Bridgestone named MotoGP supplier

From Bridgestone Motorsport

Bridgestone has been officially appointed the sole tire supplier for the MotoGP World Championship for a three-year period starting from 2009.

The decision comes following an announcement in September from the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) that MotoGP will become a single-make tire formula from 2009, and after a subsequent tender process in which Bridgestone was the only tire manufacturer to submit a proposal to FIM and Dorna.

The specific regulations pertaining to the single tire contract will be confirmed by FIM in due course.

"Although we were sorry to hear that tire competition would not continue in MotoGP, Bridgestone appreciates the importance of safety and cost in motorsport," said Hiroshi Yasukawa, director of Bridgestone Motorsport. "We respect the decision taken by FIM and Dorna to impose a one-make tire rule for next season and acknowledge the safety and cost reasons given for their decision."

"We have developed strong relations with manufacturers, teams, riders and personnel in the MotoGP world and are happy to be able to continue a high level of participation in the sport. Even in a single tire situation, however, we must also guarantee and increase our return on investment from a business point of view, something that we hope to achieve through a close working relationship with all our teams and with Dorna.

"Alongside safety and cost, fairness is another pillar of Bridgestone´s involvement in motorsport and we are committed to servicing our teams fairly at all times. Having worked with all manufacturers in MotoGP this season, we believe that we are well placed to offer the fairest possible treatment across all teams."