Bridgestone Slicks Deliver the Goods Despite Le Mans Heat

Warm weather greeted MotoGP competitors on race day at the Grand Prix De France on May 23 – so much so that the track temperature rose to 48 degrees Celsius, safely the hottest track temperature recorded at the circuit during a MotoGP session. These conditions affected lap times slightly, yet Bridgestone reports that both specifications of its slicks proved their durability and consistent performance. The frontrunners used Bridgestone’s harder option front and asymmetric rear slicks, and it was Jorge Lorenzo of the Fiat Yamaha Team who took victory, ahead of teammate Valentino Rossi and Repsol Honda’s Andrea Dovizioso.

Whilst the top eight riders set a consistent pace on Bridgestone’s harder option fronts and rears, ninth-placed Aleix Espargaro of Pramac Racing used the soft compound rear tyre to record his highest MotoGP finish. Even with the high track temperature, the soft compound rear slick proved sufficiently durable to perform well throughout the 28 laps, and Espargaro’s final lap was only 0.3 seconds slower than his best effort in the race which came on lap 13.  
 
“Congratulations to Jorge Lorenzo for not only this victory but his first consecutive pair of wins in MotoGP,” said Hiroshi Yamada, manager, Bridgestone Motorsport. “The conditions today were very difficult, much more so than could be expected of Le Mans, both for riders and our tyres so this is a great achievement. We saw some good battles between Andrea, Nicky and Dani, and also in the midfield. I’d like to congratulate Hector Barbera and the Aspar team for his highest MotoGP finish in eighth as top rookie.”  
 
“The conditions all weekend have been very challenging, and the temperature during the race was at its highest but I am pleased with the durability and consistency of both slick tyre options,” added Tohru Ubukata, manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyre Development Department. “The high temperature did not help lapt imes and overall race time but I am pleased that consistency was good. Nicky’s fastest lap came on lap 20 of 28 which shows good durability over race distance. Clearly our harder slick tyre options were favoured by most riders today, for the added durability of the asymmetric rear tyre, but it is encouraging to see that Aleix was able to make the soft rear work well despite the high temperature.”  
 
Following his victory, race winner Jorge Lorenzo commented: “Today it was tricky to find the limit between being fast without doing too much but my bike and Bridgestone tyres just felt so good and it wasn’t difficult for me to keep this pace up. I made a good start and didn’t lose too much time in the first two laps but it was difficult to pass Valentino. I was patient and just waited for my moment. If this happened a few years ago maybe I would have been more crazy, but maybe this is something I’ve changed. I have a very good feeling now and am much more confident this year.”