Circuit characteristics
Laguna Seca is near Monterey, the elegant Californian resort that looks out over the Pacific Ocean, 150 km south of San Francisco. Probably the most spectacular track in America, it is 3602m in length and among the most difficult and demanding in the world. 

Laguna Seca has extreme changes in elevation, plus the riders must contend with the infamous 'Corkscrew', a narrow chicane on the high part of the circuit that the riders reach along a rising straight at 200km/h. Braking without any way of judging the bend, a steep descent awaits them as they exit the other end. 

R7 set-up for the weekend
Laguna is not a fast track, though it has more it fair share of technical challenges. Bike set-up is particularly important for the awkward downhill Corkscrew chicane. The combination of braking, turning and gradient means the rider needs the right mix of tyre and suspension setting - especially front forks. Too much weight shifted to the front will unhinge the rear, not enough and the front will not steer. A fine compromise is therefore crucial.

The uphill straight after turn six requires strong acceleration, as does the exit of turn four, so careful gearing will be necessary to maximise the R7's torque output.

Weather conditions at Laguna are usually hot with track temperature soaring to over 50 degrees C, making tyre selection difficult. A hot track is not the only problem for tyres, the high level of turn-in precision and feedback requires a well-constructed front. Also drifting sand can affect front and rear grip in the last three turns. All in all we need compound durability, material heat resistance, contact grip and responsive construction - quite a challenge for our Dunlop partners next weekend!