Thursday, August 14 2014

Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Soft, Medium & Hard; Rear: Soft, Medium & Hard (Asymmetric)

Bridgestone wet tyre compounds available: Soft (Main), Hard (Alternative)

Round eleven of the 2014 MotoGP™ season the series return to Europe with the Czech Republic’s stunning Brno circuit providing riders with technical corners and big elevation changes.

Brno is 5.403 kilometres in length and has numerous straight sections joined together by a series of left-right corner combinations. The circuit also features an elevation difference between its highest and lowest sections of over 70 metres, which make braking into the downhill sections challenging and require the front tyre to provide high levels of stability. Exceptional grip from the rear tyre is also important to ensure optimum drive onto the straight sections of the circuit and adding to the technical complexity of this circuit for tyres is the abrasive tarmac which demands superior durability.

There are eight right-hand and six left-hand corners at this circuit and although asymmetric rear slicks are provided at this circuit, the difference in force imposed on the left and right shoulders of the rear tyre is not as large as at other circuits. The rear slick tyre options for the Factory Honda and Yamaha riders at Brno are the medium and hard compounds, while the Ducati and Open-class riders get the soft and medium compound options. The main front slick options for the Czech Republic Grand Prix are the soft and medium compounds, while a maximum of three front slicks in the alternative, hard compound are also available to riders.

The main wet tyre for Brno is the soft compound, although every rider will be able to also select up to two front and rear wet tyres in the alternative, hard compound option.

Hiroshi Yamada – Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Department

“The Czech Grand Prix is always well-supported by fans and the spectacular Brno circuit with its big elevation changes has hosted two incredible races in the last couple of years. Marc’s amazing record continued last week at Indianapolis but we saw that many riders were competitive in America, and as every race passes there is great anticipation about whether Marc will once again be able to fend off his challengers come Sunday. The Brno round is also important due to the post-race test, the data from which will help form the basis of our MotoGP tyre development for the 2015 season.”

Shinji Aoki – Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tyre Development Department

“The Brno circuit features quite abrasive tarmac and elevation changes which place considerable stress on the tyres, particularly the front. There are fast corners, as well as some mid-speed left right combinations so having a balanced bike setup at this circuit that uses the tyres effectively is important here to ensure good lap times and durability, given the abrasiveness of the tarmac. The changes in elevation at Brno requires us to provide front tyres with high levels of braking stability, while also giving good warm-up performance in the cooler morning sessions. The weather forecast for this weekend is for cooler temperatures, hence we have decided that the soft and medium compound front slicks are our main front tyres for this weekend, although the hard compound front slick will also be available to riders.”