Dunlop introduce new 16-inch front tyre

Following two tests with the tyre at Istanbul and Le Mans, the Birmingham manufacturer have gone followed Michelin's way in searching for increased edge grip and greater corner speed.

Both Tech 3 Yamaha riders tried the tyres in Istanbul, while only Makoto Tamada rode the tyres on Monday and Tuesday after the Le Mans race as Sylvain Guintoli couldn't ride due to injuries sustained when he crashed out of the race.

Both men tried the usual 16.5-inch and then 16-inch front tyres in practice this morning at Mugello after riders got an initial feel for the bike with the regular 16.5-inch tyre.

"We've brought a full spread of tyres in 16-inch configuration here to Mugello," said Jeremy Ferguson, Dunlop's Manager International Motorsport. "The riders can see the advantages with the increased speed into the corners. We have two profiles, but one is better than the other with a bigger contact patch."

An added bonus of the tyre is that it aids fast change of direction due to there being less unsprung weight, ideal for the fast, open changes of direction of Mugello.

Ferguson was particularly happy with Dunlop's qualifying performance in Le Mans, when Guintoli clinched 11th on the grid, just 0.9 seconds off the pole position time of Colin Edwards.

"We opted for too hard a qualifier there as he was well up on the splits during his next lap," he added. "It nearly lasted two laps, which is too much. Here at Mugello the lap is 20 seconds longer than Le Mans, so we should be there, but that depends on the weather."

Guintoli said about the new tyre: "It lowers the front a bit so it feels a bit weird, but it gives good feedback. What's incredible is that even with the 16.5 you can brake deep into the apex anyway, but with this it feels like the bike's almost going to fall over into it. What we've really got to work on is getting the power on away from the apex."