Valentino Rossi's front tyre at the Chinese GP

The results of Michelin's analysis
On lap 16 of last month's Shanghai GP, Valentino Rossi had to pit due to excessive vibration from his front tyre, which was found to have been caused by the loss of a small piece of tread.
The tyre remained inflated despite the missing piece of tread.

The analyses conducted at Michelin's Clermont-Ferrand HQ did not show any fault in the tyre. The same tyre specification was used by seven other Michelin riders in the same race without any trouble throughout the 22 laps.

The very high level of stress experienced at Shanghai by the centre part of the tyre is the highest during the whole MotoGP season, because of frequent decelerations from over 320km/h to 60km/h within less than eight seconds.

It would appear that this tyre could not sustain that level of strain; the safety margin we always include when we develop a tyre was apparently not enough in this particular case.

The parameters that influence the levels of stress that a tyre undergoes are, among others: track layout, grip level, riding style and bike set-up.


We apologise wholeheartedly to Valentino and the Yamaha team for having failed in this case to provide a front tyre capable of being competitive throughout the race.

We have, of course, already taken all necessary measures, where physically possible, to ensure that such an event doesn't happen again.

MotoGP: a mediatic phenomenon

More than 5 billion of viewers in 2005!
The arrival of the MotoGP era has not simply signified a technological revolution.
The spectacle of the world's premier motorcycle sport has captured the imagination of the public and the media, seeing an incredible upturn in general interest over the past few years. The sight of great champions doing battle on track, beamed onto television screens all over the world, has turned it into one of the most fashionable sports on the planet.

The recent Grand Prix of Italy was enjoyed by 90,000 spectators onsite, whilst national television figures almost hit record highs, with 7,902,000 viewers and a 50.9 % share. This figure is second only to last year's Grand Prix of Catalunya, which was followed by an incredible total of 8,446,000 people in Italy.

This level of success has been possible thanks to the enormous efforts of Dorna and national TV stations to transmit the passion of motorcycle racing.

In Italy the event is broadcast by MEDIASET, who have spectators hooked all year round - from the preseason tests right the way through qualifying practice sessions and the races. Each race weekend is given nine hours of coverage by ITALIA 1 with 30 members of staff onsite including journalists, technicians, production staff and four cameras (2 in boxes and 2 in the studio), which add to the coverage provided by Dorna. For their home GP this effort was increased to 40 members of staff, including 10 cameras in the studio, box and paddock.

Overall the Grand Prix of Italy was followed by 90 cameras between Dorna and Mediaset.
Not a single centimetre of the track or paddock was left uncovered, with footage from the track feed complimented by onboard cameras and action from the boxes, pit-lane, paddock and studio.

The Italian event was broadcast by a total of 107 television stations from 36 countries, who are able to follow the entire championship and enjoy the passion of motorcycles from home.

In 2005 the MotoGP World Championship was seen by a total of 5 billion and 290 million viewers - averaging at 311 million per event. A total of 3,790 hours of coverage was broadcast on the MotoGP class alone.

TV in numbers:

5 billion and 290 million MotoGP television viewers, with an average of 311 million per race (2005 season).

3,790 of televised coverage of the premier class in 207 countries - 142 of which show lives races.
107 television stations in 36 countries following the championship, as well as 112 radio stations from 22 countries.

184 countries broadcasting live coverage of the MotoGP races.

10,020 accredited journalists for the season from 59 countries with an average of 589 per GP.

1243 newspapers headings from 55 countries. Italy has the record of 773 journalists present throughout the 17 race championship

Pedrosa ready to shine in front of home fans

Catalunya : Repsol Honda - Preview
The Motorcycling World Championship which will be remembered as the championship with the most even and thrilling season start of the latest years will travel this weekend to Catalonia to stage round seven of the 2006 season.

The Repsol Honda Team arrives as one of the teams that has been playing the main role this season so far, having their both riders among the top four of the MotoGP World Championship and leading the teams' classification. Nicky Hayden is second overall, level on points with the leader Loris Capirossi, and young Dani Pedrosa is fourth, thirteen points behind the two leaders.

In the teams' standings, the Repsol Honda Team has an advantage of 42 points over the second qualified team, the Ducati Marlboro Team.

Nicky Hayden, third at the Italian Grand Prix, is still looking for his first victory of the year but keeping the lead thanks to his regularity. After the last ten consecutive races staged between 2005 and 2006, the Repsol rider accounts for nine podium finishes, proving for his tremendous regularity.

Dani Pedrosa, who already knows what it means to win in MotoGP, will be racing at home this weekend and that will make him feel really wrapped up by his fans. The fact of having been to Barcelona for the preseason test sessions will be with no doubt of big help in order to face the preparations for the seventh Grand Prix of the 2006 season.

Last year Nicky Hayden was fifth in MotoGP and Dani Pedrosa took the victory in the 250cc.


Dani Pedrosa: "Catalunya GP is always special for me because I'm at home, all the crowd is looking forward to enjoying a good race and my family and friends will be there. I don't really have more pressure being at home - I always want to get the best result I can - but it's not a secret that a lot of people will come to the circuit for us and I would like to thank them for their support with a great race. When we were at this track for the IRTA test, I could see that people were very excited then - and the race is always much more important. I think we are doing a good job with the team and Honda and we need to keep our concentration to continue this way. Some previous races this season have been difficult for me because I didn't have information with the MotoGP bike. But we have good data from the IRTA test in Catalunya, so I hope it can help us to prepare for the race."


Nicky Hayden: "I quite like the Catalunya circuit. It's quite fast, it's got some quick corners and I've gone ok there in the past so I'm looking forward to it. This weekend starts off three back-to-back races so we're going to have to get it on because there's a lot at stake. We know how important it is to start these three weeks off strongly. I've tested at Catalunya and raced there so I know the track well, and the Spanish crowds always get really into it too. We had a great test after the last race at Mugello so hopefully we can keep rolling. Plus it's Repsol's home, so it's kind of like a home GP for the team. They're a great sponsor so there's definitely a lot of pride going there riding for Repsol Honda. Hopefully we can give them a good result."