Tire swap SHOCKER! Rossi on Dunlops!

[R1 Biker]

Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi switched tire brands, with Rossi riding on Dunlop and Capirossi on Michelin, and immediately their times suffered. The 1:57’s they ran in the second practice session on the Losail Circuit suddenly became 2:54’s. What happened?

First off, they were on street bikes and, secondly, it was very dark. After night fell on the desert race track, Rossi, Capirossi, and Kenny Roberts Jr., the three members of the Riders Safety Commission, did a few exploratory laps on a partially lighted circuit to judge the feasibility of the first ever night grand prix. With temperatures here normally above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and very sparse crowds, race organizers were looking into the possibility of a night race as a way to draw fan interest.

Roberts Jr. rode a Honda CBR600RR with Michelin tires, Rossi an R6 on Dunlops; one of his mechanics put a Michelin sticker on the front fender; and Capirossi a Ducati 999 on Michelins.
The trio completed two laps at speed, the first at 2:54 and the second at about 3:30, plus an out and in lap, on a track where only the first three corners were bathed in light.
“It would be possible to race here during the night, but they need to improve the illumination, which, at the moment, doesn’t allow us to ride safely,” Capirossi said. “Shadows that depends on the light position create some problems and also braking markers are not clearly visible.

“Anyway, if the lighting was improved it would become possible to race here at night.”

Capirossi added that if they organized a night race, free practices would begin at 6:30 p.m. and the rest of the schedule would follow.
“Before the next tests or next year they will illuminate all the track and we will have the chance to test, in the dark, in better conditions, and with our own MotoGP bikes.”