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Michelin's MotoGP riders finished 2007 with a rousing performance at Jerez, taking the first four places in the final test session of the year and putting them in confident mood for 2008.

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda RC212V-Michelin) topped the times with a scintillating lap, 0.84 seconds inside his pole position lap at last March's Spanish GP, with Nicky Hayden (Repsol Honda RC212V-Michelin) a close second, just ahead of impressive MotoGP rookies Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha Team YZR-M1-Michelin) and Andrea Dovizioso (JiR Team Scot Honda RC212V-Michelin).

All four riders rode their best times on qualifying tyres but also performed impressively with race tyres, thanks to improved compounds and constructions from Michelin.

“We brought a lot of new tyres to Jerez because this test was so crucial – the data we got here is vital because it helps us to keep working during the winter break,” said Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing. “We tried new constructions, new compounds, new fronts and new rears, both 16.5 inch and 16 inch. We tried a new front construction that gives our riders better contact feeling and improved handling. We also tried new rears, working at increasing edge grip and traction in order to improve overall performance. We made some major forward steps on rear construction and we also tried some new compounds with this new construction. Dani worked with the 16 rear as well as the 16.5 rear and now believes the 16 has very good potential, though Nicky is still the most enthusiastic about this tyre. Dani said the 16 has got great traction, though he wants us to work some more on stability. He is very keen to try the tyre again at Sepang in January. Dani also told us that we have improved tyre warm-up, which is good news, so we will try these tyres again at Sepang, with higher track temperatures, and test their consistency. We were also impressed by Lorenzo, who did a very good long-distance run. These tests have given us some very good data and feedback. Now we will keep working during the winter break, continuing what we started here and perfecting our latest tyres for Sepang.”

Pedrosa, recent winner of the season-ending Valencia GP where he secured second place in the World Championship, spent the final day focusing on tyre tests with his 2007 RCV, allowing him to make direct comparisons with last season's performance.