The MotoGP Malaysian GP once again posed many problems for the riders regarding the pressure of the front tires – which, since Silverstone, must adhere to a specified minimum value, under the risk of warnings and penalties. Aleix Espargaró was the first to be penalized (in Thailand) and reiterated his position against the rule.
Asked if the riders have to be more conservative, the Spaniard confirmed, heavily criticizing the rule: ‘Actually yes [we have to be more conservative], for sure. If not, we’ll get six seconds [penalty], and the next time 12 seconds. I hate this rule, it will ruin the championship’.
Espargaró also spoke about the championship’s resistance to change the minimum value of the front tyre pressure: ‘We do this every single weekend to Michelin, to Piero [Taramasso, Michelin’s director], to Carlos Ezpeleta, to Carmelo [Ezpeleta, Dorna’s CEO] – in every single meeting we just spoke about this. There is no chance they will change it. I’m fully confident in Piero, but I race in MotoGP for 15 years and I never seen a problem with the front tyre. […]. I saw the rear tyre exploding, never the front tyre’.