Bridgestone already said no to HRC
Bridgestone have already declined Honda's request to have their tyres on the works Repsol Hondas next year, according to Bridgestone's MotoGP tyre chief Hiroshi Yamada
Earlier today, HRC president Masumi Hamane said he would like his riders to use Bridgestone tyres next season: "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."
Currently, Bridgestone supply five teams: Marlboro Ducati, Rizla Suzuki, Kawasaki, Gresini Honda and D'Antin Ducati. Michelin also supply five teams, namely Repsol Honda, FIAT Yamaha, LCR Honda, Konica Minolta Honda and Team Roberts. The other tyre manufacturer, Dunlop, supply just one team, Dunlop Yamaha.
Bridgestone's Yamada said he supported the current competitive nature of MotoGP this season, Bridgestone having scored nine wins so far this season to Michelin's five. Michelin have bounced back in recent weeks, with Valentino Rossi winning the last race in Portugal while Dani Pedrosa was fastest today in practice at Motegi.
"We want competition in MotoGP and we would like to keep the current situation with our current five teams. Of those five teams, three of them are works teams. We at Bridgestone think that is a good balance," said Bridgestone's Yamada.
It is believed that Bridgestone declined Honda's request some time ago before today's revelation from HRC's Hamane.
Michelin were quite public in saying that if they lost either Repsol Honda or the FIAT Yamaha factory teams from their line up, then they would pull out due to a lack of competitive development machines available to them.
Bridgestone refused to discuss the length of deals done with their current MotoGP teams but sidy that they wished to continue with their current partners.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Is it game over for Valentino Rossi?
Burgess surprised by Valentino Rossi's decision to part ways
Toby Moody previews the MotoGP showdown
Marquez admits first Sunday MotoGP finish of 2023 “looks like a joke”
Crutchlow 'doesn't think' HRC as close to him as before in MotoGP
Marco Simoncelli close to extending HRC MotoGP contract
Marquez says Ducati MotoGP bike adaptation “is finished”
Da Costa: FIA must "find another way" other than disqualifying cars post-race
Newgarden opens up over IndyCar rules breach: “I’m not a liar”
How studying Tost, Whiting and Binotto shaped F1's latest team boss
Can anyone stop "changed" Bagnaia as Ducati tightens its grip on MotoGP?
The signs that MotoGP's Japanese powerhouses are changing for the better
The other Suzuki signing that could transform Honda's MotoGP form
How the MotoGP paddock has offered refuge to Suzuki's former team
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments