An experimental soft Bridgestone slick designed specifically for the privateer 'CRT'
MotoGP riders, made an encouraging debut during the Valencia post-race test.
Bridgestone said that the new tyre is “more suited to the lower power output of these [CRT] machines compared to the softer option slick we supplied for the race”.
It was tried by ART riders
Randy de Puniet (Aspar) and Karel Abraham (Cardion AB) during the small window of dry track time on Wednesday afternoon.
“Two CRT riders tried the new soft specification rear tyre and commented that it provided a good improvement in rear grip which is encouraging,” said Shinji Aoki, manager of Bridgestone Motorsport's Tyre Development Department.
Due to the lower tyre stresses created by the CRT machines, the privateer riders have often been unable to use the harder compounds on offer at a grand prix.
Bridgestone also brought a new hard rubber compound for the manufacturer riders to try at the Valencia test, but the poor weather prevented its use. “None of the works riders were able to assess our new hard rubber compound” confirmed Aoki.
“Our focus now shifts to our winter development program and we plan to have a new batch of test tyres on hand for riders to test at the first pre-season test for 2013 at the Sepang in February next year.”