After the last test in Jerez last week, have definitely lowered the shutters of the garages of the championship, dropping the curtain on a season abnormal. It began with great news - the promotion of Spies and Simoncelli to riders, the return of Stoner in the Honda, and the birth of one of the most beautiful couples of all time with Valentino Rossi on the Ducati Desmosedici. After bitter notes of : Rossi finds it hard, a grid increasingly restricted by the withdrawal of Suzuki, and the disappearance of Marco Simoncelli.
It has been said about the young boy Coriano. Among memories, revs, and deafening silence, the void left by "Sic" has emerged, almost unreal, in all its grandeur. And with him, the controversy of a paradoxical evolution of electronics and tires brought to one of the leagues tortured by falls and accidents .
Bridgestone tires have already been devoted to the coverage. Capable of incredible speeds and long life in the middle of the curve, but also difficult to get heat because of the hardness of the carcass . The result: lots of falls and moments of uncertainty in the early laps of the race, one of which had fatal consequences.
Two friends of "Sic", Kevin Schwantz and Valentino Rossi, Bridgestone have addressed the subject of the book Schwantz Superbike Planet .
"If you ask to Bridgestone, they tell you that tires are the same as last year - said his friend Red - But I tell you one thing. Last year in Malaysia, 90% of drivers have raced with hard tires. This year, about 17 bikes on the grid, only one has the hard mounted. All this in almost identical weather conditions, not in anticipation of rain or low temperatures. The only was to mount the hard Simoncelli " .
Obviously, these techniques also have psychological consequences of uncertainty. "Often the cause of the accidents seem to be the tires - wrote Schwantz - If you talk to the pilots of the early laps of the race, you know who really afraid . It takes time to send the tires up to temperature and gain confidence. I do not know if the bikes fit them stiffer suspension or have made other changes, but Valentine looked at me straight in the eye and said: 'These tires scare me' " .
It 'is really strange that Valentino Rossi the' testimonial 'House of the Japanese ...
The adoption of the single tire forces the bike to fit the tires, and not vice versa, with obvious repercussions on technological development. "When I was driving the Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki, did not use all the same tire - added the Texan - The Most of the time, used the Dunlop Yamaha did not know then that mixes mounted in reality. But Honda and Suzuki, Doohan, Gardner, I, and sometimes my teammates, we mounted several compounds. I do not think you can make a tire for all, because each bike has unique characteristics. It was a cost problem, but now has become a safety issue. Then there is the risk that the manufacturers of tires you adagino development. Technological progress is not whether we will not have to figure out how to beat Bridgestone, Michelin or Dunlop and vice-versa " .
If it was not possible to involve other houses, you should at least increase the choice of compounds. "The tires often make the difference at this level. But even if there were only Bridgestone would be better to have more than two options . In any case, during the winter you will have to examine why so many riders are not theoretically able to get on a MotoGP bike and familiarize yourself with the medium " .
On the latter point, Smith had also, in spite of himself, to show solidarity. "He said that the new bike is better but not enough - wrote Schwantz - Rossi said: 'We need much more. I can not hear this bike. I can not find the confidence to push the limits' " .
The "Doctor" will not stay still with folded hands awaiting testing at Sepang in late January. Rossi is building a dirt track in one of his properties to train to do the "cross" . After the Rally of Monza , it seems that we have acquired a taste.
source: GP One
