MotoGP spec-tyre supplier Bridgestone have offered no apology for the tyre chaos which has forced race direction to change the rules and put into place a dry-weather flag-to-flag race at Phillip Island tomorrow.
The Japanese firm have not brought any rubber that is fit for purpose at the Australian circuit with none of their compounds able to be used safely after 14 laps. Consequently, all riders will have to come in and change bikes between laps 12 and 14 tomorrow in a clash that has been shortened by a lap to 26.
"We anticipated tyre temperatures would be higher this year at Phillip Island, but not to the extreme levels we have seen this weekend. After analysing the used tyres after today`s sessions, we have decided that the maximum safe distance that our rear slick tyres can be run is fourteen laps," said Bridegstone spokesman Shinji Aoki.
"Following discussions between Bridgestone, Dorna and the FIM on how to best manage rider safety for the race, it was race direction`s decision to make tomorrow`s race a flag-to-flag contest.”
