Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1476967
New Michelin Front To Be Tested Soon M ichelin is already planning to test a new front tire with the full-time MotoGP riders this year, it was revealed in Austria. The current front is at its working limit due to the increase in potency of aerodynamics and ride-height devices over the past two years and is one of the main causes overtaking has become a tricky experience in the premier class. The French company's in- house test riders are already evaluating the new slick and, if they give the go-ahead, the front will be tried by factory test riders during October. If this goes to plan, the MotoGP grid will get the chance to try the tire at the Valencia test in No- vember, after the final race of the year. Michelin is well aware of the current front tire's limits. The concept of the new front is to make it less susceptible to in- creases in temperature and pressure, which is the problem with the current one. The tire will also run at a lower pressure than the current 1.9 bar minimum. "The goal is 1.7 bar and to make the tire less sensitive to temperature and pressure changes," said Michelin Motors- port Manager Piero Taramasso. "The tire will be very different, with a new profile and it will be made with different materials." Michelin plans to introduce the new front in 2025 after extensive testing in 2023 and '24." Neil Morrison IN THE WIND P54 Evolution is the name of the game for Michelin in MotoGP. PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE Back In The Paddock M arc Marquez was back in a MotoGP paddock for the first time since June 3 when he had surgery on his upper right arm—the fourth major opera- tion on the limb in 25 months. He was in Austria to assess the current failings of Honda, last in the Constructors' Championship, and its '22 Honda RC213V. "I had the experience of 2020- 2021 when I was a long time without coming to the circuits. And in that period, I discon- nected too much and when I came back everything was too new. So, this time I tried to keep in contact a lot with Santi, with Stefan Bradl, especially with my team. Of course, my brother is riding on Honda, too, but I prefer to keep that tight relationship with my team, with Honda engineers and one of the reasons to be here is not to see the bikes on the track. It's to speak with Honda, the engineers, to be involved about the project." Regarding his recovery, the 28-year-old admitted, "...in the end it's an arm with four opera- tions. We are working to adapt in the best way, but at least now it's working in a normal way, I'm doing already now some exer- cise that before was impossible." He also stated his intentions to race again in 2022. But only if a checkup next week allows him to step up his rehabilitation. CN Marc Marquez was back up and about at the Austrian GP. PHOTO: GOLD & GOOSE