Honda’s Marc Marquez is confident the older style 2017 front tyre, which will enter the allocation for the remainder of the season this weekend, will suit his riding style at Mugello following a positive test on it in Barcelona.
After a vote in the Safety Commission at Le Mans, in which 20 of the 23 MotoGP riders voted in favour, Michelin agreed to revert to the older specification tyre from Mugello onwards as most found it to be a marginally better option following the Jerez test.
Marquez’s aggressive braking style meant he suffered quite a lot of movement on the front into corners with the newer tyre, an issue he claims was improved by the stiffer construction in a two-day test in Barcelona last week, which he topped.
“As for the test, we worked on the bike set-up and we especially focused in trying the Michelin front tyre that we’ll start using at the next race in Mugello,” he explained.
“With this tyre I experienced less movement on the front, and the feeling was more consistent throughout the lap.
“It remains to be seen how it will go for an entire race, but anyway, with my riding style I generally feel better with it and I’m confident that in Mugello it will help me a bit more.”
Marquez has work to do this weekend, as he comes to Italy trailing championship leader Maverick Vinales by 27 points after suffering his second race crash of the season last time out in France.
The Honda rider is a triple winner at Mugello, though only once in the MotoGP class. 12 months ago, he was denied a fourth victory at the circuit by mere thousandths when he was pipped to the line by Jorge Lorenzo.
Aside from the racing, Marquez admits that this weekend will be hard for all in the MotoGP paddock after the tragic loss of 2006 world champion Nicky Hayden last week. Like so many, the Spaniard has fond memories of the American.
“I remember once, when I was a kid of 15 at the very beginning of my career in the world championship and he was the MotoGP world champion: we took part in an event together and my English was very poor, so he tried to speak Spanish and he was very funny and easy-going, treating me as if I was his little brother.
“And then we shared the garage last year in Australia and had a great party together after the race. Like his amazing family, he had a great passion for motorcycling, and he will always be in our hearts.”
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