MotoGP

[p6x]

21 hours ago, GuzziMoto said:

I don't see why you think Michelin would need Dorna's approval to not introduce a new front tire.

This is what the media have said. Including official Michelin statements which have not been contradicted by Dorna either.

Why wouldn't Michelin introduce the tire that solves the current pressure limitations? there is no rationale for not doing it.

In any case, there is more suspense in trying to guess who will be the next pope than predicting who will win the world championship.... lol...

[audiomick]

1 hour ago, p6x said:

...there is no rationale for not doing it.

 

Unless there is some unresolved uncertainty regarding it. Better safe than sorry.

Edited Saturday at 04:49 PM by audiomick

[p6x]

5 hours ago, audiomick said:

Unless there is some unresolved uncertainty regarding it. Better safe than sorry.

That front tire was going to debut in 2026, however, since development has been frozen until the start of the new regulations in 2027, that front tire will not be introduced to maintain consistency for all teams.

They will continue with the 2024 Front tire until the end of their tenure.

Hopefully, Pirelli will not fall in the same trap.

I found this (english) article about the front tire that was meant to be introduced in 2025.

https://www.paddock-gp.com/en/motogp-en-2025-la-donne-pourrait-changer-avec-larrivee-annoncee-par-michelin-dun-pneu-avant-plus-gros/

 

 

Edited Saturday at 10:24 PM by p6x

[PJPR01]

What has happened to Bagnaia...he's acting like a first year rookie all of a sudden...timid, unsure, happy with a 3rd place finish...I don't get it. 

I mean I enjoy seeing Marquez win, but some variety would be nice too...it's like the rest of the folks showing up are being paid NOT to race almost.

Fabio...well, Fabio is in a slump now...from World Champ to has been in just a few seasons.   Zarco...another no show.  

At this rate it would be almost fun to bring back Takagami to see some more bumping and grinding....

[p6x]

3 minutes ago, PJPR01 said:

What has happened to Bagnaia...he's acting like a first year rookie all of a sudden...timid, unsure, happy with a 3rd place finish...I don't get it. 

I mean I enjoy seeing Marquez win, but some variety would be nice too...it's like the rest of the folks showing up are being paid NOT to race almost.

Fabio...well, Fabio is in a slump now...from World Champ to has been in just a few seasons.   Zarco...another no show.  

At this rate it would be almost fun to bring back Takagami to see some more bumping and grinding....

Bagnaia has an issue with this year's sprint race Ducati configuration with the small reservoir. He said that he is working to get back the feeling. Tomorrow should be different, hopefully. Bagnaia likes Jerez.

Fabio was actually delighted to manage pole position with a new track record for the circuit. He said that he had to pull all the stops to stay in front, it was fill or kill. Unfortunately, he does not know why he was performing at this track. Tomorrow will most likely be different. He is not going to throw it away.

Zarco, and all the Honda team have to compose with a lot of vibrations from the rear. He said that he was not comfortable with the bike, and indeed, he went down. He was the only one using medium tires when the rest used soft.

We can anticipate that tomorrow will be the same, as shown with Fabio, it is almost impossible to overtake outside the racing line on Jerez.

[fotoguzzi]

I’m thinking MM is in his head.. MM is clearly the best rider on the best bike and out to prove he’s better than Bagn’s, AM wants his job.

[p6x]

14 hours ago, fotoguzzi said:

AM wants his job.

Some are thinking that MM is working hard behind the scene to have AM in the Ducati factory team. Obviously, FB has a valid contract for 2026, but it could be possible to see AM in Factory Ducati from 2027.

I don't know, it feels like a long shot, but looking at Alex Marquez performance since the beginning of the season, it is not impossible.

[LowRyter]

Good race.  Alex is leading the championship 

[p6x]

1 hour ago, LowRyter said:

Good race.  Alex is leading the championship 

The Gresini team seems to have drawn the lottery, one Marquez after the other are bringing them up. Considering they are one of the least sponsored team, it is quite the performance.

[PJPR01]

Now that was exciting in a different way!  

[GuzziMoto]

Bagnaia is not liking the 2025 Ducati. He seems to have very little faith and feel in the front end. He had similar issues last year, struggling to get the front end to do what he wants / needs. But this year the 2025 bike seems even worse for him. Hopefully he will be able to sort that out. Bagnaia also has issues with the smaller sprint gas tank, and that is making the sprint races worse then the main race. Think back to JLo on the Ducati, he struggled badly until they modified the gas tank (this was before sprints), then with the gas tank sorted he was suddenly fast. At the level they are at, the smallest details can make a lot of difference.

Marc seems to have the speed, right up until he looses the front. I would venture that both Marc and Bagnaia lack the right feel in the front, but Marc doesn't care. The upside of that is Marc is faster, the downside is Marc has crashed out of a couple races already, and the season is young. Ducati seem to have issues with the 2025 bike. And they may be relying on Marc to ride around it. But that is a slippery slope, one that can lead to them being back where they used to be. I think at this point a lot of MotoGP fans are rooting for anyone who is not on a Ducati. That is probably not what Ducati want, but it is a direct result of them signing Marc. They really should have let Marc go to KTM or Aprilia, it would have made them look better and be more popular. A Ducati would likely still be winning, but they would be beating the guy who is arguably the fastest guy in MotoGP right now. They may have also avoided the trap they fell into with this years bike had they not had a rider who could ride around the bikes flaws with front end feel.

As to Michelin and their developmental front, this is what the release and the articles about it said. https://www.motorsport.com/motogp/news/michelin-decides-against-new-front-tyre-for-2025-motogp-season/10656046/

"Michelin decides against new front tyre for 2025 MotoGP season. After analyzing data from the Misano test, Michelin has decided to postpone the introduction of a new front tyre originally intended for next season. 

Michelin has backtracked on its plans to introduce a new front tyre in MotoGP next year.

Despite receiving a positive reaction from riders at the Misano test, Michelin has taken a conservative strategy and opted against introducing the new compounds in 2025."

They don't even mention Dorna when talking about delaying the new front tire. Why they would delay it is likely the same reason they forced these stupid tire pressure rules on MotoGP, "Better safe then sorry". They would rather not take any chances. As mentioned, a spec tire series is a series that the tire manufacturer can only look bad in if tires don't work right or even fail. They will never beat anyone else, but they can beat themselves by having tire issues. So they really don't want tire issues. That would make them look bad. I personally think they look bad with the need for minimum air pressure rules, but clearly they don't agree.

 

[p6x]

1 hour ago, GuzziMoto said:

They don't even mention Dorna when talking about delaying the new front tire.

Yesterday, during the debrief of the GP in Jerez, I asked the journalists and was told the decision to not introduce the new front tire in 2025 was also condoned by the teams.

There are going to be more debriefs today, and while in a live stream, I will try to confirm if possible.

I agree the pressure limit is a an impediment to the spectacle, and I don't understand why they would not change that front tire.

[Lucky Phil]

On 4/29/2025 at 12:47 AM, p6x said:

Yesterday, during the debrief of the GP in Jerez, I asked the journalists and was told the decision to not introduce the new front tire in 2025 was also condoned by the teams.

There are going to be more debriefs today, and while in a live stream, I will try to confirm if possible.

I agree the pressure limit is a an impediment to the spectacle, and I don't understand why they would not change that front tire.

The whole idiotic front tyre pressure debacle is caused by the stupid Aerodynamic rules currently in place. WSBK has no front tyre pressure issues because Aero doesn't play a significant role in a WSB. Dump the aero rubbish and the whole front tyre pressure issue disappears.

Phil