Riders welcome single tyre rule

Hayden is confident that control tyres will be good for the sport.

"As long as it's a safe tyre, we don't want to run some new company, but I honestly think that the tyre rule is better," he said.

"I don't have the experience some people have but from what I've seen, sure everyone not going to live happily ever after.

"Right now we talk too much about tyres recently. We've talked a lot more about tyre choices, constructions and profiles than we ever talked about the bike.

"I think the races are going to be better and I think the fans deserve it. We went to places this year where two world champions didn't qualify and that's not good for the show. The gear-head fans might not like it, but for the riders it's going to be better.

"In AMA (the American Superbike championship) we basically had one tyre company there (Dunlop) and I liked the way that worked."

But he conceded that he would miss the excitement of using single-lap qualifying tyres.

"It's crazy how much grip there is, both front and rear, and how hard you can go," said the 2006 champion.

"I'm going to miss qualifying tyres because for one lap on the limit it's a great thrill when the bike's working. When you come in , if it was a good lap you're kind of shaking because you can push that hard and it's that intense."

While Stoner was not convinced that the single tyre rule would improve the racing, he said it would at least end all discussion of tyre performance disparities.

"I don't know if it is going to be better or not, nobody really does," he said. "In 125s they're known for their racing, but in 250s the field is still spread out and yet they're all on the same tyre

"I don't know if it's going to improve racing or not, but at least it will take one part out of it and people are not going to be able to complain, and will work harder on the bikes."

Yamaha's rookie Jorge Lorenzo said he was simply concerned with having the most competitive tyres possible.

"I would prefer a tyre that you will have one gear more in every corner," he joked. "For sure you want the best of the tyres, but I'm agreeing to have the same tyres as everyone else."

The factory Yamaha and Honda teams both ran two tyre brands this season, with Lorenzo using Michelins while his teammate Valentino Rossi switched to Bridgestone at the start of the year.

Pedrosa made the same move in a dramatic mid-season switch following Misano, while Hayden has remained on Michelins.

But the American said he hoped he might have a chance to test the current Bridgestones on his Honda before leaving for Ducati next year.

"I've been a good boy so I hope Santa's looking after me. He already brought me one good gift..." said Hayden while looking at Ducati team boss Livio Suppo.

"I would like to try Bridgestones just one time just so I know for myself. There are some things you want to try just one time just to see."

Michelin's announcement that it will not bid for the control tyre contract makes it all but certain that Bridgestone will be awarded the job of supplying the full 2009 field.