Bridgestone's 2010 guide to MotoGP tyres
.jpg)
Tyres available
Each rider is permitted to use a maximum of 18 slick tyres during each grand prix weekend (a reduction of two tyres from 2009) and eight wet tyres, or ten if every session is deemed wet.
Each grand prix weekend, Bridgestone’s slick tyres are available in two compounds and the wet tyres available in just a single compound, selected by Bridgestone in advance.
The softer of the Bridgestone slick tyres is marked with a white line painted around the sidewall.
Slick tyres
For each grand prix Bridgestone will select, in advance, two specifications of front and rear tyre from the following different available slick compounds:
- Front slick tyre compounds: Soft, Medium, Hard, Extra Hard
- Rear slick tyre compounds: Soft, Medium, Hard, Extra Hard
Front tyre size: 125/600R16.5
Rear tyre size: 190/650R16.5
Additionally, at some circuits the standard rear slick tyres will be replaced by asymmetric rear slick tyres, in which case Bridgestone will select two compounds from the following:
- Rear asymmetric slick tyre compounds: Medium, Hard, Extra Hard
During a grand prix weekend, each rider receives five of each compound of rear slick tyre, but can choose the split of each compound of front slick tyres he receives, selecting either four of each compound, five of one compound and three of the other or vice versa.
In another change to last year’s regulations, riders can now make this front tyre selection during a grand prix weekend, rather than having to choose one race in advance.
Each rider is given three of each compound of front slick tyre on the day before the start of official practice. After the first practice he can then choose which compounds he would like for his final two front tyres, allowing each team and rider to select more of the compound that best suits their bike and the conditions.
Each rider must inform Bridgestone of his selection of front tyre specification no later than two hours after the end of the first practice session. If a rider does not select within this time he will automatically receive one tyre of each compound.
In the case of a rider being replaced after this tyre selection deadline, the replacement rider must use only the tyres allocated to the original rider.
Wet tyres
Wet tyre compounds: Soft, Hard
During a grand prix weekend each rider will receive eight wet tyres of a single compound. If every session during the weekend is wet, an extra one front and one rear wet tyre will be supplied to every rider for the race.
A wet tyre is defined as a tyre which has a land to sea ratio of at least 20% overall, and a minimum ratio of 7% in each third of the section profile. Anything less than this is deemed a slick tyre and must make up a rider’s slick tyre allocation.
As was the case last year, there are no intermediate tyres for the 2010 season.
Tyre allocation
Each tyre is allocated specifically to each individual rider and carefully controlled via a barcode system recorded and monitored by Bridgestone and the FIM. Swapping or exchanging of tyres between riders is forbidden to ensure that every rider has exactly the same number and specification of tyres available to him throughout each grand prix weekend. This is the backbone of the single tyre supply system.
Ensuring the equal and fair allocation of tyres to each and every rider is absolutely critical to the success and impartiality of the single tyre supply system, making the allocation process very important.
Not only is a precise approach needed to ensure that every rider receives the same total number of tyres, but strict monitoring and control of the allocated tyres is also crucial to ensure that riders do not swap or exchange tyres from their allocations during a grand prix.
Each tyre is allocated specifically to an individual rider, and barcodes imprinted onto the tyre’s sidewall allow both Bridgestone and the FIM to monitor each rider’s tyre usage at all times. It is forbidden for any rider to use a tyre that has not been allocated to him.
The allocation process The tyre specifications available at each event are determined by Bridgestone well in advance of each grand prix. Identical tyres of each specification must be available to every rider, and the allocated total quantity of each specification of tyres will be the same for every rider.
On the day prior to the start of official practice, the FIM Technical Director will allocate the tyres available for the exclusive use of each rider. The allocation of individual tyres will be made on a random basis with no involvement of any representative from the tyre supplier, teams or riders.
This allocation should be completed by 14.00 hrs of the same day and no further allocation of tyres is allowed after 17.00 hrs on the day prior to the start of official practice (except with regard to front tyre specification choice which is made within two hours of the finish of the first practice session).
In the case of a rider change after the final tyre allocation has been made, the replacement rider must use only the tyres allocated to the original rider.