Michelin heads for 'biggest challenge'.

Thursday, 4th October 2007

Michelin heads for the fastest, most challenging, event of the MotoGP year at Phillip Island next weekend hoping for consistent weather in which to prove the performance of its latest tyres.

At last month's Japanese GP the French tyre brand had looked ready to back up its one-two finish at the previous Portuguese GP, after its top riders had ruled practice and qualifying. But rainy race-day weather upset the Motegi order and the highest placed Michelin rider, Nicky Hayden, finished just ninth.

With a single-tyre proposal, unpopular with the tyre manufacturers, now being actively discussed to level the playing field in Moto GP next season, Michelin will want to prove that such drastic action is unnecessary by taking the fight to Brigestone in the final three rounds - starting with the 'biggest challenge' of the year.

"Phillip Island is the biggest challenge of the year for the tyre companies," said Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing. "It is a big challenge because the circuit layout is the most demanding on tyres, producing the highest operating temperatures of the MotoGP season. The track is dominated by several fast and long left-handers which riders attack with a lot of speed and a lot of throttle, so the heat build-up in the left side of the tyres is quite big. The corner onto the start finish and the exit of Southern Loop probably put the most heat into the tyres.

"The circuit is also quite asymmetric, with only a few right-handers, so this adds to the challenge, especially since conditions can be quite cold at this time of year, so you also need good warm-up performance, especially on the right side of the tyres and especially in the mornings when conditions are cooler. Finally, the weather can be quite unpredictable, as we saw last year, which further complicates the situation.

"We are looking forward to seeing how the latest version of our new construction rear works at Phillip Island. All our top riders like this tyre now. Dani [Pedrosa] didn't use it at Estoril, when he finished second just behind Valentino [Rossi], but he did use it at Motegi, where he was fastest in every session. The tyre is better in terms of edge grip and also gives better traction, so the rider can open the throttle sooner. We have also improved the warm-up potential of the tyres in recent months.

"We are confident that the new construction will work well at Phillip Island, though our tyre consignment in Australia will be about two thirds of this tyre and one third of the previous construction, because depending on compound, the 'old' construction may work better in some conditions.

"We also have two new profile fronts, one which we first gave our riders at the post-Czech GP tests in August, the other which Nicky and Colin [Edwards] tried for the first time at Motegi. This latest tyre has a slightly different design to give a bigger contact patch and more edge grip, so it should work well through the long corners at Phillip Island, even better than it did at Motegi where the corners are shorter."

Michelin has never lost a four-stroke Moto GP race at Phillip Island.

everything has to be perfect at philli,, i want to see vale spoil KC's party!!!

Me too..
That's no nasty is it??
Just a bit cheeky maybe..

Ohhh no, don`t worry, it`s not at all
Now it`s a question of pride for us to fight back

i was imagine people would running in to KC smiling face but they only pass him to look out another guy in yams bike and give him a crown
it's cruel isn't it? btw i'm only a human

Nothing cruel at all! I iamgined that to myself for thousands times you know! We`re not forbidden to dream from time to time, right?

Nooooo it's not cruel, it's fun Haha imagine.. that would be hilarious to see the look on his face

whats the free practise times????? or am I too early to ask this????? what day is it today... Man I'm sooo lost... and yes the race is on 14th and NOT on 7th... jees me head aint on this planet.... and my brilliant life has an exam on the 15th....

hope Vale drives circles around KC and gives me a wonderful day so that my exam goes well...

Little bit lost in dates? Me too! Every day I messed all days and dates, before the school started - there I see on the blackboard a date written every morining, so it`s easier to get orintated, on what planet you are!

Yep, hoping Vale will be on the top next weekend! He must win PI since victory on the territory of the rival, as i know in football it`s true, is even more valuable!

hehe..cruel but fun..ı'd like to see also how vale spoil his ''little party''in p.island..