Michelin expands to four tyre options at resurfaced Silverstone

Michelin has confirmed it will provide four different front and rear tyre compounds for the British MotoGP following Silverstone’s resurfacing.

The French tyre manufacturer has been unable to test on the new surface at the British track so has opted to expand its options from the usual three to four options for both front and rear tyres. The traditional soft, medium and hard tyres will be joined by a second hard option.

The front tyre specifications will have the soft as an asymmetric – with a harder right-hand side – while the front medium and both hard options remain symmetric.

All four rear tyres will be asymmetric with a harder right-hand side given the high demands on tyre wear produced at the Northamptonshire circuit. The usual two options of soft and medium wet tyres remain unchanged.

Michelin's motorsport two-wheel manager, Piero Taramasso, has explained the larger range has been selected following the circuits’ first full resurfacing in 22 years while the tyre manufacturer has not had an opportunity to test the new tarmac.

The resurfacing had been undertaken last winter to provide a smoother surface for both bikes and cars but following the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July drivers reported the circuit being even bumpier than before.

“This is another big challenge for us as we are heading to the longest track of the year after it has a full resurface and we have not had the opportunity to test there,” Taramasso said. “We have had full advice from Silverstone, the company that laid the asphalt and have also had lots of information from other relevant parties that have given us some valuable feedback about the track.

“We also have our own data and we are confident that we will have the correct compounds for the new surface.

“When this season’s allocations were prepared at the start of the year, we were able to decide on four front and rear tyres for Silverstone and these will give all the riders different options to appraise before they make their race tyre decision.”

The circuit is expected to be faster due to the new surface and dependent on weather conditions could challenge MotoGP’s circuit record of 1m 59.941s set by Marc Marquez on the Repsol Honda 12 months ago when he claimed pole position.

Michelin also selected four different front and rear tyre compounds for this year’s Argentina round at Termas de Rio Hondo under similar circumstances having been unable to test at the abrasive circuit, while some parts of the track had also been resurfaced.