Michelin benefit from three star Indianapolis performance

The weather had caused problems for both Michelin and rivals Bridgestone at the American visit, combined with the fact that both had performed only limited testing on an entirely new surface. Michelin´s director of motorcycle racing, Jean-Philippe Weber, explained how the company´s strategy had paid off, and that for them the race had perhaps been ended in the nick of time.

`This is a tricky track and conditions were incredibly difficult, the wind and the rain changing all the time. Then when it started raining heavily later on we knew it would get difficult for all the riders because their tyres were already quite worn. We are happy it all went off okay. Our congratulations to Nicky and Jorge for their podium finishes, also to Andrea Dovizioso who had a great battle with Casey Stoner,´ said Weber, who revealed that both Hayden and Colin Edwards had made their own special requests for rubber.

`We chose quite hard tyres because the major part of the track is grippy and aggressive. `I think we made the right choice because Nicky, Jorge and Andrea all had excellent races, though Nicky and Colin chose slightly softer rears than the others. We are happy that our riders were able to perform well today.´

Hayden had worn the tread from his tyres during the dry section of the race, and the more conservative strategy of Lorenzo almost allowed the Spaniard to cut the five second gap between the two on the impromptu final lap.