Photo: motogp.com
The next round of the 2014 MotoGP championship will see all the teams running the 2013-spec tires, as the official tire supplier of the series, Bridgestone, is unable to provide the needed quantities of new, heat-resistant slicks in due time.
The Japanese tire manufacturer is unable to guarantee that it can indeed deliver the needed quantities of new tires to cover for the entire allocation for the Circuit of the Americas round in Austin, TX. Despite the fact that the COTA round is a fortnight away, Bridgestone prefers to play the safe card and deliver the needed numbers of tires with the 2013 specs.
Another solution would have involved bringing two different types of tires for the medium option, which would have definitely sparked dispute. The 2014-spec tires come with a special layer which makes them more heat-resistant, but it looks like this solution did not appeal to every rider.
Both Yamaha’s factory and satellite teams becried the poor grip the bikes had with the new tires, and judging by the disappointing weekend Jorge Lorenzo had with the new compound, running the last year’s tires should make Yamaha a tad happier.
However, Bridgestone says this is a one-off situation, triggered by a production issue, and 2014-spec tires will be supplied for the remainder of the season. The Grand Prix de France at Le Mans in mid-May will have Bridgestone introducing a modified medium rear tire, retaining the heat-resistant properties of the actual compound, but with increased edge grip.
Remains to be seen how Yamaha will fare at the Circuit of the Americas with the older tire compound on the 20-turn Texan circuit which proved a very comfortable ground for Honda last year. Via A&R
Another solution would have involved bringing two different types of tires for the medium option, which would have definitely sparked dispute. The 2014-spec tires come with a special layer which makes them more heat-resistant, but it looks like this solution did not appeal to every rider.
Both Yamaha’s factory and satellite teams becried the poor grip the bikes had with the new tires, and judging by the disappointing weekend Jorge Lorenzo had with the new compound, running the last year’s tires should make Yamaha a tad happier.
However, Bridgestone says this is a one-off situation, triggered by a production issue, and 2014-spec tires will be supplied for the remainder of the season. The Grand Prix de France at Le Mans in mid-May will have Bridgestone introducing a modified medium rear tire, retaining the heat-resistant properties of the actual compound, but with increased edge grip.
Remains to be seen how Yamaha will fare at the Circuit of the Americas with the older tire compound on the 20-turn Texan circuit which proved a very comfortable ground for Honda last year. Via A&R
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