Jorge Lorenzo quickest at end of Phillip Island tyre test

Jorge Lorenzo completed his domination of this week’s Bridgestone tyre test in Australia today by setting the fastest time in cool and windy conditions at Phillip Island this afternoon.

The Spaniard set his best time of 1.29.068 on the same spec tyre that wreaked havoc during last October’s Phillip Island race.

But Lorenzo revealed to MCN that the 2013-race spec tyre was better for an outright lap time, but it was impossible to contemplate doing a full race distance on it after the tyre wear issues that hit Bridgestone in Australia almost six months ago.

A new surface at Phillip Island caused excessive tyre wear and to counter fears of safety issues in a race scheduled to run over 27-laps, Dorna enforced a mandatory pit stop and cut the race to 19-laps.

The double MotoGP world champion was the only one of the five-strong premier class field that was testing in Australia to complete close to a full race distance on the final afternoon.

He completed a 25-lap run and was positive that Bridgestone had found a tyre that would be a potential option for the race on October 19.

He said the tyre used in his long run would be better with a slightly harder compound on the right side and he explained why to MCN: “I made the race simulation, even if the tyre I used was not perfect compared to the standard one (2013 race tyre) and the grip on the edge was less with less traction, especially on the right side. I hope that Bridgestone understands between all the tyres which combination is good for the race. But it has been positive that Bridgestone have a lot of information and they know better about which type of tyre will work. The left side of the rear was constant with good grip but on the right it was quite destroyed and I had a lot of problems in the right corners.”

“If the tyre behaviour was the same on the right as the left I think that would be a good tyre for October. This track has a lot of left corners and it is much harder, but maybe the right is too soft. If they make it one step harder on the right it would be perfect. The standard tyre to make a lap time is the best. It has the best grip on both sides with much more traction and more edge grip but it can’t finish the race. Not because of how it looks on the outside but Bridgestone said it is not good on the inside and I didn’t make more than six laps in a row with this tyre.”