Both Marc Marquez and Cal Crutchlow will ask Bridgestone if they have any harder-compund front tyres in the truck for tomorrow’s MotoGP free practice and qualifying sessions as the Honda pair believe the existing choices are way too soft for the Valencian heat.
Marquez made the best of the tyre but lost the front twice into the final turn and he could only finish fifth fastest in free practice two while Crutchlow, who is on the satellite but almost identical LCR RC213V, ended in ninth and had the same gripes as the reigning world champion.
“This morning we go out and I feel good, this afternoon we changed some things. The rhythm was good, we tried the hard tyre, then came back to the soft but some put new soft at the end. I kept the tyre from this morning and the laptime was still pretty good so I am happy because the pace was good. I don’t know how my pace is with the new tyres but again, Lorenzo is the strongest on Friday,” said Marquez, speaking at the track.
“Ok, we are similar. I think with the new tyre it will be not much faster than Jorge but with used I feel well. We are using the same style of bike for the second part of the race and the pace is good. This afternoon we just did runs of three or four laps as the rear and also the front tyre is overheating because no-one expect this temperature and the front is on the soft side but we are working to stress it less.
“It looks like here we need to manage the tyre. Here is the 31 tyre, like Phillip Island, and we didn’t use the 32 tyre but this is the same as we race at Le Mans when I struggled with the front so it looks like we are struggling more than the Yamaha riders. Already this morning, the 31 when the temperature is low is already too soft. The aysmmetric has strange movement in the straights under brakes. I will ask Bridgestone for the 33.”
Crutchlow told BSN: “The aysmmetric right-hand side is too soft, the hard tyre is way too soft as well. In the safety commission, we are going to pleased with them to get the old stock out of the container that might be here and give us the 33 because we all need it. With the way we are braking now, we need it. Dovi will need it, Honda need it, Yamaha and Suzuki won’t. No-one is ever going to race the 31 except for morning warm-up.”
