"When we made an average, the improvement was 0.4-0.5s. So almost half-a-second quicker.

"We were looking for at least 0.4s. If it had been less than that we would have stopped working on that tyre."

The new casing continues a general trend towards 'softer' MotoGP tyres.

To date, this has been achieved by using a 'new technology' for mixing the compounds, plus an ever-growing archive of track data.

"In general we've gone softer because with this new technology we gain in consistency and grip, so we are able to go one step softer compared to last year," Taramasso said.

"Sometimes we also make this choice because last year the soft tyre reached the end of the race still with a lot of rubber, very little consumption, so we know we can go one step softer [this year]."

The next official MotoGP post-race test will be held after the Czech Republic Grand Prix, at Brno next month.