Ezpeleta plays down control tyre plan

The series' rights-holder floated the proposal in the Grand Prix Commission meeting at Motegi and promised that a decision would be taken by the Malaysian Grand Prix.

But in Australia Ezpeleta hinted to Gazzetta dello Sport that he had been playing devil's advocate when he suggested ending the tyre war.

"Nothing's decided yet, but today the single tyre is less certain that it was Motegi," Ezpeleta was quoted as saying.

"I'm the first one at being in favour of an open competition in what is the pinnacle of two-wheel racing. But we couldn't go on this way.

"What I said in Japan kickstarted what I wanted: that is for the companies concerned to put their own personal interests on a side in order to make the championship more interesting.

"The decision that will be taken by the GP Commission next Saturday ahead of the Malaysian race is still uncertain, but at this point it's more likely that things will stay as they are now."

The control tyre proposal came after a series of uneventful races in which Bridgestone held a clear advantage over Michelin, and amid complaints from Michelin riders and teams that it was impossible for them to compete for victory in the current situation.

"Immediately after my words the tyre constructors stepped forward and, all of a sudden, the situation changed," Ezpeleta continued.

"Michelin, who had always said in the past it isn't interested in a single tyre, said that it could take a step back having seen the situation because, according to the company, leaving racing would mean putting a lot of work places in danger. So, they better invest some more money in racing to improve this year's situation.

"To Bridgestone I explained clearly that, in case of a single tyre, it wasn't absolutely a given that the chosen one would be the best regarded name. And to have a single tyre supplier meant that one of the two would have left completely.

"So, it's better to find an agreement. I think they have, but in the end it's me setting the rules."