Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo and Marc Marquez all suffered front-end crashes in the latter part of yesterday’s Michelin tyre test at Mugello prompting the tyre firm to undertake further research.

All was rosy at the Italian track until three O’clock when the three top men went down as they tried a 23-lap race simulation after doing runs on a choice of four tyres, from which they selected their favourite.

However, Lorenzo went down first at Materassi, Marquez at Arrabiata One and Rossi at Correntaio in quick succession, all losing the front early in their runs, giving rise to speculation that Michelin’s front does not have the same grip as the Bridgestone, which they have all been using at the edge of its performance window for the previous three days.

Michelin’s chief Nicolas Goubert told media at the track the problem doesn’t seem to be on corner entry, but in the middle of the corner, just when trail braking ends and riders are starting to pick up the throttle.

Due to contracts with Bridgestone, all riders are banned from talking about Michelin.