MotoGP: Single tyre verdict announced.

[Rory Phoulorie]

Wednesday, 24th October 2007

The definitive 2008 tyre rules are still to be decided, but one thing is now certain - MotoGP will remain a multi-tyre championship after the single-brand proposal was withdrawn.


"The Grand PrixCommission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Herv� Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), with the presence of Mr Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), took note from Mr Ezpeleta of the withdrawal of Dorna's proposal to introduce a single tyre manufacturer rule for 2008," read an FIM statement.

"Changes to the current MotoGPtyre regulations (number and use of tyres) will be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the Grand Prix Commission to be held in Valencia on November 3."

The shock single-tyre option was put forward by Dorna during last month's Japanese Grand Prix 'due to some factories being unable to acquire the tyres that they want for 2008'.

This was interpreted as referring to Bridgestone, now MotoGP's most wanted tyre supplier, having turned down requests for rubber from the factory Yamaha and Hondateams, which currently run Michelins.

The fact that the single-brand proposal has been withdrawn indicates that Yamaha and Honda are now happy with their 2008 tyres (Rossi is rumoured to be switching to Bridgestone) and/or with changes to the regulations - which are expected to result in more tyres being made available and perhaps the chance to ride the circuit before making the final selection.

crash.net

[Rory Phoulorie]

The funny thing about it was that Bridgestone turned down the Yamaha and Honda teams not because they did not have the capacity to provide those teams with tyres, but because they wanted Michelin to stay in the sport.

Now if it was Bridgestone being a "gentleman" in the sport, or if they wanted to use the cut tail they would be putting on Michelin as a marketing tool, no one will ever know.