MICHELIN HEADS TO ANOTHER DOUBLE-HEADER AND ITS NAMED GRAND PRIX2020-10-14 11:44Michelin is returning to Spain for the next double-header in this condensed MotoGP™ season as the paddock heads to Motorland Aragon near Alcañiz for firstly the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragón and then seven-days later the inaugural running of the Gran Premio Liqui Moly de Teruel. This is the second season that Michelin has been the title sponsor at the 5,078m anti-clockwise circuit following three successful seasons at Phillip Island, where the Australian Grand Prix carried Michelin’s name. Motorland Aragon has an interesting and complex layout, which features 10 left- and 7 right-hand corners, comprising of tight hairpins and fast flowing turns, so a front compound to meet these demands and give the riders the confidence through a variation of bends is very important, and with a straight of over a kilometre in length where high speed stability and the need to deliver the power of a MotoGP bike through the rear rubber and onto the asphalt is equally key to a fast lap, the MICHELIN Power Slick tyres have been chosen to give the performance required for this track. Located in the Teruel area of Spain, it is a very dry and rocky location, where hot daytime temperatures can be expected, but due to its open location, Motorland Aragon can also have very cool mornings, so a range of tyres to function in those fluctuations of temperature is imperative. With all these requirements the allocation of MICHELIN Power Slicks that have been chosen for Michelin’s named race and the Grand Prix the following weekend have been selected to meet those demands. The front selection in soft and medium will be symmetric in design, whilst the hard front and the rears in soft and hard will feature an asymmetric finish with a harder left-hand shoulder to handle the extra stresses from the increased number or corners that go in that direction, with the medium rear having a symmetric finish. Due to the track’s inland location there is also a high likelihood of rain and thunderstorms over the two weekends, with this possibility the MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will be available in soft and medium compounds for both the front and rear. The front will be symmetric whilst the rears will have an asymmetric design with the harder left side like their slick counterparts. Michelin and the MotoGP field will take to the track for the initial practice sessions for the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragón on Friday 16th October, with more practice scheduled for Saturday ahead of the excitement of Qualifying for the 23-lap race. The main event will get underway at 14.00hrs local time (14.00hrs CEST, 13.00hrs BST, 12.00hrs GMT) on Sunday 18th October. The following weekend’s Gran Premio Liqui Moly de Teruel will follow the same schedule, but will feature a different race time, as the lights will go out to signal the start at 13.00hrs local time (13,00hrsCET, 12.00hrsGMT) on Sunday 25th October. Piero Taramasso – Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager: “It’s always special to be at the Michelin Grand Prix and this is the second time we’ve had the event at Aragon. Last year was a big success and many people from the factories visited us, sadly that won’t be the case this year due to the protocols, but we still aim to put on a good show and make Michelin and all its staff proud. Aragon is always a challenge, with the difference in temperatures from cool mornings to hot afternoons, although we are going there slightly later in the year, so possibly we won’t get the extremes in temperature that we have had before, plus we also have the sand to contend with, which is blown on the track from the surrounding countryside, making it very abrasive. We have chosen a range that will give the riders the confidence in all conditions, so now the thing is it to make the Gran Premio Michelin® de Aragón a special event for all.” Source: Michelin Motorsport Click here to visit our forums to discuss this story |
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