A piece of history to be made in Jerez

One manufacturer is closing in on their 400th GP victory this weekend in Andalucia

The Gran Premio Red Bull de España will signal a very special occasion for Michelin, with race day marking the 400th time a premier class Grand Prix winner has won using their tyres.

Since joining two-wheeled Grand Prix racing in 1973, Michelin has taken victory in 73% of the races it has competed in during the open era, with 39 victories coming since Michelin became the Official MotoGP™ Class Tyre.  

Michelin Esp Prev - en

Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager, spoke about the milestone Michelin will reach in Spain. “Jerez is always a great event and this year will have added significance, as it will see the 400th victory for Michelin in Grands Prix, this is a fantastic achievement and we are determined to put on a good show, so that this can be commemorated in style.”

Jerez will also see the tyre manufacture face a track that has been resurfaced, the third race in succession where the circuit has changed from 2017. However, unlike Argentina and America, Michelin have already had the chance to assess the data picked up from the teams who have tested at Jerez, as they head to round four with good information. This is a round that, according to Taramasso, will be no less difficult than the opening races.

Michelin Esp Prev - en

“After three very demanding fly-away races and the three pre-season tests, it’s good to be heading back to Europe, but the task ahead is no less difficult,” said Taramasso.

“We are going to another track that has been resurfaced, so we have no real data as to how it will perform during a race weekend, but we have been able to gather information from tests that have been conducted there, so we are able to bring a range of tyres which we believe will be ideally suited to the new surface and give all riders the best opportunity to make the optimum choice to suit their style and bikes.”

The full range will feature soft, medium and hard Michelin Power Slick tyres for the front and rear, with the front all a symmetrical design, whilst the rears will be asymmetric and feature a harder right-hand side to cope with the extra stress that part of the tyre will face from the nine right handers, as opposed to just five left-hand corners. Should the heavens open at Jerez during the weekend, a range of Michelin Power Rain tyres will be available in soft and medium compounds, with the rear tyres being asymmetric, the same as the slicks.