With newly laid asphalt eroding during ﷺlast year’s inaugural March event, there were serious doubts about whether the Indonesian MotoG൩P race could go the distance.

But the arrival of monsoon rain proved a bles𝔉sing in disguise as far ൲as keeping the surface intact and, after 20 laps, KTM’s Miguel Oliveira claimed victory ahead of Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) and Johann Zarco (Pramac Ducati).

Another round of surfacing was then needed to repairꦉ the damaged track, which is among the most challenging for tyres due to its high speeds and extreme temperatures.

As such, Mandalika joins a select group of circuits whe🎶re Michelin brings a stiffer, heat-resistant rear tyre construction.

But that special construction, brought to Mandalika after blistering issues in the 2022 pre-season test, caused unexpected (dry) grip problems for some manufacturers du🏅ring last year’s race weeken𝄹d.

Ducati and KTM appeared to take a step forward relative to the pre-season test. Yamaha and Aprilia performed roughly the same. But Suzuki and especiallyဣ Honda struggled for rear grip and, relying more on the front tyre to turn, suffered additional♌ front overheating problems.

Could the cards bꦯe shuffled yet again this weeken𓆉d?

MotoGP has not conducted any testing o♈n the latest surface ahead of the 2023 event, meaning Michelin must again chose its tyre selection based on previous data and experience.

“Mandalika is a very, very demanding track. We will find a new a🍃sph🍌alt, again, without any tests,” said Michelin’s Piero Taramasso.

“We did some tests before the asphalt was done, but we know it is a very demanding t♎rack where we can fa෴ce very high temperatures, where the tyres are under stress because of the heat and track configuration.

“Let’s see how it will be this year.”