Michelin heads home chasing track records

Fresh from a 400th premier-class victory at Jerez, MotoGP tyre supplier Michelin is turning its focus on new lap records during its home round at Le Mans this weekend.

Aiding Michelin's quest will be the fact that, for the first time since the opening Qatar round, they will face a circuit with the same asphalt as last season.

Le Mans was resurfaced prior to the 2017 event, where new race records were set.

Symmetric compounds will be used for the soft, medium and hard front tyres with a harder right-hand side for the corresponding rear slicks. Soft and medium wets will also be on offer, again asymmetric for the rear.

“After the last three races, where we have had to prepare for completely new surfaces, it is good to head to a track where we have some knowledge and race experience," said Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager Piero Taramasso.

"Le Mans was resurfaced last year and we were able to test there before the race, so that assisted with the data and we had a very successful weekend, the tyres performed well and we broke a couple of records.

"That is obviously our target this year and it something very important to Michelin to perform well in front of the home crowd and all the members of the Michelin workforce that will be present.

"Le Mans is not the most demanding circuit, but it does need a tyre that can give good control and stability at the front under heavy braking, along with drivability out of the slower corners so the riders can put the power down, this is what we have prepared for and the allocation meets those requirements.”