Ducati ask for softer tyres for Saturday

Casey Stoner and Loris Capirossi completed both practice sessions without changing their tyres at all, and that has left Ducati hoping Bridgestone can give them softer rubber for the rest of what is expected to be a wet weekend.

With wet tyres outside the allocation of 31 tyres that are nominated by 5pm on Thursday evening, teams are free to use as many wets as possible.

"We did the whole day on two tyres for each rider all day," Suppo told autosport.com. "So for sure I think we need something a bit softer

"I want to ask them if they have anything softer in Germany (where Bridgestone's tyres are stored). But even so, we are not complaining too much about the tyres. In race conditions I think we can fight."

Bridgestone is not alone is considering bringing in new specification tyres for Saturday. Valentino Rossi has said he expects Michelin to bring a softer choice for Saturday.

"It is possible tomorrow to bring something softer," said Rossi. "They (Michelin) have the tyres, but they didn't bring them because they didn't expect this sliding on the asphalt."

Up until the start of this season, tyre suppliers were allowed to ship in different specifications of dry weather rubber over the course of a race weekend. Michelin regularly did so, while the last time Bridgestone took that option was in Portugal last year.

MotoGP changed the tyre rules over the winter and this year teams must nominate their tyres before the race weekend - although the wet tyre freedom remains for safety reasons.

Autosport.com asked Suppo if he thought bringing in new wet tyres was in the spirit of the rules. "It's absolutely legal," he said.