Riders say Bridgestone damaged MotoGP's image with tyre dramas

Both Bridgestone and Moto2 supplier Dunlop were caught out by the new asphalt at the Australian Grand Prix venue last weekend.

After worrying tyre wear problems in practice, the decision was taken to reduce the MotoGP race from 27 to 19 laps, with a mandatory pitstop for a bike with fresh tyres on lap nine or 10.

The race proved to be one of the most exciting of the year, but Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi - who finished second and third - said that did not mean the problems should be overlooked.

"On TV it might look in the end like everything was so cool and so exciting," said Pedrosa.

"But I can tell you, for the teams it was a little bit of a nightmare.

"It was a shame, it's not a good image to have to do these things.

"Next time they should have to have a test or to spend a day or two working with the surface."

Rossi agreed that Bridgestone was at fault for not scheduling a full tyre test at the circuit. It based its preparations on information from teams and the World Superbike event at the track.

"If a racetrack has a new surface, it should be compulsory to do a test for the tyre, and with good, fast riders," said Rossi. "If not, it's useless."

The seven-time MotoGP champion also hit out at Bridgestone's general performance this season.

"Bridgestone have to make more effort to improve the harder tyre," Rossi said.

"The harder tyre this year has never worked for anybody. In all the races everybody is forced to use the soft because the harder tyre doesn't work.

"I hope Bridgestone makes more effort to give riders two options with good tyres that work every weekend, because this year it's never happened."