MotoGP, Michelin Tyre Tech Notes from Catalunya

Dry and hot weather all day with track temperatures of 30° C in the morning, and rising to 54° C in the afternoon.

As expected, we found the Barcelona track had a very low level of grip due to the very particular qualities of the asphalt. With the increase in temperature and humidity levels, the tendency is for the grip to reduce even further.
 
In FP1 the tyres used at the start were the Soft front and Medium rear combination. However, due to the conditions the front was quickly at the limit on its right side and it began to move around as a result. The rear was skating quite a lot, and the distinct lack of grip from the track was felt both in terms of traction, and lateral grip in corners. At the end of the session, some riders tested the Medium front, and this was much better because it offered more support and stability.
 
Given the higher temperatures in FP2, the riders tested the Hard front and Hard rear. The front proved to be not so popular because it was felt to be too hard. The Hard rear required two warm-up laps and then the consistency was good, but its overall potential was lower than the other rear options. The Medium front remained the optimum solution and continued to work well with the conditions seen this afternoon. The Medium rear currently provides the best grip/consistency compromise, and will surely be a candidate for Sunday's race.
The Soft rear worked very well for time attack due to its extra grip, but the performance potential started to reduce quite early in these difficult conditions.