MotoGP: ‘Testing data irrelevant’ for Michelin at Sepang

MotoGP one-make tyre manufacturer Michelin have admitted that much of the data they collected earlier this year in a three-day test at Sepang will be largely irrelevant for this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix after the track was resurfaced.

But with a few days of rain-struck testing at the track since the new asphalt was laid, by Cal Crutchlow, Colin Edwards and Michele Pirro in July, Piero Taramasso, manager of Michelin’s Two-Wheel Motorsport Group, says they’ve at least got a base setting.

“Sepang will signal the last fly-away race of the tour, but we won’t be taking things easy because it’s the end of the trip! The circuit has been re-surfaced since we tested there in February with the whole MotoGP field, so most of that data is irrelevant as to wear levels and grip consistency, but we did conduct a test there in mid-season so we have had a base to work on in readiness for this weekend.

“The circuit features two long straights and many hard-braking zones, so front-end stability is important at Sepang. There are also lots of long turns, so rear edge grip will be important. The track can also reach very high temperatures and we have had to take all those differences into consideration before deciding on this week’s tyre allocation. We know it will be another tough examination of our tyres, but that is why we are in MotoGP racing and the more we learn the better we will become.”

Michelin will bring soft, medium and hard front tyre options this weekend, as well as an asymmetric rear tyre with a harder right shoulder in both medium and hard compounds, as well as soft and medium rain tryes.