Laconi impressed with new Michelin front.

Red Bull Yamaha rider Regis Laconi left last week's Mugello test in good heart, believing that Michelin's experimental 16.5 inch front tyre would help to pick up the pieces of his season.

Speaking to motograndprix.com, the Frenchman's crew chief explained that Laconi had felt more confident with the new tyre than he had all season, claiming that he can throw the bike into corners with more confidence.

''He said that at the point where he really throws it in, and can feel he's about to lose the front, the 16.5 gave him more confidence,'' explained Mal Pitman, ''It also turned in tighter and was more stable on the brakes, and these are the three areas that Regis normally complains about. He did some consistent and reasonably quick laps, so we are looking forward to trying the tyre again.''

Sadly for the Frenchman, the new rubber will not be available for this weekend's event at Barcelona, leaving him to wrestle with his bike in the configuration it has been all season. Having won a race in 1999, Laconi has not looked like repeating in 2000, and currently lies a distant eleventh in the GP500 standings.