Since its return to MotoGP in 2016, Michelin has revolutionized the category by offering a wide variety of tire choices for races, which was not the case before. By the time the drivers got used to the front and rear Michelins, which were very different from the previous Bridgestones, lap records began to fall on almost every circuit in the world, when the weather permitted. We took stock of the current situation with Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager.
Previously in MotoGP with Bridgestone, as currently with Dunlop in Moto2 and Moto3, almost all riders raced with the same choice of tires. Michelin has chosen a completely different option by offering three tires at each Grand Prix, all of which can often win*. Why did you choose this complexity?
*Podium of the Austrian GP: 1st Lorenzo with a soft at the front and rear, 2nd Marquez with a medium at the front and a hard at the rear, 3rd Dovizioso with medium at the front and at the rear.
“We chose this option to give each rider the opportunity to find the tire that best suits their riding style and their machine. It is obvious that the need, in terms of tires for a Marc Marquez is not the same as that of a Andrea Dovizioso or Johann zarco. In this way, we give all the pilots and all the machines the opportunity to fight at the forefront. »
During wet testing sessions all day, like the Friday of the last GP of the year in Valencia, half of the drivers chose the front soft rain tire and the other half the medium (with a medium rain rear for the entire world). For what ?
“It’s a question of “driver” feeling, the front tire is what gives the driver confidence, for this reason the choices can be different. The soft rain front gives more grip on maximum angles and better feedback. The medium rain front on the other hand is much more stable and gives better support (suitable for aggressive riders, strong brakers).”
Marc Marquez said after the Malaysian GP “ I put too much pressure on my tires, so I overheated them. When you overheat the tires, it's so difficult to get them back to the right temperature, because you start to spin, and then you spin more and more. So I slowed down, then step by step I found my rhythm again ". Isn't this a fundamentally different racing tactic from those we knew before the arrival of Michelin?
“This can happen when the track temperature is high, or when the motorcycle setting is not optimal or the TC* is “poorly adjusted”. A risky tire choice (soft specification) can also lead to such a situation. »
*TC: Traction Control, or anti-skid
Silvano Galbusera, Valentino Rossi's team principal, said after taking the lead at Sepang: “ The softer tires suited Rossi particularly well because he took a new direction in tire choice. We try to use the softest tire in the allocation. Valentino generally feels better with a hard tire because it gives him more support and better stability, while with a soft tire he feels a little movement in the bike, like on a road bike, so he doesn't feel very good. But it's the only way to be strong. » What is your point of view on this subject?
“I fully agree, the soft specification is the one which normally has a higher potential (more grip) and if we can make it work we will have better results, but the bike must be perfectly adjusted. It's also true that Vale likes a stable and well-positioned motorcycle, something that works in favor of medium and/or hard specifications. »
With the number of Grands Prix increasing in Asia, would it not be wise for Michelin to install a manufacturing facility on site C3M to make MotoGP tires there directly and save on transport (in time and costs)?
“…..My dear Philippe, you must know that industrial strategy is “confidential” Ahhhh
That doesn't stop you from trying, my dear Piero, hehe...
Before the race, which group of people decides on the choice of tires? Who makes the final decision?
“This is a “common/shared” choice between the field team (technicians who work in the boxes, in permanent contact with the drivers) and the development team (engineers who design the tires and monitor their manufacturing) . »
You said: “ It would be easy for us to make harder tires to allow drivers to attack from start to finish, but you would see boring races. Before, you always saw the same drivers who attacked harder in the first few laps and then pulled away from the others. What we are doing now is giving more opportunities to more drivers, so the race is closer ". That was the intention. Has this goal been achieved?
“Yes, the objective has been achieved. Since the return of Michelin we have seen some spectacular races (the one at Phillip Island in 2017 having been the best in my opinion) with a lot of overtaking. We saw 9 different winners in 2016. 5 in 2017 with a championship decided at the last race in Valencia and often several/different brands of motorcycles on the podium. »
Photos © Michelin
