After the Bridgestone tires used in the warm up at Phillip Island displayed more problems, Bridgestone has advised Race Direction that their rear tires cannot be guaranteed to last even the distance the race was shortened to last night. The race has been shortened again, to 19 laps, with all riders having to come in before lap 10. The official statement from Race Direction follows below:
UPDATED INFORMATION FROM RACE DIRECTION
Following further problems during the morning warm up we have been notified by Bridgestone that they are unable to guarantee safety of their rear slick tyres beyond 10 laps. It has therefore been decided to make the following changes to the MotoGP class race in the interests of the safety of the riders.
1. The race distance will be 19 laps.
2. Every rider will be required to enter the pits and change to his second machine with fresh tyres at least once during the race. In normal circumstances this means that the rider must change machine only at the end of lap 9 or lap 10.
3. No rider is permitted to make more than 10 laps on any one slick or wet rear tyre. This means that a bike/tyre change before lap 9 will require a second bike/tyre change to finish the race.
Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla
