Miller: You have to ride the new tyres like a 250GP bike!

Jack Miller has compared the riding style needed to get the best of the new Michelin MotoGP tyres to that of a two-stroke 250GP machine of old. Saying that the tyres change how a rider brakes on corner entry, the Australian also admitted that it would require a significant change in riding style.

“I never rode a 250GP bike, but from what I know and assume it was the same. It’s not so much that you have to trail the brake less; you still have to do it the same, but you can’t use as much force on an angle. You have to keep it upright, release it a little more as you turn in – and if you don’t, you lose the front, as many people, myself included, realised today!

“The rear is a really good tyre coming from the Bridgestones, and the front is also very, very good – but good in another way from the Michelin. The old one was the way you could brake with so much pressure on an angle, but on this one it’s good in another direction – so you have to adjust the bike and my riding style.”

However, stepping up onto the full Honda RCV for the first time and leaving behind the much maligned open class machine, the 2015 MotoGP rookie was still able to finish off the day well.

Lapping at 1:32.596, he ended the day ahead of new teammate Tito Rabat as he lapped faster than Sunday’s race pace and only marginally slower than his fastest lap of the weekend on the Bridgestones.