MotoGP 2016: Catalonian challenge up next for Michelin

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Michelin will be making one of its shortest journeys on the MotoGP™ calendar as it heads across the Spanish border and towards Barcelona for the Catalunya Grand Prix to be held at the Montmélo circuit.


The Catalonian Grand Prix is round seven of the championship and a race that really matters, as it is the ‘home’ event for Dorna – the company that runs MotoGP – as well as for many riders and teams. The honour of putting on a good show for all involved – in front of the very partisan and excited crowd – adds another twist to what is always an electrifying atmosphere.


The Circuit de Catalunya is located 20km north of Barcelona, near the town of Granollers and is a venue that features a mixture of a kilometre-long straight, fast turns, elevation changes, hard braking zones and a huge grandstand that will be filled to capacity on race-day. The 4,727m circuit has a fast and challenging layout, including many long, high-speed turns that see the riders on the edge of the tyre for extended periods of time. With eight right-hand corners – most of these the fast turns – and five left-hand bends, Michelin will take asymmetrical rear tyres, featuring a harder right shoulder, designed to work with the high temperatures that the sweeping curves will generate. The MICHELIN Power Slicks will also need to cope with lower grip levels at Montmélo than are experienced elsewhere and compounds specially developed to cope with this will be used during the weekend. For this race the soft (white band), medium (no band) and hard (yellow band) front slick will be available, and these can be paired with the soft (white band), medium (no band) or hard (yellow) rear tyres, giving all riders the option of three front and three rear compounds. The Michelin Power Rain and Power Inters will also be available to cope with any changeable or wet conditions.


Michelin will start its preparations for Sunday’s 25-lap race with two free practice sessions on Friday, when all riders will be aiming to set fast times to qualify for Saturday afternoon’s qualifying sessions. Round seven of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship will get underway at 14.00hrs local time (14.00hrs CEST, 13.00hrs BST, 12.00hrs GMT/UST) on Sunday 5th June.


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