as spectacular as many of the races we have already seen this season.”
In summary, this November in Barcelona, Michelin’s partners will have four front tyres at their disposal: 1 asymmetric Soft compound tyre, 1 symmetrical Medium compound tyre and another with a Hard compound, and finally an asymmetric Hard option, with the right side reinforced. For the rear, we will have three asymmetric tyres in Soft, Medium and Hard, with the Medium and Hard being the Soft and Medium of last May.
In case of rain, the MICHELIN Power Rain range will be available in Soft and Medium compounds for both the front and rear, with the latter being asymmetric, with a harder right side, like the slick ranges.
The Barcelona-Catalunya circuit is 4.627 km long, with six left-hand turns and eight right-handers, as well as a 1,047m straight. It is a track that allows for very high speeds of more than 350 km/h, and where overtaking is common. In May new records were set: Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) set the all time circuit lap record in 1'38.190; the fastest lap in the race was set in 1'39.664 by Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3); and the duration of the Grand Prix was reduced to 40'11.726.
This weekend the track action will begin on Friday 15 November at 10:45 with Practice 1 (45 min). A second session, this time qualifying and allowing the 10 fastest riders to go directly to Q2, will then be held between 15:00 and 16:00. The following day, after Free Practice, two MotoGP qualifying sessions will take place between 10:50 and 11:30, and the fastest two riders from Q1 will also qualify for Q2 (making 12 riders in total). The start of the 12-lap Sprint race will be at 15:00, and the 24-lap Grand Prix is scheduled for Sunday 17 November at 14:00.
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