Michelin brings extra tyres for 'new' Jerez

Extensive resurfacing since last November's post-season test means Michelin will bring an expanded tyre line-up to this weekend's Spanish MotoGP.

The Jerez circuit has undergone repair work during the close-season to fix issues following last year’s resurfacing, resulting in substantial parts of the track surface being replaced.

As such, Michelin will offer riders a choice of four different front and rear tyre options, instead of the usual three.

The fronts will be available in soft, medium and two hard compounds, all in a symmetric design. The same compound mix will be available for the rear but featuring an asymmetric layout, with a harder right-side to cope with the eight right turns compared to five left corners.

Michelin's Piero Taramasso said the situation reminded him of the company's return to MotoGP in 2016.

“This weekend is another big test for us and has echoes of our return to MotoGP in 2016," Taramasso said. "Then we were going to many tracks where we had no data and this weekend is similar as the track has had a lot of resurfacing since we tested there last November.

"Because of this we are permitted by the regulations to take four front and four rear specifications of slick tyre, so we have selected a range we believe will be ideally matched to the circuit’s asphalt from the information we have from last year and have received from the company that has done the work, and from the circuit.

"We are confident we have the right compounds for the new surface and are looking forward to racing in Europe after a hectic start to the season with the two fly-away tests and three fly-away races.”