Qatar concern for Loris

Loris Capirossi is hoping front tyre concerns won’t ruin his hopes of winning the opening MotoGP race for the second year in succession.

The Italian spoke to MCN about Qatar where several Bridgestone riders struggled with front-end grip. The Doha circuit requires Bridgestone riders to run a hard compound front, more so than at any other track on the calendar.

The Italian, who won the opening race of 2006 in Jerez and is hoping for a repeat back in Qatar on March 10, 2007, said: “At Qatar, the hard front for feeling is not the best.

“For long distances it is not a problem but the bike is really difficult to turn and it always wants to push wide. If we try a softer tyre then we destroy it in a couple of laps.

“The time now is not to scream but the situation is not good and we are more than one step behind Yamaha.”