Dunlop reveals Moto2 and Moto3 tyre choices for Australia, Malaysia and Japan Grand Prix
Moto2 & Moto3 InFocus: October
The FIM Moto2™ and Moto3™ World Championships leave Europe to embark on three fly-away events in Japan, Australia and Malaysia. The Motegi track in Japan on 16 October is traditionally easier on rear tyres than many other tracks in the dry, it’s twisty nature making more demands on the fronts due to hard braking. Very high energy levels for the Philip Island race means Dunlop engineers have elected to allocate the same special hard compound tyres used successfully for Moto2 in 2015. Usually the Sepang round would see a return to the softer end of the Dunlop range, however due to the resurfacing done in February, the engineers have elected to allocate Dunlop’s harder compound for Malaysia too, where tropical storms and potential 50 degree track temperatures can also play their part.
September Recap – Silverstone, Misano and MotorLand Aragon
Round 12 took place at Silverstone and amid a wet qualifying session it was Sam Lowes who kept his Moto2 title hopes alive by securing his third pole of the season, with Francesco Bagnaia taking his first of the year in Moto3. In cool raceday conditions, Thomas Luthi won his second Moto2 race of 2016, after a controversial collision between Johann Zarco & Lowes which resulted in a 30 second penalty for the former. In Moto3 Brad Binder took his fourth win to extend his championship lead, while Bo Bendsneyder scored his first Moto3 podium finish.
The following weekend the teams moved to Misano for round 13 where an incredibly close-fought Moto3 qualifying, where one second separated the top 18, saw Brad Binder make the best of his soft rears to break the pole record and record his fourth top spot of the season. Taking his fifth win of the year, Binder also shaved six seconds off the overall race time. The battle for Moto2 saw Zarco claim his fourth pole of 2016, his medium compounds having a definite advantage and putting him top of a battle in which 17 riders were covered by a second. Lorenzo Baldassarri recorded his first Moto2 win, with Alex Rins’ second place cutting Zarco’s championship lead to just three points.
Another close qualifying in round 14 at MotorLand Aragon saw one second separate the top 18 Moto3 riders, and Enea Bastianini claim his third pole of the year ahead of Jorge Navarro. While Navarro went on to win, the race also saw Brad Binder claim the Moto3 crown with still four rounds remaining. In Moto2 Sam Lowes claimed his fifth pole of the year topping the first of 14 riders covered by one second. The battle for the title intensified with Rins moving to within one point of Zarco, while Lowes’ race victory moves him back into third. Once again tyre performance was key, with only a 0.4 second drop across the lap times from start to finish.
#ForeverForward 2016
After 14 races Fabio Di Giannantonio has leapt to the top spot of Dunlop’s #ForeverForward Award, thanks to a 19 place gain at Silverstone. The Northamptonshire track saw one of the most hotly contested battles for the crown this season, with 236 overtaking moves across Moto3 and Moto2 races, with the top mover being Moto3 racer Stefano Manzi, who gained 30 places. At Misano Xavi Vierge was the top mover, the Moto2 racer climbing from 25th to 12th to gain 13 places. In Aragon Livio Loi made the best use of his soft spec tyres, (one of only two riders to choose that option) to move up 16 places, but it was fellow Moto3 racer Joan Mir who made the most improvement with 19 places gained.
#ForeverForward after 14 rounds:
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Moto3) 92
Maria Herrera (Moto3) 90
Mattia Pasini (Moto2) 87
Isaac Viñales (Moto2) 82
Fabio Spiranelli (Moto3) 78
John McPhee (Moto3) 73
Round 15: Twin Ring Motegi, Japan – 16 October 2016
The Twin Ring Motegi track combines an oval and road course
When dry the track is easier on rear tyres than most circuits but the twisty nature features a lot of hard braking that makes more demand on the front tyre
Dunlop engineers have used their extensive experience to select the softest compounds available to provide the necessary stability, grip and precision
Motegi Track Facts:
Length: 4.801km
Left Turns: 6
Right Turns: 8
Energy level: Low
Left:right bias: 45%/55%
Motegi Tyre Allocation:
Moto2
Front: Soft '1'(black on yellow) / Medium '2' (black on silver)
Rear: Soft ’0’ (silver on black) / Soft ’1’ (black on yellow)
Moto3
Front: Soft/Medium
Rear: Soft ‘S1’/Medium 'M1'
Motegi 2015 Highlights
Practice and qualifying were held in dry conditions, allowing all riders the opportunity to try both option tyres with excellent performance and durability
Both Moto2 and Moto3 pole records were broken, Johann Zarco claimed Moto2 pole record by over half a second
Raceday saw both races held in wet conditions with both race laps reduced
The race crowned Johann Zarco as the sixth Moto2 Champion
Isaac Vinales’ fastest lap of the Moto3 race was set on lap nine of 13
Round 16: Phillip Island, Australia – 23 October 2016
Phillip Island is one of the fastest tracks on the calendar
Also one of the most spectacular in terms of undulations, the track requires a very specific tyre choice, with a hard compound tyre offering optimum grip and durability
As a result Dunlop is taking the same special hard 4077 as allocated for the demands of Philip Island last year, and the special hard ‘2’
Phillip Island Track Facts:
Length: 4.448km
Left Turns: 7
Right Turns: 5
Energy level: Very High
Left:right bias: 55%/45%
Phillip Island Tyre Allocation:
Moto2
Front: Soft '1'(black on yellow) / Medium '2' (black on silver)
Rear: Special Hard ’S2’ (black on silver) / Special Hard ’4077’ (no decal)
Moto3
Front: Soft/Medium
Rear: Medium 'M1'/ Hard 'H3'
Phillip Island 2015 Highlights
Last year’s Moto2 race was ten seconds faster than the previous year
During practice and qualifying both sets of tyres successfully completed 40 laps with durability and performance very good throughout
Moto3 Champion-elect Danny Kent saw his advantage reduced to 40 points after crashing out in the race
Round 17: Sepang, Malaysia – 30 October 2016
The traditional Malaysian tropical weather means track temperatures can vary greatly at Sepang
The track was resurfaced following the MotoGP tests in February, as a result Dunlop will take the harder compound tyres across both classes to accomodate the more abrasive surface
Sepang Track Facts:
Length: 5.543km
Left Turns: 5
Right Turns: 10
Energy level: Low/Mid
Left:right bias: 35%/65%
Sepang Tyre Allocation:
Moto2
Front: Medium '2' (black on silver) / Hard ‘3’ (yellow on black)
Rear: Hard ’3’ (yellow on black) / Hard ’4’ (white on black)
Moto3
Front: Soft/Medium
Rear: Medium 'M1'/Hard ‘H3’
Sepang 2015 Highlights
In Moto2 qualifying the first 16 riders were under the lap record and four were under the pole record
The Moto2 race was nine seconds faster than the previous year with race winner Johann Zarco setting a new race record
Thomas Luthi claimed the Moto2 pole and race lap record
Miguel Oliviera took the Moto3 win, breaking the race record by 7.5 seconds and reducing Danny Kent’s lead to 24 points with one round remaining
Second-placed Brad Binder set a new lap record, just 0.003 faster than Efren Vazquez