MotoGP: The Bridestone at Silverstone with the new front tyre

A new phase begins at Silverstone for Bridgestone and the riders of the MotoGP class. The new front tire (so to speak, the one that official Honda riders Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa are not using) will in fact become the only choice available to the riders who will have 9 dry ones for each weekend. For this race, the front slicks will be available in soft and medium compounds to ensure the best initial grip in "cool" conditions.

At the rear, however, the Japanese tire company will bring a medium-soft and medium asymmetric, with both tires constructed with the same medium compound on the right shoulder, combined with a choice of soft or extra-soft rubber on the left shoulder. This change was made to improve rider safety by ensuring a better ideal temperature range over the course of the ride.

“I am happy to return to Silverstone, a fast and technical circuit, with excellent facilities and always very passionate fans. With Cal Crutchlow doing so well this season I expect their support to be even greater and as we had so much rain last year I hope to have good weather this weekend so we can have another exciting race ! - He said Hiroshi Yamada – Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Department – This race is always a challenge for the tires with its high speeds and cold conditions and so we have undertaken considerable development. The new front tire becomes the standard front offering and will be available in soft and medium compounds, while for this race we have also revised the composition of our asymmetric rear slick tires compared to previous years. Both of these developments are prime examples of Bridgestone's commitment to improving rider safety.”

“Silverstone represents a compromise when it comes to tire development. On the one hand, fast sections such as Maggotts and Becketts place high lateral loads on the tires and braking at the end of the Hangar generates considerable effort on the central section of the front tire which requires good stability, while the low average temperature of the track means having to have a tire that warms up quickly – he added Shinji Aoki – Head of Bridgestone Motorsport Tire Development Department – Our data analysis demonstrates that our soft and medium rubber compounds provide the necessary braking and warm-up stability, characteristics needed at Silverstone and therefore form the basis of our tire choices at this circuit. For this year we have revised the composition of our asymmetric rear slick tires which will be medium-soft and medium. Both of these slicks feature the same medium compound on the right side to provide the strength needed for the many turns on the right, combined with extra-soft or soft rubber on the left shoulder to ensure optimal ride temperatures.”