Bridgestone MotoGP Preview: Misano

Round thirteen of the 2015 MotoGP season is the San Marino and Rimini Grand Prix where riders will be treated to a newly re-surfaced Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli which promises to improve lap times.
 
At 4.2 kilometers in length, Misano distinguishing feature is the sequence of right-hand corners from turns eleven to fourteen, starting with the flat-out Curvone which sweeps into progressively tighter right-handers. This section is technically challenging for riders and demands good stability and edge grip from the tires. The circuit requires good cornering feel but also strong acceleration and braking performance, so an optimal bike setup is important to maintain a quick pace without overheating the tires.
 
Misano can generate high tire temperatures as the bikes spend a lot of time at high lean angles and having been recently re-surfaced, the grip level of the tarmac has improved. With ten right-hand turns compared to just six left-hand turns, Misano is harsher on the right shoulder of the rear tire but the recent re-surfacing has resulted in a revised tire allocation in 2015. For this year’s San Marino and Rimini Grand Prix just one of the three rear options – the medium compound – is asymmetric with harder rubber on the right shoulder, while the soft and hard compound rear slicks are symmetric. The rear slick options for the factory Honda and Yamaha riders are the medium and hard compounds, while the rest of the field will be allocated the soft and medium compound rear slicks. The front slick options at Misano are the soft, medium and hard compounds to ensure peak performance in any possible weather condition.
 
The main wet tire for the San Marino and Rimini Grand Prix is the soft compound option, with up to two front and rear wet tires in the alternative, hard compound also available to each rider over the race weekend.
 
Hiroshi Yamada - Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Department
“We are now entering a crucial phase of the championship as we visit Misano; a circuit where both Jorge and Valentino have had a lot of success at previously. There is no doubt we will see a large crowd this weekend as fans flock to see one of the most intriguing title showdowns in recent years. The new tarmac at Misano should bring with it improved lap times and we’ve also brought a revised tire allocation to the circuit this year to meet the demands of the new track surface. Misano seems to favor the Yamaha with their riders winning six of the previous seven races at this circuit, but with so many riders and manufacturers in strong form at the moment I think we could see many riders challenging for the podium this weekend.”
 
Shinji Aoki - Manager, Bridgestone Motorcycle Tire Development Department
“In the past the main challenges at Misano have been the high ambient temperatures and the constant right-hand turns which generate high temperatures in the right shoulders of the rear tire. This year, we also had to consider the new tarmac at this circuit and through private testing were able to acquire enough information to help us revise our tire allocation for this year’s San Marino Grand Prix. As a result two of the rear slick options we will provide this weekend will be symmetric, with one asymmetric option, as this will provide the best balance of safety, performance and durability. For the front tire, the most important requirement is for the tire to have a strong centre section to provide good stability in the frequent braking zones. A smooth riding style reaps benefits at Misano so as to not overwork the tires as they have little opportunity to cool down during a lap due to the constant corners.”