Grand Prix Commission decides on single tyre rule for 2009

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Sep 28 2008, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pedro was on Bridgestone’s wasn't he??? I thought the Pedro to B/S deal was immediate.


Yes he was on Stones.
If we are going to have a control tyre, so be it. But everyone needs to have access to the same tyres, no exceptions. As long as that happens every race, then it should be fine. As it stands teams like LCR are probably not going to get the rubber say Jorge or HRC has had. If a control tyre means they are guaranteed to do so, then it's probably a good thing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Frizzle @ Sep 28 2008, 12:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yes he was on Stones.
If we are going to have a control tyre, so be it. But everyone needs to have access to the same tyres, no exceptions. As long as that happens every race, then it should be fine. As it stands teams like LCR are probably not going to get the rubber say Jorge or HRC has had. If a control tyre means they are guaranteed to do so, then it's probably a good thing.

That's kind of the whole idea about Control Tires. Just a few types are picked out and offered the riders. For SBK I think they only have three tires to choose from (Soft, Medium, Hard) and that's it. No dual compound, no spcial constructions, nothing...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Sep 28 2008, 10:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Give it to Dunlop or Pirelli. Start them all on a clean slate.

I like that! Clear out the old and let everyone develop equally!

IMO, these things are generally just about $$$$$$$$$ and nothing more!
screw the riders (themselves), fans, and anyone else who cannot directly, financially benefit Dorna!
If they end up with a manufacturer than B-stones or mich's, then I'll be proved wrong

ezy said there was a meeting and a single tyre make rule was voted "in principle".

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 28 2008, 11:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>ezy said there was a meeting and a single tyre make rule was voted "in principle".

I believe that this simply means they have decided to go to a single tyre manufacturer, but they don't know which one yet. It will also mean that the nitty gritty details haven't been worked out yet, although this doesn't appear to be a snap decision and much of the groundwork will already be done. The tender phase has been called and submissions are being prepared. They can back out at any time, as there is no promise made to any particular company just yet.

My gut feeling is that this is just more posturing and it will fall over once all the cards are in place. I thought the Ducati to Michelin deal would have been enough to satisfy the powers that be. There is perhaps additional concessions Ezy is chasing.


What was interesting (if only for a day) with the Ducati to Michelin rumours is the alignment of bike and tyre manufacturers along the lines of country (or region) - it was really looking like Japan v Europe at one stage.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Sep 28 2008, 11:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pedro was on Bridgestone’s wasn't he??? I thought the Pedro to B/S deal was immediate.

Right! I tend to forget Prdrobot-related matters, sorry
EDIT: On the same tires, Lorenzo would have made the podium and maybe been with Stoner and Rossi...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Sep 28 2008, 03:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I believe that this simply means they have decided to go to a single tyre manufacturer, but they don't know which one yet. It will also mean that the nitty gritty details haven't been worked out yet, although this doesn't appear to be a snap decision and much of the groundwork will already be done. The tender phase has been called and submissions are being prepared. They can back out at any time, as there is no promise made to any particular company just yet.

My gut feeling is that this is just more posturing and it will fall over once all the cards are in place. I thought the Ducati to Michelin deal would have been enough to satisfy the powers that be. There is perhaps additional concessions Ezy is chasing.


What was interesting (if only for a day) with the Ducati to Michelin rumours is the alignment of bike and tyre manufacturers along the lines of country (or region) - it was really looking like Japan v Europe at one stage.
like no one has bid for it yet and i gather michilin and bridgstone are not too keen. "in principle" is ezys get out clause if know one bids for it. i think there are serious problems ahead for dorna over this decision.

Great news!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 28 2008, 02:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>like no one has bid for it yet and i gather michilin and bridgstone are not too keen. "in principle" is ezys get out clause if know one bids for it. i think there are serious problems ahead for dorna over this decision.

Can they really afford to throw away michelin, bridgestone or both? Maybe I am a pessimist but I don't see large numbers of companies lining up to pour money and/or other resources into motogp in the immediate short term in the current economic climate. Even though they were the enemy as far as I was concerned in 2007 I think it would be stupid to throw away michelin in particular who have had such a long-term involvement in the sport, have a much deeper attachment and are far less likely in my opinion to be fickle in their support in the future than energy drink producers for example. I thought it was bad that dunlop were gone at the end of last year, as I think were you as I recall; they seemed to be enthusiastic and to be making some progress.

Whatever people might think of lex's more outre speculations, I agree with his opinion of dorna. They are accountants and purveyors of multimedia product in my view, and not bike racing guys. Whilst I accept the need for funding and competent financial management, I don't think short term TV ratings should be the entire object of the sport.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Sep 28 2008, 04:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Can they really afford to throw away michelin, bridgestone or both? Maybe I am a pessimist but I don't see large numbers of companies lining up to pour money and/or other resources into motogp in the immediate short term in the current economic climate. Even though they were the enemy as far as I was concerned in 2007 I think it would be stupid to throw away michelin in particular who have had such a long-term involvement in the sport, have a much deeper attachment and are far less likely in my opinion to be fickle in their support in the long term than energy drink producers for example. I thought it was bad that dunlop were gone at the end of last year, as I think were you as I recall; they seemed to be enthusiastic and to be making some progress.

