MotoGP
Spanish GP: Bridgestone preview
Tyre compounds available: Front: Medium, Hard. Rear: Soft, Medium After two overseas grands prix to start the season in Qatar and Japan, MotoGP turns to Europe and to the Jerez circuit. The third race of the season also brings a different tyre ...
Published: Jun 19, 2009, 7:52 PM
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Tyre compounds available: Front: Medium, Hard. Rear: Soft, Medium
After two overseas grands prix to start the season in Qatar and Japan, MotoGP turns to Europe and to the Jerez circuit. The third race of the season also brings a different tyre strategy for Bridgestone. Having selected soft and medium compound slicks for both front and rear for the past two races, the nature of the Spanish circuit means a harder front tyre is needed.
The rear slick choices are again soft and medium compound, as seen in the previous two races, but the front Bridgestone is a step harder with medium and hard compounds available. These are the same front and rear options as were selected for the last pre-season test at the circuit at the end of March, so every rider (except the then-recovering Dani Pedrosa) has experience of Bridgestone's new 2009 rubber at the circuit.
Both grands prix this season, in Qatar and in Japan, have been affected by rain, and the pre-season test in Jerez was also partly wet. Whilst riders have now got much more experience on Bridgestone's wet weather tyres, they'll be hoping for a dry weekend.
Last year's race saw Fiat Yamaha's Valentino Rossi as the highest-placed Bridgestone-shod rider, finishing in second place. It was one of only three races in which a Bridgestone rider did not take victory as Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa scored a home victory, his first of two wins last year.
Hiroshi Yamada - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Sport Unit
"We have seen some very rare and challenging conditions in both race weekends so far this season, with Qatar's race delayed until Monday and torrential rain in Motegi cancelling qualifying. I am looking forward to returning to Europe this weekend where hopefully the weather will be much better. We saw a good race in Japan which I am pleased about, and I am sure this can continue in Spain."
Tohru Ubukata - Bridgestone Motorsport - Manager Motorcycle Race Tyre Development
"The Jerez circuit has been totally resurfaced since last year's race so this will make a difference to tyre performance, though we have experience from the pre-season test at the end of March. It was previously quite bumpy and now it is flatter which is less demanding for the tyre's construction in absorbing the bumps, but the surface is more abrasive which is why we have decided to select a harder compound front Bridgestone to increase durability."
-credit: bridgestone
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