It is quite common for a driver to complain about the effectiveness of one of his tires. This can come from a bad choice, for example the selection of a model that is not efficient enough over the distance of a race, or unsuitable settings which do not allow the tire to work in the best conditions over all the laps. .
The style of the driver, more or less brutal, also has great importance, and it sometimes happens that in the production of a series, a tire has a problem, as happens with all industrial products. There is of course quality control at Michelin and other manufacturers at the end of the production line, but perfection does not exist.
In Doha, Dani Pedrosa complained about a bad tire during qualifying and then during the race. The front tire Johann zarco was not beyond reproach either. It happens. In general, we don't talk about it publicly, on the principle that the manufacturer does not criticize the drivers, and vice versa. This is valid for communication between all partners. For example Ducati and Brembo remained very discreet about Lorenzo's front brake problem at Losail.
Cal Crutchlow is a little more vehement when something doesn't suit him, like for example the tires in Qatar: “ I can't talk about it.", said the Briton. “ It's not that bad, but we still have a quality control problem. They're trying to make things better, and we're trying to help them too.
“If you give 20% throttle with a tire, you have a lot of rotation. If you take another tire and give 60% throttle, it will spin less than the other with 20%, within ten minutes of leaving the pits. The difference cannot therefore be attributed to a change in conditions or riding., explains the Briton.
"The track condition hasn't changed, your bike hasn't changed, you just have a new tire, and if you take it to the race you have problems." Before trying to minimize his criticism: “ I also have to say the Michelins were good in the race, I don't think anyone had a tire problem and we have to say the pace was very fast. »
“But at the end of the day, using the wrong tire for the race and getting in trouble, that's the big problem, because my team spends millions to come here. »
Title illustration © Sumitro Wiuoyo
Another photo: LCR Honda
