Bridgestone to introduce new MotoGP front tyre
Bridgestone, exclusive tyre supplier for the MotoGP World Championship, is to introduce a new specification front tyre alongside changes to the wet tyre allocation.
The new front is the latest evolution of the 2012 specification tyres and features a revised construction to further enhance feel and warm-up performance. The tyre was developed during pre-season testing.
Due to the positive appraisal by riders, Bridgestone, after consultation with Dorna, the FIM and IRTA, has agreed to replace the current front tyre from the Silverstone round.
However a limited number of the new fronts will be available for the forthcoming Jerez, Estoril, Le Mans and Catalunya rounds.
At these events, riders will be allocated two of the new specification fronts, increasing their total allocation for the race weekend to eleven front tyres. At Silverstone, when the new specification becomes the standard, the front allocation will return to nine tyres.
“Though rider comments on our original 2012 specification front tyre were positive, we haven't rested on our laurels and brought new specification front tyres to the pre-season tests as part of our ongoing tyre development programme,” explained Bridgestone's Hiroshi Yamada.
“One of these new front tyres was met with such an encouraging appraisal from the riders that we proposed to make it available as soon as possible. Due to logistical constraints, we are unable to supply a full allocation of this new specification front tyre until Silverstone, but we have changed our production schedule and made every effort to provide a limited allocation of the new front tyre to riders from the next race.
“I would like to thank all the riders and teams for their commitment to evaluating during pre-season testing and also Safety Advisor to Dorna Loris Capirossi for his ongoing efforts in collating feedback from the riders.
“I look forward to Jerez with great interest as not only will riders be using our latest specification front tyre in a race setting for the first time, they will also be showcasing the very latest in Bridgestone tyre technology to the world.”
Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports added: “During the regular meetings during pre-season testing between Bridgestone and Safety Advisor to Dorna Loris Capirossi, it became apparent that this new specification tyre provided even greater levels of front-end feel to the riders and so we welcome the decision to make the tyre available as soon as possible.”
A further change will also be made regarding wet weather tyres.
Following a request from the Safety Commission, Bridgestone has proposed a revision to the wet tyre allocation for each race.
Currently, riders have access to only one compound option of wet tyre per race. Under the new proposal, after the first wet practice session, Bridgestone, in consultation with the Safety Commission and organisers may agree to provide wet tyres with an alternative compound option to ensure rider safety in wet conditions.
In this case, each rider may choose to replace a maximum of two of their front and/or rear wet tyres with the alternative compound.
To expedite the revisions to the front tyre and wet tyre allocation, the FIM will propose changes to the tyre allocation regulations to members of the Grand Prix Commission. Should the proposals presented be accepted by the commission members, they will be implemented with immediate effect.
