Lorenzo, Hayden content with Michelin

Michelin has come under huge pressure to improve after falling behind its Japanese rival during recent rounds. The nadir was reached at Brno a fortnight ago, where the Michelin riders considered a boycott after struggling throughout practice and qualifying.

However, Michelin showed better form at Misano today, with Lorenzo finishing a close second behind his teammate Valentino Rossi.

Although Lorenzo felt Michelin was not yet back to winning form, he gave the company a vote of confidence after the race.

"I can't give you an opinion because I'm not Pedrosa's teammate so I don't know what problem he has," Lorenzo told Italia1 television.

"As for me, I'm happy with Michelin, because it's trying to work to produce the best tyre, and you could see that in this race."

Michelin has confirmed that it will continue to supply Hayden, who has missed the last two races with an injury. The 2006 champion said he had not been involved in any discussions about changing to Bridgestones.

"I'm not going to be switching tyres," he told Eurosport. "I didn't have the option, there was no choice for me to make. On my side I won't be switching."

Hayden, who had been strongly opposed to the prospect of the two factory Hondas racing on different tyres when it was first rumoured a year ago, added that Pedrosa's switch was "pretty wild news".

At the height of Michelin's problems, there were suggestions that championship rights holder Dorna was again pushing for a single tyre rule because it was concerned that marketable riders like Pedrosa and Lorenzo were being held back by their tyres.

Lorenzo admitted that he expected control tyres to remain on the agenda.

"This is something Dorna is looking at, what to do next year, so we'll see," he said.