Michelin boss worried about China challenge

Michelin tyre boss Jean-Philippe Weber has admitted he is ‘afraid’ ahead of the China GP in Shanghai following Valentino Rossi’s rear tyre disaster in the recent Istanbul race.

Hard casing tyres will be specially built for the Shanghai clash on May 6, 2007 as Michelin desperately seeks to bounce straight back from the bitter disappointment of its humiliating result in Turkey.

Rivals Bridgestone claimed the top six places in Turkey and disaster struck Rossi as his podium hopes were wrecked by a rear tyre problem that dropped him back to 10th place.

Michelin were heavily criticised by Rossi after Istanbul and Weber is conscious that the Italian was forced to withdraw from last year’s China GP when a front tyre chunked while he was odds on to grab a top three finish.

Weber said: “I’m a little bit afraid for Shanghai because you have those two long straights and this is very high level competition. We have to put strength into the development to be able to make a difference.”

Weber said it was crucial too that Michelin upped its game to develop tyres that were comparable to the early race performance of Bridgestone.

Both Rossi and Fiat Yamaha team-mate Colin Edwards commented on how quickly Bridgestone riders can push on the Japanese rubber.

“That is something we see during the test sessions over a weekend. In the morning in cold conditions the Bridgestone riders are faster to get to the pace.

“We have to get the maximum performance out of the tyre, so when we are fast nobody is really talking about that. But when we are not fast you see more of a difference,” said Weber.