stw - the tire issues were because the duc cant compete with the same tires that the factories use. they use a softer option all the time because they are in the open class well not open but not factory. gigi used that loop hole so they didnt get the same tires as the factory riders had.
if they did they wouldnt have had the flying lap times that did in qualifying. if they did the tires would have lasted the race.
they were always softer than what the core 4 ran. if your a yankee fan see what i did there