Incidents mar Michelin MotoGP test
Thursday's Michelin MotoGP tyre test at Sepang has seen a series of high-speed accidents.
Aleix Espargaro (Suzuki), Jack Miller (Honda), Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati) all fell at either the Turn 3 right-hander or Turn 5 left hander. Turn 5 had also been the scene of three accidents for factory test riders earlier this month.
Fortunately Lorenzo, like the other riders, walked away.
Today's test marks the first time that race riders have tried the prototype 2016 Michelin rubber. Michelin is taking over from Bridgestone as MotoGP's exclusive supplier from next season. Riders are prevented from speaking to the media due to existing contracts with Bridgestone, with no official lap times available.
Prior to Thursday the MotoGP riders had spent three days at Sepang on Bridgestone tyres.
Michelin say today's falls were caused by difference in grip balance between front and rea... http://t.co/sdhOJqEMNY #MotoGP-- Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 26, 2015Dovi with his bike after falling at very fast turn 3 right hander. Same place as Lorenzo. #motogp pic.twitter.com/YWYHXKo9qI-- Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 26, 2015Lorenzo's heavily damaged Yamaha returns to pits after fall in Michelin tyre test #motogp pic.twitter.com/gsBGbYbzBK-- Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 26, 2015Suzuki's Aleix Espargaro has also had an off #motogp pic.twitter.com/PT06goaVam-- Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 26, 2015Jack Miller's bike is returned after fall during Michelin tyre test #motogp pic.twitter.com/by2agpjlJa-- Crash.net MotoGP (@crash_motogp) February 26, 2015
Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi come and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.
