Yamaha Tech 3 leave Dunlop

With no other team being supplied by Dunlop this year, it is as yet unknown whether the British company will stay in MotoGP in 2008.

Tech 3 owner Herve Poncharal did not explain the choice but only mentioned 'various reasons'.

"We started this project with Dunlop two and a half years ago, with the objective of providing them with the platform they needed to push forward their development of tyres for MotoGP," said Poncharal.

"It is clear to everyone that their progress has been very significant, particularly during this season. In a championship where competition between the three tyre manufacturers has never been so intense as it is now, Dunlop have increasingly given us the possibility to challenge for top ten positions.

"Sylvain Guintoli missed out on a podium in Motegi by less than half a second, and here in Valencia both Guintoli and Tamada will start from second row of the grid.

"Unfortunately, however, for various reasons, we have decided that we will not continue with Dunlop for 2008.

"We would like to thank the Dunlop technical teams both in Europe and Japan for the tremendous efforts they have put behind this project, and we in Tech 3 are proud to have been involved in it."

The team said they will announce partner, riders and structure for 2008 shortly, but World Superbike champion James Toseland was already signed by Tech 3 in August, while Colin Edwards is expected to move from Fiat Yamaha to partner the Briton.

The two will take the place of Guintoli, who goes to the Pramac d'Antin Ducati team, and Makoto Tamada, who is expected to retire from the series.