Stoner: Tyres could be 'critical' in Catalunya race

MotoGP News
Date: 2/June/2012

If the hot temperatures continue at Catalunya, the end of Sunday’s MotoGP race could see riders struggling for grip on heavily degraded tyres.

That’s the view of reigning world champion Casey Stoner, who took his 40th grand prix pole by 0.146s from title leader Jorge Lorenzo at the Spanish circuit on Saturday.

Repsol Honda rider Stoner has been openly surprised at the amount of track time his rivals have spent on Bridgestone’s softer rear this weekend, believing the harder option is the safer choice.

Stoner said: "We've done a lot on the hard tyre, quite a bit more than other people, and we feel quite confident with the pace.

"Everyone else seemed to put in more laps on the soft tyre. That [tyre] is a slight risk for tomorrow in warmer conditions, although if the conditions cool down there is a chance we can go to the soft as well.”

Barring a change in the weather - and there is even a slight chance of thunderstorms - the Australian warned that the closing stages could see tyre performance collapse.

"I think this is going to be one of the first races in quite a long time where tyres are quite critical, especially towards the end of the race,” he said. 

"We haven't seen that very often with Bridgestone tyres.

“But if the extreme temperatures continue tomorrow there is every chance the tyres could get too high for too long."

Despite the 50-degree qualifying asphalt, Yamaha rider Lorenzo is one of those learning towards the softer option.

“I think it can last,” Lorenzo insisted. “The best laps will be at the beginning of the race and then we’ll have a big drop in performance after seven laps. But I think the soft tyre can last to the end.”

Lorenzo estimates that even in the closing stages he would be able to lap within two-seconds of pole pace on the soft tyre.

All of which sets up the tantalising possibility of Stoner and Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa running the harder rear, while some or all of the Yamaha riders (including front row starter Cal Crutchlow) gamble on the softer tyre.

If so, the Yamahas would need to build an advantage over the early laps, then hang on to their sliding machines as the Honda riders reel them back in during the closing stages.

Lorenzo will start the race with an eight-point Championship advantage over Stoner. Both riders have won two races so far this year.