Michelin admit MotoGP test team vital to fight Bridgestone threat

Michelin’s MotoGP chief Jean-Philippe Weber has admitted the recent introduction of a testing team with Yamaha was essential to help Valentino Rossi’s world title challenge against Casey Stoner. 

Aussie Andrew Pitt tested Michelin tyres on board a Yamaha YZR-M1 800 machine in Barcelona last month, and is scheduled to take part in at least four more tests before the end of the season.

The move came after Bridgestone’s storming start to the new 800cc era, which has seen the Japanese factory win six out of the opening nine races in 2007.

Yamaha and Valentino Rossi have struggled at some circuits with the new tyre restrictions limiting riders to 17 rear and 14 front tyres over a race weekend.

Valentino Rossi though remains the only rider to win for Michelin this season, and he trails in-form Stoner by 21-points going into the second half of the season at Germany’s Sachsenring on July 15, 2007.

Bridgestone has been able to call on a wealth of information and data from test riders it has had with Ducati, Suzuki and Kawasaki, as well as supplying tyres to more than half of the 2007 MotoGP grid.

Jean-Philippe Weber told MCN: “I think our performance is still good as we have seen in some races and in other races we have been unlucky.

“The Stoner, Ducati and Bridgestone package is very fast and working very well and we have to improve things not only on the tyres but also the overall package.

“It is no secret that we have to help our partners to be quick and to make the development steps required by our partners. As we see in racing, testing is still a very important parameter so of course we have to do it also.”

At present Michelin is only using Yamaha as a test team, but added that it would be no problem if Honda made an official request to form a development squad.

“We will try to have some more testing sessions but right now they are mainly with Yamaha but if Honda wants to join our tests then they can,” said Jean-Philippe Weber.