Bridgestone engineers are bringing a special heat-resistant construction of slick tyre to the Assen TT. Image: Bridgestone Motorsport.

Bridgestone technicians are taking special measures to ensure optimum tyre performance at the Assen TT after recently re-classifying the technical, high-speed circuit ‘severe’ on tyres.

While not particularly demanding on front tyres, the rears are placed under considerable stress, with the right shoulders of the slicks bearing the brunt of high-speed and high-camber corners.

Shinji Aoki, manager, Bridgestone Motorsport tyre development, said the surface changes and high average speed of the Dutch circuit made selecting specific compounds crucial.

“The tyres at this circuit have to cope with a wide range of corners from slow to high speed, and the layout means high grip levels on the shoulder and edges of the tyre is crucial,” said Aoki.

“The first few corners are linked as one and gradually tighten, requiring good right shoulder durability, and corners such as Ramshoek demand absolute commitment and generate high tyre temperature.”

The move from 800cc to 1000cc machines in recent seasons have required technicians to develop a specific compound of tyre that will withstand the higher heat levels output as a result of the greater power.

“Since the heavier, more powerful 1000cc machines have been introduced to MotoGP we have had to reclassify Assen as a severe circuit for tyres, so for the first time this year all rear slicks supplied for the Dutch TT are in our heat-resistant special construction specification,” he added.

Bridgestone will also have a bank of its soft compound wet tyres on hand, with riders also able select from up to two front and rear tyres in an alternative hard compound if so desired.