The two 45-minute free practice sessions for the MotoGP class on Friday of the German Grand Prix have been extended by 10 minutes to allow extra running on the new Sachsenring track surface.
The 2.28-mile Sachsenring circuit was resurfaced earlier in the year, but due to noise restrictions in the area MotoGP’s sole tyre supplier Michelin were unable to conduct any testing on the new asphalt ahead of this weekend’s ninth round of the 2017 season.
Organisers have added five minutes to each side of Friday’s two sessions, with first practice getting underway at 9:50am local time and finishing at 10:45am, with practice two beginning at 2:00pm and concluding at 2:55pm.
Both sessions will remain extended in length should Friday’s running be affected by rain. Organisers will draw up a new schedule for Saturday in this eventuality to ensure ample testing of the tarmac is conducted on slick tyres.
The change in Friday’s schedule will not affect either of the two Moto2 or Moto3 practices.
In light of the lack of running at the resurfaced Sachsenring, Michelin has brought four front and four rear slick tyres.
The front options are all asymmetric, with a harder left side to deal with the German venues 10 left-handers, and will be available in soft and hard as well as in two variations of the medium compound.
The rear tyres are also asymmetric, with the double option being the hard compound. The soft and medium options are also available.
This weekend’s German Grand Prix marks the halfway point of the season, with a four-week summer break coming into effect after Sunday’s race.
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