Michelin Ready for Season Opener Under the Lights of Qatar

By 121 News

Chandigarh 18^th March:- Michelin will be heading to the Losail International Circuit for its return to MotoGP™ as the series kicks off under the floodlights at the Qatari track on Sunday 20^th March.

Following three informative pre-season tests – including one in Qatar, Michelin has analysed all the data to make its decision as to the best tyres to take to the 5,380km circuit. The Losail circuit is situated in a rocky, desert location and as such the track can be very abrasive at times due to the sand that is blown off the surrounding area. This allied to the usually cooler temperatures that are experienced as the sun sets, all add to the challenges that supplying the optimum tyres for such conditions will present to the French company.  The Qatar race will see the introduction of 17" tyres and with a need to have a consistent grip and good durability, Michelin will take three front and two rear tyres to Losail for the race. The soft Power Slick – which will be identified by the white band - the medium Power Slick –which will not feature a coloured band for identification – and the hard Power Slick – yellow band - for the front. Along with the asymmetric soft Power Slick – white band - and the asymmetric medium Power Slick – no band – for the rear. There will be no Michelin Power Rain or Power Inter tyres in use as the riders will not run in wet or changeable conditions under the lights.

Built in less than a year and completed in 2004, the Losail International Circuit is located on the outskirts of Doha Qatar's capital city and has been a regular on the MotoGP calendar since its completion. The first night race was held in 2008 and is staged beneath over 3,000 individual light sources on more than 1,000 structures, all powered by huge generators. This impressive array of lighting is designed to not only light the track, but deflect light away from the surface and then redirect it back, all aimed at avoiding glare from blinding the riders and giving them ideal visual awareness.

Track action at Losail begins on Thursday 17^th March when the MotoGP stars will take to the circuit for the first free practice session. Two further free sessions will be held on Friday to decide which riders progress through to which qualifying session – held on Saturday evening. The inaugural race of 2016, and Michelin's re-introduction in to the exciting arena of MotoGP, will take place at 21.00hrs local time (18.00hrs GMT, 17.00hrs CET) on Sunday 20^th March, when the world's best two-wheel racers will do battle over 22-laps of the challenging Losail circuit.

The Qatar race weekend will also see a Michelin press conference which will be staged at the circuit on Saturday 19^th March, with Director of Michelin Motorsport. Pascal Couasnon in attendance, along with Michelin's Head of Two-Wheel Motorsport Group Nicolas Goubert and the Manager of the Two-Wheel Motorsport Group Piero Taramasso, when the three will lay-out Michelin's plans for the forthcoming season and answers any questions from the assembled audience.