US MotoGP: Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards fear front tyre trouble

Fiat Yamaha duo Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards have serious concerns about the durability of their Michelin front tyres for tomorrow’s 32-lap American MotoGP race.

Rossi will start fifth on the grid with Edwards a further three places back after today’s qualifying session.

But Edwards has told MCN that both have issues with front tyre grip on the new Laguna Seca surface.

Under the new tyre rule, riders can only choose 14 front tyres for a race weekend and Edwards reckons none of his choice of four different specs last for much longer than 10 laps.

That’s only one third race distance and Edwards said YZR-M1 team-mate Rossi, who escaped with minor injuries from a Turn Six crash this morning, is in the same situation.

“We got some issues with the front tyre that I’m kind of concerned about, “said the Texan Tornado. “The trouble is none of them seem to work for longer than 10 laps. “Trust me we have used everyone I have available and they all seem to look the same. “The track is so abrasive and its just ripping our fronts apart no matter whether its soft or hard, different constructions, it just doesn’t matter what you use it’s the same thing.”

Edwards reckons the front tyre issue will make his home race tomorrow a tough affair and he added: “It’s going to be somewhat of a survival game tomorrow. The first few laps will be fast but after that we already know we are going to hit some problems. Valentino is the same boat as me.”