MICHELIN Power Slick tyres, first in the history of MotoGP
The 2023 MotoGP World Championship explores new territories with, for the first time, a Grand Prix on Indian soil.
• Michelin Motorsport brings an extraordinary tyre package to a circuit where no Grand Prix motorcycle has yet ridden.
• The 13th round of the Championship will make history with the first lap times to be set on a track that’s known to be fast
New Delhi, 20 Sept. 2023: Inaugurated in October 2011, the Buddh International Circuit is located approximately 50 km southeast of the country’s capital, New Delhi. Designed by German architect Hermann Tilke, the recently revised circuit is 4.96 km long, and is expected to be fast, with its eight right turns and five left. Its one kilometre straight, as well as the mix of hard braking, acceleration and rapid curves will generate significant stress on the tyres. With a width of 12 metres, the Buddh International Circuit benefits from a configuration which will allow the riders to fully express themselves, and should produce exciting racing. After practice and qualifying, the Sprint race and the Grand Prix will offer a high-intensity spectacle relying on the consistent performance of Michelin tyres.
“The discovery of this circuit will be the same for our partners as it will be for us”, said Piero Taramasso, manager of Michelin two-wheel competition. “It’s a very interesting situation because everyone is starting from zero and the strategy adopted at the start of the event will be crucial. For our part, we carried out computer simulations to try to assimilate the thermal stresses and select the best compounds, but it is clear that physical tests will be essential to refine the set-up of the motorcycles. This is the only time this season that we will race without benefiting from any prior data. The analyses that we have made of this circuit show similarities with the Red Bull Ring, in Spielberg (Austria), or Buriram (Thailand). As a result, we expect very demanding conditions for the rear tyres, and particularly on the right side. As the regulations allow, we will bring an additional compound for the front and rear. To meet the expected demands, we have selected symmetrical tyres for the front, and asymmetrical at the rear – which will be reinforced on the right side. We can’t wait to get there and see the first bikes out on track!”
An extraordinary situation, an exceptional tyre allocation
The regulations for each race weekend allow the use of three tyre options for the front, and two for the rear. However, in the case of a circuit without any prior testing it is possible to increase the number of compounds offered. Thus, for this first Indian Grand Prix, Michelin Motorsport will provide its partners with front tyres that have a Soft, a Medium and two Hard compounds (instead of one), with one of the two having a slightly stiffer construction than the other. For the rear, three compounds – Soft, Medium and Hard – will be available instead of the usual two. With these options, the riders will benefit from the widest tyre choice to refine their settings. In the event of rain, the MICHELIN Power Rain range will be available in two compounds (Soft and Medium) for the front and rear, and all rear tyres will benefit from a reinforced right side due to the number of turns in that direction.
On the Buddh International Circuit, the Grand Prix motorcycles will take to the track on the morning of Friday 22 September for a first free practice session scheduled for 1 hour 10 minutes instead of the usual 45 minutes. A second session, again lasting 1h10 instead of an hour, will take place in the afternoon, and this session will allow the 10 fastest riders to progress directly into Q2. Saturday will start with a 30-minute free practice session in the morning, followed by Q1 and Q2 (15 minutes each), and these will be followed by the Sprint race (12 laps) in the afternoon. As usual, the Grand Prix (24 laps) will take place on Sunday afternoon, after a 10-minute warm-up in the morning.
About Michelin
Michelin’s ambition is to sustainably improve its customers’ mobility. The leader in the mobility sector, Michelin designs, manufactures, and distributes the tires best suited to their requirements and uses as well as services and solutions to improve transport efficacy. Michelin also puts forward offers that allow its customers to enjoy unique moments when traveling. Michelin also develops high-technology equipment intended for multiple fields. Based in Clermont-Ferrand, Michelin is present in 175 countries, employs 132,200 people and operates 67 tire factories that, together, produced approximately 167 million tires in 2022. (www.michelin.com).
