Bridgestone to make front qualifying tyre

Tyre supplier Bridgestone is to make a special front qualifying tyre in an effort to beat rivals Michelin, autosport.com has learned

Michelin introduced a new front qualifying tyre last season, and it continues to make strides with its new 16-inch front rubber which will be adopted by all its riders this year.

After the result of pre-season testing indicated that Bridgestone had lost their previous advantage in qualifying pace, sources have said that the Japanese tyre manufacturer is now to work on a front tyre designed specifically for single lap pace.

A Bridgestone spokesman told autosport.com: "The results from the winter tests in Sepang, Phillip Island, Qatar and Jerez showed us that we had to develop our qualifying tyres to work better with the 800cc machines.

"We have already started our programme to improve the qualifying performance for all Bridgestone teams.

"Development of front qualifying tyres is one of the options in our development program and we will use the post-GP test in Qatar to carry out a first evaluation."

The qualifying tyre vastly improves the performance of the bikes during the hour-long session, with Italian rider Marco Melandri explaining just how different the rubber feels.

"You can brake so late and so deep into the corner on those tyres," he said. "The force of braking seems to be the same into the apex of the corner as it is when the bike is in a straight line. It's incredible."

It is widely expected that riders will only chose two rear qualifying tyres out of the 17 they are allocated with the new regulations. Fourteen front tyres are allowed, although this is will not pose too much of a restriction for riders.