The Formula 1 British Grand Prix race at Silverstone was watched by most of the leading MotoGP riders and they feel the bumps they saw could cause troubles when they go to race there.
After complaints from the MotoGP riders last year, the circuit was resurfaced earlier in the year so as to smoothen the bumps and allow for a better run for the riders. Even the circuit in Barcelona had it done – another track used for both F1 and MotoGP.
While the Spanish circuit was given a green light from both the sections of the racers, however, the Silverstone resurface didn’t work hugely for the F1 drivers when they visited the circuit last weekend.
Several drivers including Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton spoke about the huge bumps with some even feeling sorry for the MotoGP riders when they visit the track for Round 12 during the August 24-26 weekend.
The race was watched on closely by the MotoGP riders to ascertain if the track had been worked upon correctly. Honda’s Marc Marquez thought otherwise as he said he could see some ‘aggressive bumps’ despite the work done.
“I watched it [F1 race] and it looks bumpy,” said Marquez. “Even really aggressive bumps. [It] will be better grip than before but the bumps look more or less the same, so it will be not like Jerez or Montmelo or Le Mans but we will see there.”
Yamaha’s Valentino Rossi hopes the circuit doesn’t go ‘worst’ than last year while praising the efforts of the guys in Barcelona. “[It is] very difficult to understand from the TV I think, we need to go with the bike,” he started.
“A lot of drivers speak quite bad about the new asphalt and it is a great shame because Silverstone is a great track, but one of the problems are bumps and especially during the lap you have like four or five different type of asphalt, so difficult to understand.
“I don’t know [for now], I hope for a very good work. For example like in Catalunya [they did a great job with the new surface] but I hope it is not worst than last year. I hope that it can be good,” he said.
While Marquez and Rossi sounded little more optimistic, Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso wasn’t too much. “We have to run the bike to understand very well, but if the drivers complain so I think on the bike it will be worse,” he said.
Silverstone is one of the circuits used by both F1 and MotoGP along with Catalunya, Red Bull Ring and COTA. Among others, the Le Mans circuit is used for Endurance racing, while Jerez has been F1’s test ground with Sepang hosting F1 until last year.