Post-season test Valencia: Bridgestone Review

Repsol Honda’s Dani Pedrosa continued his race-winning form in the Valencia Grand Prix to clock the overall quickest time in the post-season test at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

Pedrosa’s benchmark time of 1’32.322 was impressive given the less than ideal condition of the circuit on Wednesday with damp patches off the racing line and a track temperature of just 16°C. All riders who recorded laps on slicks bettered their times set in the wet on Tuesday.

Apart from a brief three lap window at the beginning of the day, the whole of the first day of testing took place in wet conditions. A dry line began to show towards the end of the second day testing, resulting in a flurry of activity in which thirteen riders took to the circuit. The only specification of slick tyres used during the test were the softer option front and rear slicks, while two CRT riders, Randy de Puniet and Karel Abraham evaluated the experimental soft rear slick. For maximum safety in the wintery conditions the only wet tyre allocated for the test was the soft compound option.

Bridgestone slick compounds available: Front: Soft, Medium. Rear: Medium, Hard (Asymmetric)
Bridgestone wet tyre compounds available: Soft

Weather: Day 1: Wet. Ambient 13-14°C; Track 10-12°C (Bridgestone measurement)
Day 2: Wet. Ambient 14-18°C; Track 15-16°C (Bridgestone measurement)

Masao Azuma – Chief Engineer, Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development Department
“The weather for the Valencia test was for the main part even harsher than experienced over the race weekend and this limited the amount of time riders spent out on track. We had brought two experimental tyres for the riders to assess but unfortunately the damp and very cool track surface limited their use. None of the works riders were able to assess our new hard rubber compound, but two CRT riders tried the new soft specification rear tyre and commented that it provided a good improvement in rear grip which is encouraging.

“Overall, it was very positive to see the quick pace shown by the riders in the difficult conditions as it shows the confidence bestowed by our 2012 specification tyres. Bridgestone also had technical staff present at the Aragon circuit on Wednesday where Yamaha Factory Racing was testing but there was limited running there also due to rain. Our focus now shifts to our winter development program and we plan to have a new batch of test tyres on hand for riders to test at the first pre-season test for 2013 at the Sepang in February next year.”

Source: Bridgestone Motorsport Press Release