The first overseas campaign of this MotoGP season has ended, and, from next week, the Grand Prix elite will begin the European part of the calendar.
It was Marc Márquez who was the big beneficiary of these first three races during which we saw quite a few crashes. Accidents which, according to Jorge Lorenzo, will still be numerous before the end of this campaign.
There were certainly clashes following overtaking maneuvers that were a little too optimistic and there was also bad weather. But there were mainly falls following a front tire “ which closes », an expression which flourished in the semantics of pilots when analyzing their clashes and misfortunes or during their technical assessments. Technically, we could talk about loss of grip of the front wheel.
The situation has changed in MotoGP, more with the arrival of a new manufacturer than with the installation of a single electronic box. Michelin is not in the hot seat here. On the other hand, it is now clear that pilots cannot only adapt a style honed during the years spent with the previous supplier. It's definitely a new understanding of rubber, motorcycles and tarmac that they need to develop.
And woe to those who don't make it. Aleix Espargaró or even Dani Pedrosa have, for example, only begun to find the recipe after an anxiety-provoking slump for these protagonists who were unable to lose their talent overnight or tomorrow. However, before finding the new balance, a little more time will pass and the search will be marked by other falls. Jorge Lorenzo explains on crash.net : " some drivers who are in contention for the title have already fallen and we will see many more this year. More than in the previous four or five seasons ».
And the Majorcan knows what he's talking about. He knocked himself to the ground in Argentina while Valentino Rossi went to the sets in Austin. During this time, Marc Márquez survived to build up an already interesting capital of points in the general classification. “ We've seen a lot of accidents from the front, and even though Michelin is constantly improving its tire, we don't have the same confidence as in recent years. There, if you lose the lead, it's impossible to recover, whereas before, you could still save the situation ».
« With this new tire, the operating margin is very slim. So, with the tank empty it works fine, but when it's full it's different. When you have a soft rear rubber, the front closes faster than when you put on the hard ones. You must constantly assess your conditions and keep everything under control ».
So, what is the solution to make a difference this season? The one who could be his future teammate at Ducati in the coming years, either Andrea Iannone, has his idea expressed on GP One : " with the Bridgestones, we had to put a lot of pressure on the front when braking, but with the Michelins it was on the rear. The automation is not there yet, and it will take time, which applies to everyone ". Whoever adapts the fastest will race towards the title.
