Vermeulen wants grip

Chris Vermeulen has told Bridgestone that it must improve its new generation front tyres to help adapt to the new riding style required on the 800cc MotoGP machines.

With increased corners speeds and later braking now a feature of the new generation smaller capacity machines, Aussie Vermeulen said: “Bridgestone’s front is the good part of the tyres in most places but we need to improve it because corner speeds have changed and it’s a lot faster.

“We still need to work on durability, especially on the edge.

Vemeulen said “It was clear that Michelin had an advantage in the test in Qatar, venue for the eagerly-anticipated start of the first 800cc world championship on March 10, 2007.

“Perhaps at the moment Bridgestone are not in a strong as position as Michelin at Qatar so we got to wait and see.

“In tests there I found when I go out, come in and go out again the tyre is always a big step worse. That’s not normal for Bridgestone but it’s something that track seems to do.”