Photo: RedGhostOnline & Vikki Robinson [MOTOLINEMagazine.com]
The first day of tire testing in Australia, at Phillip Island sees the 2013 runner-up Jorge Lorenzo clocked with the fastest lap around the Oz track, with 1m29s213, surprisingly followed by Cal Crutchlow and his Open Ducati, some 3.64 tenths adrift.
Valentino Rossi ended the first test day with the third-fastest time, around half a second behind his team mate, and with Dani Pedrosa and Andrea Dovizioso completing the top 5. Recovering from his fibula fracture, Repsol Honda’s World Champion Marc Marquez misses from the Oz field this time and will have to rely on the data collected by his team mate Pedrosa.
Ducati, Honda and Yamaha responded to a request coming from the official tire supplier of the MotoGP, Bridgestone. While the Japanese tire manufacturer first asked for the factories’ test riders, the three wanted to have their contracted riders aboard the 2014 machines and testing the new compounds, for obvious reasons.
We remind you that the 2013 Phillip Island race was shortened down to 19 laps last autumn, because of safety concerns. The resurfaced Australian track proved to be extremely destructive for the tires brought by Bridgestone. The Race Direction limited the maximum number of laps to 10, which was the absolute limit of safety. Marc Marquez got disqualified for exceeding this limit doe to a pitboard error.
Testing continues tomorrow, as riders and teams are sorting out the optimal tire choices, putting is several laps with each of the tire options. On Wednesday, a full race simulation is expected, official Brigdestone sources mention, as reported by motogp.com.
And with Ducati now racing in the Open class, the rest of the grid will have a somewhat better idea on how does the new softer tire work. Bridgestone will also bring the old 2013 tire which used to start shredding into pieces after 10 laps (pictured above) for a better comparison with the actual ones.
Ducati, Honda and Yamaha responded to a request coming from the official tire supplier of the MotoGP, Bridgestone. While the Japanese tire manufacturer first asked for the factories’ test riders, the three wanted to have their contracted riders aboard the 2014 machines and testing the new compounds, for obvious reasons.
We remind you that the 2013 Phillip Island race was shortened down to 19 laps last autumn, because of safety concerns. The resurfaced Australian track proved to be extremely destructive for the tires brought by Bridgestone. The Race Direction limited the maximum number of laps to 10, which was the absolute limit of safety. Marc Marquez got disqualified for exceeding this limit doe to a pitboard error.
Testing continues tomorrow, as riders and teams are sorting out the optimal tire choices, putting is several laps with each of the tire options. On Wednesday, a full race simulation is expected, official Brigdestone sources mention, as reported by motogp.com.
And with Ducati now racing in the Open class, the rest of the grid will have a somewhat better idea on how does the new softer tire work. Bridgestone will also bring the old 2013 tire which used to start shredding into pieces after 10 laps (pictured above) for a better comparison with the actual ones.
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