MotoGP Sepang: Tough challenge for Bridgestone

The Sepang track, 5.548 meters long, features two long and fast straights followed by tight hairpin bends to be navigated at reduced speed and represents a demanding challenge for the riders, motorbikes and tyres, due to the very high temperature of the track, which often exceeds 50°C. Humidity is also always particularly high and monsoon rain is often a constant on this track. The main challenges from a tire point of view concern the sustained speed along the two main straights, the high temperatures and the heavy braking preceding the corners narrow.

The available compound options have remained unchanged compared to last year. The track is characterized by five left-hand corners and ten right-hand corners and is one of the few on the calendar that does not require the use of an asymmetric rear tire, because the temperature of both the right and left shoulder of the tire is equally balanced.

Hiroshi Yamada – Head of Bridgestone Motorsport: “Although the world title has already been decided, the fight is still open for third position in the championship, so we expect close battles in very hot conditions. I'm sorry for Jorge that he won't be able to race in Malaysia following the injury he suffered in Australia and I wish him a quick recovery. The Malaysian Grand Prix always remains a challenging event due to the high temperatures and humidity, as well as the risk of torrential rain which has often affected the progress of the race in the past. We look forward to this last overseas event before the final one in Valencia.”

Hirohide Hamashima – Assistant Development Manager Bridgestone Motorsport: “Sepang is a combination of high-speed corners, long straights, tight hairpins and heavy braking and represents a difficult challenge for the tires and the drivers, especially considering the high temperatures and humidity levels. Characterized by two long straights and with a track temperature that often exceeds 50°C, it is one of the fastest tracks of the season and one of the most demanding for the front tyre, subjected to great stress: for this reason it must have a resistant central section able to guarantee good braking stability, especially at the end of the two long straights. The curves to be taken at high speed require good grip on the shoulder of the tyre. Normally when a motorcycle is in a straight position the lateral load on the tires is minimal and the air flow is maximized, so there is a greater cooling effect, but in Sepang the high air and track temperatures, in added to heavy braking at the end of straights, can generate a high temperature in the central section of the tyre. The durability of the tire itself will therefore be fundamental. We have carried out winter testing in Sepang and the teams have enough data available to optimize their set-ups.”

Tire compounds available:
Anterior: hard, extra hard
Posterior: medium, hard