US GP: Michelin race notes

MICHELIN MONOPOLISE TOP FOUR IN EXTREME US GP

Michelin riders dominated today's United States Grand Prix, run in some of the most extreme weather conditions ever experienced by the MotoGP World Championship. With ambient temperatures close to 40 degrees and the track at a sizzling 60 degrees, this race demanded everything from tyres.

But the vicious heat couldn't stop World Championship leader Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda Team RC211V-Michelin) from storming to his second successive US GP victory after a brilliant ride from the second row of the grid. The Kentucky Kid beat team-mate Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda Team RC211V-Michelin) by 3.1 seconds after leading from just after half-distance.

Pedrosa's second-place result, coming from sixth on lap one, was an impressive display by the MotoGP rookie who had never even seen this rollercoaster Californian track before he got here a few days ago. Marco Melandri (Fortuna Honda RC211V-Michelin) completed the all-Michelin podium, just ahead of Kenny Roberts Junior (Team Roberts KR211V-Michelin).

"The track temperature was amazing, a record we think, so we were really going into the unknown here," said Nicolas Goubert, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing. "The heat was tremendous so the grip level wasn't as high as it had been this morning, but the race was still faster than last year's, mainly because of the new surface. All our riders used the same rear tyre today and they all did an incredible job to race in such heat. We are happy to have filled the first four finishing positions in such difficult conditions. It was another great race from Nicky, Dani also did so well, Marco and Kenny too."

Valentino Rossi (Camel Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) had been in fourth place and chasing a podium finish when technical problems ruled him out with just two laps to go. Hayden now goes into MotoGP's month-long summer break enjoying a 34-point lead over Pedrosa with six of 17 races remaining.

-michelin-