The tire war between Michelin and Aprilia is never-ending, ignited by Jorge Martin's fall during the Sepang tests. This mishap, requiring an operation on his left hand and Martin's absence in Buriram, has lit a powder keg of statements between the tire giant and the Noale house.
The relationships between Michelin et Aprilia have become tense following the heavy fall of George Martin during tests of SepangThe incident sparked a heated exchange between the French tire giant and the Italian brand, with each firmly defending its position.
aprilia-racing points out safety concerns related to compounds supplied by Michelin . For his part, Piero Taramasso, the boss of Michelin Motorsports, defends the work of his team and claims to be open to dialogue, but only on the basis of concrete data.
In an interview with Moto.it, Taramasso explained the difficulties encountered during the first tests in Malaysia : “ The start in Sepang was tricky: it was windy, the track was dirty, and the temperature was the asphalt was only 30°C, while it usually reaches 50°C. Our tire specifications were designed for higher temperatures. Many drivers chose the medium tire, which was not suitable for these conditions, hence the many complaints »
Taramasso However, he was keen to qualify his remarks by recalling that some drivers have not encountered any problems with the medium tyre. He also stressed that the regulations require the use of two different specifications: " There were four accidents on the first day, but for various reasonsThe soft Sepang tyre is very efficient, and it is normal that the drivers prefer it. But we cannot be satisfied with this option. »
Taramasso, Michelin: “ they know what happened. We did our analysis and gave them the report. I don't want to add any comments »
On the Aprilia side, Massimo rivola, the CEO of the racing division, is particularly critical. He questions the explanations of Michelin and demands a meeting with all teams to resolve what he considers a critical situation.
Rivola reacted strongly after that Michelin suggested thatAprilia had not properly controlled the temperature of the rear tire casing Martin : " regarding Martin's fall, Our data does not in any way corroborate Piero Taramasso's statements.. Pilot safety must be the top priority. I have already proposed a meeting with all teams to address this situation., especially since the number of injured is alarming »
Taramasso, for his part, remains firm in his position. Without going into details of the accident, Martin, he specifies that Michelin has already sent its technical report to Aprilia: " they know what happened. They read my statements. I don't want to add any comments. We have done our analysis and given them the report. If they want to confront us, we are ready. »
Another sticking point concerns conservation and transport tires. Rivola suggested that logistical problems could be to blame, an accusation that Taramasso categorically rejects: " Our logistics are completely under control. Right from manufacturing, Tires are coded and continuously monitored. We know where they are at all times, whether in the trucks, on the track or warming up. Everything is under control, we are certain of it. »
The tensions between Michelin et Aprilia don't seem likely to calm down. As the tyre issue continues to divide the paddock, a meeting between the teams could be called to try to defuse the crisis. But in the meantime, the war of words is likely to continue, fuelling an already heated debate.
