Honda eye Bridgestone deal for 2008

On the back of Casey Stoner's domination of MotoGP this year with the Japanese rubber, Honda's chiefs and rider Dani Pedrosa have made it clear that they want to end their relationship with Michelin.

And after signing a new two-year deal to remain at the team, Pedrosa has said he hopes a switch next season will help level up the fight between Honda and Ducati next year.

"The tyre situation is very difficult," he said. "It is not equal and I have asked for a more equal situation, maybe with the brand of tyre or the rules that we have on use of tyres."

"To (lose) 30 seconds in a race is not usual for me or HRC."

Bridgestone already supply the Gresini Honda team of Marco Melandri and Toni Elias, which will have given HRC an idea of the potential of the Japanese rubber this season.

President of HRC, Mr Hamane said, "We haven't finalised our choice of tyres for 2008. We want to follow Dani's choice and he wants Bridgestone. He has pushed very hard for it.

"Both riders want Bridgestone next year. HRC follow riders' choice; this is HRC's way."

HRC have lodged a request with Bridgestone for a supply of tyres next year, but they are still awaiting a reply about whether or not it has the capacity to do it.

Honda have won 10 of the past 13 world championships on Michelin tyres.