Bridgestone prepares for the first MotoGP group test of 2015

This is a press release from Bridgestone…

(February 3, 2015) – The riders contesting this year’s MotoGP World Championship will get their first taste of Bridgestone’s 2015 specification tires at Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit from February 4-6, as the world’s largest tire maker embarks on its seventh season as the official tire supplier to the series.

Like last year, the MotoGP regulations for 2015 provide concessions on rear-tire choice for manufacturers, depending on their class of entry, Factory or Open, and their recent record in dry races. Open-class entrants, and Factory-class manufacturers that did not win a race in dry conditions in the previous season, will have access to rear slick compounds that are one step softer than Factory-class entrants that did record a win in dry conditions last year.

The table below details the rear-slick tire allocation available to each team for preseason testing and races during the 2015 season:

For the first Sepang test, the softer-rear-slick allocation comprises the soft-symmetric and medium-asymmetric rear slick, while the harder-rear-slick allocation is the asymmetric-medium and symmetric-medium-compound rears. The front options for all riders at Sepang will be the medium compound in addition to the new hard-compound-front slick, which was first introduced at last October’s Malaysian Grand Prix. Bridgestone will use the data acquired in preseason testing to modify its tire allocation for the 2015 season to increase safety, usability and performance.

Twenty-five riders from eleven countries will contest the 2015 MotoGP World Championship, the highest number of riders since Bridgestone entered the premier class as a tire supplier in 2002. In addition to supporting the group tests, Bridgestone Motorsport engineers will support all teams in their preseason testing programs before the Championship gets under way at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit from March 26.

Hiroshi Yamada – Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Department:

“Just like the MotoGP manufacturers and teams, Bridgestone has been busy over the winter break as we’ve been developing new tires for the riders to evaluate during the preseason tests. In recent seasons, we’ve focused on delivering tires which are safer, more ‘user-friendly’ and with superior levels of performance. In 2015 we will further build on these qualities to deliver our greatest-ever racing tires to the MotoGP World Championship. The Sepang tests are the first chance each season for MotoGP fans to see the riders out on track and, with the return of Aprilia and Suzuki to the series, as well as a host of talented riders entering the Championship, I expect that the 2015 preseason testing will be closely followed by racing fans around the world.”

Shinji Aoki – Manager, Bridgestone Motorsport Tire Development Department:

“Sepang is the traditional venue for the first two MotoGP preseason tests, and given that weather is warm and mostly dry and the layout features a wide variety of corners, it really is an ideal place to evaluate tires. It is evident from the Valencia test last year that the performance of the Open-class machines in 2015 will be considerably greater than last year, and the tire allocation we’ve brought to Sepang reflects this. Testing at a demanding circuit like Sepang will provide an even better indication of the respective performance levels of the 2015 Factory- and Open-class bikes, and the data we acquire here will help steer our development for the upcoming season. As always, our main priority for tire development is enhancing the safety of the riders, however, I expect that the riders will find that our 2015 specification tires also give better performance. I believe that this year’s MotoGP season will be the fastest yet.”