Test at Le Mans J1: very discreet tests…

While all MotoGP riders were invited to try the new, much more grippy surface of the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans, only the regular riders Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda), Valentino Rossi ( Movistar Yamaha), Maverick Vinales (Movistar Yamaha), Bradley Smith (KTM), Pol Espargaro (KTM), Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia) and Sam Lowes (Aprilia) were present, accompanied by Mika Kallio for KTM and Michele Pirro for Ducati (who, ultimately, is no longer a wild card at Jerez).

It should be remembered that, for registered drivers, this or these test days are deducted from the five authorized during the season.

What's more, this morning, the weather at Le Mans was hardly favourable, with very low temperatures and a wet track.

In these conditions, the Repsol Honda team drivers, Marc Márquez et Dani Pedrosa, refrained from riding, contenting themselves with recording a short promotional video.

Conversely, Valentino Rossi, Maverick Vinales, Cal Crutchlow, Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith et Michele Pirro completed around fifteen laps late in the morning before the break, exclusively on wet tires.

In the afternoon, when the track began to dry under the influence of the Sarthe sun, the same people, who came to join Alex Espargaro et Sam Lowes, were able to appreciate the new surface of the Bugatti circuit.

Indeed, Michelin had brought its entire range of tires to be able, after these tests, to decide which ones will be offered to the drivers during the French Grand Prix.

We contacted the French firm but it prefers for the moment to remain discreet about these tests and not to publish the times, undoubtedly wishing not to sell the bear's skin before having killed it...

A priori, no falls were to be deplored and the pilots concerned declared themselves satisfied with what they felt at the end of a day during which no one worked like a convict. The Spanish Grand Prix only takes place in four days and itself precedes an undoubtedly more intensive day of testing under the Jerez sun.

We can assume that the drivers who drove in the wet this morning will not take part in the Michelin tests in Valencia on a wet track, with each test day being deducted from the five authorized.

Concerning the continuation of events, we already know that the regular drivers will not participate tomorrow. Only test drivers Mika Kallio and Michele Pirro should continue to ride, their regular colleagues taking the road to Andalusia.