Whatever people might think of lex's more outre speculations, I agree with his opinion of dorna. They are accountants and purveyors of multimedia product in my view, and not bike racing guys. Whilst I accept the need for funding and competent financial management, I don't think short term TV ratings should be the entire object of the sport.
i totally agree with you mike

Alright this is great news...bring on the 1 tire supplier. I just don't get those who oppose the 1 tire rule, my thinking is that they want the unfair advantage so that they're favorite rider may have a chance to win against the front runners. Either that or they like watching round black rubber circles fight amongst eachother as though they have a breathing pulse in them..... mind as well root for the rubber trees where they get their rubber from at least it's a living thing.

Of course they need a supplier with recent experience with these bikes. So only Michelin and Bridgestone are really plausible, and maybe Dunlop (improbable). Another requirement is that the chosen supplier must be ready to supply the whole grid for the post-Valencia tests.
I think it will be Bridgestone for the simple reason that it is currently the best. Conquering MotoGP after F1 would be a great coup for them--whatever they may say on the facade...
Michelin might not even bid.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SuperShinya56 @ Sep 28 2008, 04:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Alright this is great news...bring on the 1 tire supplier. I just don't get those who oppose the 1 tire rule, my thinking is that they want the unfair advantage so that they're favorite rider may have a chance to win against the front runners. Either that or they like watching round black rubber circles fight amongst eachother as though they have a breathing pulse in them..... mind as well root for the rubber trees where they get their rubber from at least it's a living thing.
Some of us recall that when the tyre rules appeared to help other people's favourite rider it did not seem to be perceived as much of a problem .

My point and I think roger's is separate from this; just who is going to stay as supporters of the sport in the long term? Tyre companies seem like a natural fit to me. Even Valentino has to retire one day, and it seems likely to me that the sport may then go through a phase of being less trendy, in which case energy drink purveyors etc may not be so keen to be involved.

The other point as others have said is what will be the point of difference with wsbk in the long term?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Sep 28 2008, 05:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Of course they need a supplier with recent experience with these bikes. So only Michelin and Bridgestone are really plausible, and maybe Dunlop (improbable). Another requirement is that the chosen supplier must be ready to supply the whole grid for the post-Valencia tests.
I think it will be Bridgestone for the simple reason that it is currently the best. Conquering MotoGP after F1 would be a great coup for them--whatever they may say on the facade...
Michelin might not even bid.
sounds like dorna are throwing all there eggs into one basket to me. for a company to be ably to supply all the teams different requirements and give them a choice to choose from is going to take a huge investment. im not sure many will want to take that on. a spec tyre might have been the cheaper option.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Sep 28 2008, 08:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Some of us recall that when the tyre rules appeared to help other people's favourite rider it did not seem to be perceived as much of a problem .

My point and I think roger's is separate from this; just who is going to stay as supporters of the sport in the long term? Tyre companies seem like a natural fit to me. Even Valentino has to retire one day, and it seems likely to me that the sport may then go through a phase of being less trendy, in which case energy drink purveyors etc may not be so keen to be involved.

The other point as others have said is what will be the point of difference with wsbk in the long term?


In all honesty...who cares? As long as each series puts on a great show, and in my opinion that means putting more emphasis on rider's input rather than technology. MotoGP will always be the cream of the crop as far as 2 wheel racing goes, so i guess the 'suppose' difference should be better riders race in MotoGP whereas second tier riders race in WSBK.

It's like F1 and the now defunct CART series.

Put them all on Avons so we can have a giggle!


















(That was a joke.)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Sep 28 2008, 09:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Of course they need a supplier with recent experience with these bikes. So only Michelin and Bridgestone are really plausible, and maybe Dunlop (improbable). Another requirement is that the chosen supplier must be ready to supply the whole grid for the post-Valencia tests.
I think it will be Bridgestone for the simple reason that it is currently the best. Conquering MotoGP after F1 would be a great coup for them--whatever they may say on the facade...
Michelin might not even bid.

I don't know about that. Pirelli didn't have the greatest track record before the single tire rule in WSB. Watch it turn out to be Metzler who gets the deal.

On the whole situation, I now think it will be great for the racing. It will hurt in what we will be offered to put on our own bikes.

I thought the idea of prototype racing was that all aspects of the bikes design/engine and safety features where developed and tested on the track, surely it must be one of the best forms of testing, you can stick stuff on a rolling road in a wind tunnel, but there's nothing like the human touch when it comes to real feedback! With a single tyre rule what's that gonna do for our choice of bike tyres in the future.
I hope they don't go for it. I guess we'll find out over the next couple of days!

I would love Dunlop to make a bid and have all classes... theres nothing wrong with their tyres in the lower classes.

Bautista broke Nakano's 8yr lap record today.

They also have the advantage of having ran a racing team in motogp...