For several months, following complaints initiated by Andrea Iannone and Valentino Rossi, Michelin has prepared a new front tire characterized by a stiffer carcass than the one used this year, but with the larger and rounder profile used this season.
The Clermont-Ferrand brand had sent this novelty to Argentina but a work-to-rule strike by South American customs officers only made it available from Saturday. Asked about the opportunity to try it that day, the pilots present at the Safety Commission, mainly Spanish, then responded in the negative, citing a lack of time, which had somewhat generated a controversy since it was not There was no obligation to try it.
Michelin therefore put it back in its luggage and brought it, last Tuesday and Wednesday, during testing of the new surface of the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans.
The purpose of these tests being to choose a range corresponding to the new surface, the drivers first concentrated on defining which tires will be allocated to them during the next Grand Prix. But some, having already done this work, had enough time to have the opportunity to test this new Michelin front tire.
Three in number, Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales and Cal Crutchlow, and given the far from ideal weather conditions, they were, however, according to our feedback, unable to provide a definitive judgment on the improvement provided by this new structure.
Also, we will have to wait for the tests next Monday in Jerez, and the heat of the Andalusian sun as well as the return of all the other drivers, to have a more precise idea of the possible progress provided by this new architecture.
