Michelin’s Piero Taramasso says that the rise of aerodynamic winglets helps to explain why so many MotoGP riders suffered rear tyre problems in last weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix. The Jerez race, won in convincing fashion by Valentino Rossi, was marked by severe rear tyre wear and ‘spinning’ for the majority of the field. As well as the oft-cited low-grip track surface at Jerez and high race-day track temperatures of 40°C, Taramasso said the effect of aerodynamic winglets – which are intended to prevent the front wheel lifting off the ground – were a contributing factor in causing problems at the rear. "The cause for the spinning of the rear tyre is three-fold,”...
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