“We expect the asphalt to be less demanding than it was last year, when the whole track had been resurfaced, because Sepang is used a lot for racing, testing and other activities. Riders use similar rear tyre constructions as they used at Phillip Island, with different compounds adapted to suit these special conditions. Edge grip and traction are very important at Sepang, with quite a few long corners. The tires need to provide consistent performance through these corners during the race,” Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing, told Moto-Live.
Moreover, Michelin's director talked about the racing conditions on the Sepang circuit which are obviously tougher than the ones of Phillip Island, mostly due to the high ground-level temperature. The heat increases tire usage, Weber explained, so choosing the proper tires before the race is an extremely important aspect in Malaysia.
“But conditions are very different from those we experience in Australia, with much higher ambient and track temperatures. At Phillip Island we had to contend with a track temperature between 22 and 35 degrees; at Sepang it can be anything between 40 and 55 degrees, which makes it very tough for the tyres. The layout of the Sepang circuit puts less stress into the tyres than Phillip Island, which puts so much heat into the tyres. In Malaysia it is the heat that demands so much from the tyres,” Weber added.
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