MotoGP Americas: Rossi calls on Ducati to fix tyre problems.

Valentino Rossi put the emphasis on Ducati rather than Michelin to fix the kind of tyre problems that caused a compulsory bike swap during last weekend's Argentina MotoGP race. 

Scott Redding's Pramac Ducati shed the outer layer of its rear tyre during final practice at the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. 

Fortunately, unlike for Avintia Ducati's Loris Baz at the Sepang test, the Englishman was able to keep control and park his bike despite being struck by debris. 

Michelin, starting its first season as exclusive tyre supplier, reacted by withdrawing both rear options and replacing them with a new stiffer tyre for race day. 

However a wet warm-up prevented any practice time with the new tyre, resulting in the original tyre allocation being allowed - but with a reduced 20-lap distance and mandatory mid-race bike change. 

“For me it's two [factors] together,” Rossi said of the tyre issues. “It's taller riders that are a little bit more heavy, like Baz and Redding. I'm also quite tall. But especially it is the taller rider and the [type of] bike. 

“Because all through the winter tests and the races in Qatar and Argentina, with the Yamaha, we never have [tyre] problems. So last week we were ready to race, to make the 25 laps. 

“About our feeling on the bike and data about the tyre temperature - we don't have any problems, fortunately. So I hope that also the other bikes, in this case the Ducati, can fix the problem. 

“Because if not also all the other manufacturers have to race with the very hard, hard, hard tyre. And I think that is not good for the show, it is not good for the performance. So I think they have to fix the problem.” 

Source: http://www.crash.net