Single tyre talk heats up
Added on Wednesday, September 3rd, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Bridgestone have questioned the merit of a single tyre competition.
Both Bridgestone and Michelin have both vowed to resist proposals to turn MotoGP into a single tyre championship in 2009 but have admitted that it would be difficult to stop such a move.
Following the recent debacles involving Michelin-shod bikes at Laguna Seca and Brno, several riders have vented their anger towards the French tyre manufacturer, with Honda’s Dani Pedrosa and Yamaha Tech 3 pair Colin Edwards and James Toseland being particularly critical of the tyres being supplied to them on race weekends.
The saga came to a head on Monday when Pedrosa sensationally ditched Michelin in favour of Bridgestone, leaving Michelin to supply just six of the 18 riders in the MotoGP Paddock and just two riders, Nicky Hayden and Jorge Lorenzo, signed to factory teams.
A meeting was held following the Grand Prix in Brno, with riders voting overwhelmingly in favour of a single-tyre competition in 2009. Dorna will now put the proposal to the FIM.
That move would appear to suggest that MotoGP will follow the lead of its support classes as well as World Superbikes and British Superbikes in having a single tyre supplier, according to Bridgestone motorsport chief Hiroshi Yamada.
Yamada told GPWeek: “At the meeting in Brno, almost all the riders agreed that they want a single tyre championship and from this conclusion, Dorna will propose this rule to the GP commission.
“In this case, it will be very difficult to stop it.”
Doubters have however questioned whether Bridgestone has both the resources and the inclination to supply all 18 riders next season.
“It would be a company decision,” said Yamada.
“We came to racing in 2002 for two reasons - to improve our brand image and to develop tyre technology through competition. If there is a single tyre rule, there will be no need to develop technology.
“At the moment, the competition with Michelin is a very good promotion for us.”
Michelin’s Jean-Phillipe Weber echoed those sentiments, claiming that the company still has commitments to MotoGP.
“We have a contract with Honda but we are facing a situation that is similar to last year. If letting Pedrosa use Bridgestone helps to cool down the situation, then it’s worth it,” he said.
“But even today I have seen there are other teams talking to us about tyres for next year. They understand that things can go up and down and we have an agreement to supply Honda for next year - at least one rider.
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