Sepang Michelin test ends in fast crashes for front runners

The first test of next season’s new MotoGP control Michelin tyres has ended in heavy crashes for many of the factory riders testing the new rubber. Running their bikes with no setup modification from the normally used Bridgestones, Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and Aleix Espargaro were among the riders who found the limit in the test.

Espargaro was a victim of the fast turn five, while both Lorenzo and Dovisiozo went down at the even faster turn three.

Speaking afterwards, Mcihaelin said that the problems seemed to be caused by differences in grip from the front and rear rubber. None of the riders, all of whom walked away unhurt, are able to comment due to their current contracts with Bridgestone.

However, not everyone’s day ended in crashes, with a number of riders successfully completing race simulations during the event. No official times were recorded, but MCN’s Steve English reported that Bradley Smith’s race run remained within a second of his earlier Bridgestone runs, with the tyres seeming to give consistent lap times through the entire stint.