A SHOW OF RECORDS FOR MICHELIN AND LORENZO AT SPIELBERG
Michelin broke the lap and race duration records today during the Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (Austria), while Jorge Lorenzo (Ducati Team) won at the end of another superb MotoGP™ race.
The entire Michelin tire range was used in racing today with all six MICHELIN Power Slicks versions fitted to all 23 machines in different combinations. Pole sitter Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda) had chosen a medium at the front and a hard at the rear, but at the green light of the 28-lap long race, it was Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team) who performed the best departure on his motorcycle equipped with a medium at the front and at the rear. These two drivers were joined by Lorenzo, who had opted for a soft front and rear, and it was he who completed the first lap in the lead. Marquez quickly overtook him and began to build a gap at the front in front of the two Ducati riders. The outgoing champion and his two closest rivals began a good fight, which became a duel over the rounds between Marquez and Lorenzo. The two men exchanged leadership several times after formidable maneuvers, pushing their Michelin tires to their maximum performance. Their rubber allowed them to put on a superb show. This duo was wheel to wheel on the last lap. Lorenzo found the opening to win, improving the race duration record by more than two and a half seconds in the process. Dovizioso took third place by breaking the lap record on his eighth lap.
The race took place in beautiful sunshine, with track temperatures reaching 45°C, 10°C more than the maximum recorded so far this weekend. Michelin and the MotoGP players had to deal with torrential rain on Friday afternoon. The MICHELIN Power Rain tires were therefore used and delivered impressive grip, offering the drivers total confidence, confirmed by very fast times and no falls were to be deplored on a wet track.
Some 92 fans came to witness some splendid battles in the peloton, with the exception of Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda) who quickly became lonely and ultimately 955e and winner of the First Independent Rider with his hard at the front and his medium at the rear. The six tires offered by Michelin were fitted to the first four machines at the rear, which once again underlines Michelin's desire to provide the best products for all riders and all manufacturers. Behind him, Danilo Petrucci (Alma Pramac Ducati) – moved up from 14e place on the grid -, Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) took the 5e and 6e places. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) finished 7e, just ahead of Alex Rins (Team ECSTAR SUZUKI). Johann Zarco (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) finished narrowly ahead of Alvaro Bautista (Angel Nieto Team), less than a tenth of a second ahead of the Spaniard. These two close the top ten. Marquez has increased his championship lead, with Rossi second and Lorenzo now third.
Direction Silverstone for Michelin (England) for the British Grand Prix scheduled for Sunday August 26. The new coating will represent another challenge that Michelin is ready to take on.
Jorge Lorenzo – Ducati Team:
“It was a risky decision to take a soft rear on such a hot track, but I had a good feeling with it and I could stay in line with my braking. So I decided to take this tire and manage it for the first 10 laps. But I didn't manage it that much because Marc was pushing hard with his hard at the back, but it was enough to stay a second behind him and keep energy and my Michelin tire until the end. I took him up lap after lap, but the problem was that when I passed him, he stayed there in contact. I knew I had to give it my all and that’s what I did. The front and rear remained strong until the finish and I am very satisfied with this result. »
Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager:
“The weekend was very interesting and very positive for us with mixed weather conditions and track temperatures. All of our tires performed well in all conditions. In the torrential rain, the full wets demonstrated their full potential, then their endurance on a drying track. All the slicks were used in races with temperatures higher than those encountered until then. Despite this, the performance of each rubber was up to par, which proves that we offer products suitable for everyone. Andrea broke the lap record and Jorge the race duration record, while Marc narrowly missed the pole record yesterday despite unfavorable conditions on Saturday. We are happy with the work accomplished this weekend and now face a challenge with the resurfacing of the Silverstone circuit. »
