After the chaos of the 2013 Australian GP triggered by overheating and chunking Bridgestone tires, it was no surprise that tires were a talking point at Phillip Island during practice for Sunday's race.
Bridgestone has delivered a range of new but conservative specification front and rear tires with the primary target of completing the race distance.
The 2013 Phillip Island race required a compulsory pitstop for a tire change with Marc Marquez disqualified after missing the pitstop window.
Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi gave his perspective on the tire situation for 2014 after the first day of free practice at Phillip Island.
"This track is very, very difficult for tires and always has been critical for tires,” said Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi. “Also for the 500s where on left side there would also be issues with blisters. I am quite satisfied about the rear tire and I think Bridgestone have worked well. For sure you lose grip after some laps but it looks like this tire will make the race distance and this is the target.
"But we have to work very much on the bike setup to help the tire not to spin too much. The biggest problem is when you pick up the bike on exit and go full throttle, the tire spins. Even without a lot of lean angle you still spin a lot. But we improved the rear grip and did a good lap time with a used tire.
"The front tire is another story. This track has lot of stress on the left but when you arrive on the right the tire is always cold and we had a lot of crashes today for this reason.
”We have three choices: The harder option, which is too hard, so then decision is between the asymmetric tire (hard on right side/soft compound on left) and the softer option front.
"Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) was fast but he crashed on the asymmetric tires which means it is difficult on braking. I want to try and continue with the soft and hope this tire can make all the race.
"If tomorrow the soft is a problem we will have to think about the asymmetric."
”I never rode the asymmetric front. After Jorge crashed we cancelled this and went with the soft. The riders who used asymmetric tire liked it and say it is a normal feeling but the problem it is a little difficult to manage the braking. This not because it is asymmetric but because the rubber is harder so you lose some grip.”
