Dunlop introduce new Moto2 tyre for Spanish Grand Prix

Dunlop has been the sole supplier of Moto2^TM tyres since the category’s inception in 2010. During the last decade, Dunlop has consistently refined and evolved the tyre range, with new Moto2^TM technologies finding their way into Dunlop’s award-winning SportSmart hypersport tyre range.

This year, the Moto2^TM bikes have received a power and torque upgrade thanks to a switch to Triumph power. Dunlop chose to supply the 2018 specification tyres for the opening races of the year, so teams could focus on adapting to the new engine. For the start of the European season at the Spanish Grand Prix, Dunlop will introduce an all-new 200/75R17 rear tyre designed specifically for the new generation racers. This replaces the previous 195/75R17 tyre.

Stephen Bickley, Senior Race Engineer, explained the reason for introducing the new tyre at Jerez: “The 2018 tyre has proven to be more than capable of meeting the performance of the new bikes. By using it in the opening rounds, the Dunlop technical team was able to collect information and establish how the new bikes impact the tyre performance, checking if more heat was being generated giving us valuable data for the larger 2019 rear tyre.

“The 200/75R17 is a physically larger tyre than the 195/75R17, increasing in diameter by over 10mm. This provides improved traction in both longitudinal and lateral directions.

The stability of the Moto2^TM tyres was a highly-regarded attribute, and riders tell us we’ve actually improved on this with the new shape, carefully controlling the stiffness of the tyres at all lean angles.”

One step harder

In addition to launching the new tyre size, Dunlop has also chosen to go a step harder than in previous years with the Moto2^TM tyre allocations for this circuit. This is due to Jerez being more aggressive since its resurfacing. The new tyres and compound range have been evaluated at three separate Jerez tests, Valencia, Aragon as well as at Dunlop’s own test facility in Mireval, France. At some circuits, such as Le Mans, Dunlop expect they can run softer compounds than in 2018.

The latest Moto2^TM tyres incorporate a range of technologies that have been included in Dunlop’s new generation hypersport road tyres. These include the ingenious NTEC pressure control system, MultiTread compounds and Heat Control Technology which combines a long-lasting outer compound, with a heat generating and performance-enhancing base layer for maximum durability as well as increased outright grip.

New tyres introduced in Moto3^TM

No one can accuse the FIM Moto3^TM World Championship of ever lacking in excitement, with more overtakes in a single race than many championships manage in a season, but Dunlop has decided to add a little extra spice to the recipe.

Since being appointed as official tyre partner in 2012, Dunlop has always brought at least two different dry weather compounds to each race, but the teams all tended to choose the same one - generally Dunlop’s Medium compound.

From Jerez onwards, Dunlop will give the teams a choice of two new rear tyres in addition to introducing a new soft compound front.

The rears, Soft (code S2) and a Hard (code H4) have a bigger step in performance between them than the previous tyre specifications. According to Gary Purdy, Dunlop’s Lead Trackside Support Engineer on the Moto3^TM programme, this will make teams think more about strategy: “Testing has shown that the Soft tyre could be quicker in the opening laps of the race with a fast warm-up time, but in the closing stages the Hard may be the quicker tyre. Both tyres are capable of performing consistently over a race distance, but the difference in characteristics will bring an additional factor into planning a race gameplan.”

Current Championship Positions

FIM Moto2^TM World Championship

1 - Lorenzo Baldassarri (ITA - Kalex) - 50

2 - Marcel Schrötter (GER - Kalex) - 47

3 - Tom Lüthi (SWI - Kalex) - 45

4 - Remy Gardner (AUS - Kalex) - 38

5 - Alex Marquez (SPA - Kalex) - 36

FIM Moto3^TM World Championship

1 - Jaume Masia (SPA - KTM) - 45

2 - Aron Canet (SPA - KTM) - 45

3 - Lorenzo Dalla Porta (ITA - Honda) - 32

4 - Niccolo Antonelli (ITA - Honda) - 32

5 - Kaito Toba (JPN - Honda) - 31

Dunlop #ForeverForward Award for most overtakes

1= Philipp Oettl Moto2 23

1= Lukas Tulovic Moto2 23

3= Khairul Idham Pawi Moto2 22

3= Celestino Vietti Moto3 22

About Dunlop

Dunlop Europe is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of motorcycle tyres with an impressive track record of motorsport successes. Dunlop Europe is a technical partner of Suzuki Endurance Race Team and Honda Racing in Endurance World Championship Racing, the official tyre supplier to the FIM Moto2 and Moto3 World Championship and the most successful tyre brand in the history of the Isle of Man TT. Off-road, Dunlop is the choice of MXGP race winners and champions.