Tyre Asia April/May 2018 105
expected to be a bit stronger
to fight for the podium, I know
that Marquez and Maverick
were a bit stronger, I hoped
I’d be fast enough to fight for
the podium with Iannone, but
Andrea was faster than me so
I was not able to arrive and
attack.”
Texas a big hit
Grand Prix racing in the US
has a long history at legendary
tracks such as Daytona,
Laguna Seca and Indianapolis.
In 2013, the impressive new
hermann Tilke-designed
5.513km ‘circuit of The
Americas’ (coTA) in Austin,
Texas, joined the MotoGP
calendar and become an
instant hit - with its cutting
edge facilities and a capacity
for 120,000 fans.
The US has a fantastic
motorcycling heritage - with
great champions such as
Kenny Roberts, Freddie
Spencer, eddie Lawson,
Wayne Rainey and Kevin
Schwantz being amongst
the best riders to have ever
competed in Grand Prix
racing.Michelin will continue to
be the official supplier of
tyres to the MotoGP World
championship for five
additional seasons over
and above the existing
arrangement. The contract’sextension until 2023 was
announced at the Michelin
Australian Motorcycle Grand
Prix in the presence of
Michelin Motorsport Director
Pascal couasnon and carmelo
ezpeleta, ceo of Dorna
Sports.
Pascal couasnon, Director
of Michelin Motorsport,
said: “After two seasons that
have seen tyre performance
and strategy make a real
contribution to the show
delivered by motorcycle
racing’s premier series,
Dorna Sports has decided
to extend its collaboration
with Michelin as technical
partner and exclusive tyre
supplier to MotoGPTM forfive additional years. We are
naturally delighted to have
earned the confidence of
carmelo ezpeleta and his
team. Michelin intends to
use its continuing association
with Dorna Sports to continue
developing ever-safer and
more competitive racing
tyres, as well as innovations
that will go on to benefit our
road tyres. Michelin is also
delighted to continue working
with the teams and riders who
gave us such a warm welcome
back after our absence from
the championship and also
to be able to build on the
sense of pride felt by our
staff following our successful
return to MotoGP.”