MotoGP spec-tyre supplier Michelin will take a new soft rear slick to the Qatar MotoGP opener with the expectation of ‘pushing the performance on again this year’.

Changes to the compounds for 2019 will see a new front hard compound as well as the new rear soft. The rear is one of the new-technology tyres that Michelin has added to the range and it´s designed to give greater consistency and improved grip.

“We have had a very successful off-season, as we introduced some new slick compounds that we had been developing and the riders were very pleased with the performance, so these have been added to the range for 2019, said Piero Tiramisu, Michelin Motorsport two-wheel manager.

“These are aimed more at European tracks, but we have added them to the allocation at Losail as we believe they are ideal for what that track has to offer. We are looking forward to the new season, there are new riders, bikes, and teams that have changed manufacturers, so there is a huge amount for all of our technicians to work on. We are up for the challenge and everyone is ready to get back into the racing environment.

“Losail has been a good track for Michelin since we returned, even though it is a very unique circuit with particular demands, so we are determined to push the performance on again this year, as we plan to do at every track we visit.”

All 11 MotoGP teams will have a weekend allocation of soft (white band), medium (no band) and hard (yellow band) for the front and rear. The front tyre will have a symmetric design. However, Qatar’s Turn 2 is a key corner on the circuit with many top riders losing the front end on the brakes over the years.

Most notably and recently being Frenchman Johann Zarco (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashing out of the lead of his debut race at the tricky left-hander.

The rear tyre will have an asymmetric finish with the right-hand-side being harder than the left to offer optimum performance through the circuit’s 10 right-hand and six left-hand corners.