Preview – Grand Prix of Qatar 2022 R1

2022-03-03 20:00
Following the pre-season tests at Sepang and Mandalika, Michelin is fully prepared for the season opener of the 2022 MotoGP™ World Championship, the Grand Prix of Qatar, taking place under the floodlights of the Losail International Circuit, north of Doha in Qatar.

New for 2022, and in full agreement with Michelin, the championship organiser Dorna has reviewed the MotoGP regulations and reduced the riders’ individual tyre allocation per grand prix from 30 to 28 (two rear tyres fewer), of which a maximum of 22 may be used over the course of the race weekend (up to 10 fronts and 12 rears). This new regulation is completely aligned with the Michelin Group’s ‘All Sustainable’ philosophy in terms of reducing raw material usage, while continuously improving the performance levels of its products and services.

Qatar is now firmly positioned as the opening Grand Prix of the MotoGP season and is still the only night race on the calendar, providing a unique atmosphere for spectators, and presenting its own challenges for the riders. In addition, the sand that blows off the surrounding desert can make the track very abrasive and as the temperature drops in the evening, the ensuing dew point can make the track surface slippery and reduce grip levels.

The flowing nature of the 5.4 kilometres (3.34 miles) track is popular with the riders, and Michelin broke both the all-time lap record and the race lap record here in 2021, with Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) using the grip of his MICHELIN Power Slicks to set the lap times of 1’52.772 and 1’54.491 respectively. This flowing layout combined with a 1,068m (3,504ft) straight means some very high speeds are reached by the riders – both Bagnaia and Johann Zarco (Pramac Racing) clocked 362.4 km/h in 2021.

The allocation for the Losail race weekend will comprise Soft, Medium and Hard compound MICHELIN Power Slick tyres for the front and rear. The Soft, Medium and Hard front options will be symmetric, while all of the rear options will be asymmetric, with a harder right-hand-side. This allocation is designed to give riders the optimum performance through the circuit’s 10 right-hand and 6 left-hand corners. In the rare case of wet weather, and if Race Direction deems it safe to ride, the MICHELIN Power Rain tyres will be available in Soft and Medium compounds for front and rear, with the rears also having an asymmetric design like their slick counterparts.

Speaking ahead of the Grand Prix of Qatar, Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager, said: “This year has seen a slightly different start to the MotoGP calendar, with a reduction in pre-season tests compared to normal, but despite this I am confident that we are fully prepared for the season. Another change, and one that I am very pleased to see, is the positive step taken by Dorna to reduce the number of tyres that can be allocated each weekend, which is an important step towards making racing more sustainable. This year there will be more riders on the grid, and among them some very talented rookies who have taken the step up to the premier class to challenge the existing riders, and I’m sure these elements will make for yet another incredible season of exciting racing.”

This year’s increased field of 24 riders will head out on track on Friday afternoon for FP1, followed by the opening Free Practice session under the floodlights later that evening. Saturday will see more daylight practice, before the two qualifying sessions get underway as darkness falls. The 2022 MotoGP season opener will see the riders line up on the grid ready for the 22-lap race to start at 18:00 local time on Sunday 6 March.



Michelin, the leading mobility company, is dedicated to enhancing its clients’ mobility, sustainably; designing and distributing the most suitable tires, services and solutions for its clients’ needs; providing digital services, maps and guides to help enrich trips and travels and make them unique experiences; and developing high-technology materials that serve a variety of industries. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 170 countries, has 123,600 employees and operates 71 tire production facilities which together produced around 170 million tires in 2020. (www.michelin.com)

Source: Michelin Motorsport

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