Both nine-time MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi and once MotoGP world champion Nicky Hayden are both struggling to make their respective Ducati race bikes work when the track temperatures are high - which doesn't bode well for the upcoming Misano race.
Rossi has admitted that when tarmac temperature soars, he struggles even more with front-end grip while Hayden is slightly more pragmatic about the problem, saying is has always been like that. Air temperatures at Misano this weekend are expected to reach an average of 30°C, not good for The Doctor's home race.
"During this weekend (Indy), we can use better the bike in the morning in the cooler condition. We are always pushing the front problem in the afternoon so we have to try to understand the way to use the bike in the hotter condition and try to make a good race," said Rossi.
"If it's 30° on the ground, then I can ride the bike and have a good feeling with the front but when the temperature is going up I start to always push the front too much, especially the left side, I cannot ride well as every time I have the feeling if I push more I crash so is very bad."
Hayden said: "It's been that way since I got on it. It definitely likes a cooler track better. We have a stiff bike and the hotter, greasier a track is the worse it is."
