MOTOGP » MotoGP goes single tyre for 2009

Congrats to Rossi - another great title run. There's still fire left in the rider if not the series. I'm not surprised manufacturers are leaving. The costs are simply too high for the return compared to F1. Esp. when it is getting harder and harder for street riders to identify with the Moto GP stuff when the street bikes are so good. When it was the 500 class it was obtainable bikes not just because they were two strokes but because the road bikes sucked. Today, even a 600 is beyond belief. Personally when I look at the number of manufacturers next season in World Superbike, 3 at my last count I have no doubt which grid will look best.

I'm pleased to see one make tyre rule and I don't care which of teh four invited to tender get it (Dunlop, Pirelli, Bridegstone, Michelin), but VTR1000 please no fuel stops in MotoGP - the stops in F1 are compulsory in order to give guaranteed static TV coverage of the sponsors and also because so little overtaking happens during the races that they have to force stops on the cars. If I wanted to see wheels getting changed I could lurk outside Kwik Fit on a saturday morning.

Well it's a done deal with BS. Honda is pulling strings(intro 800cc+engines for proto 600+electronic and now single tyre) Even if BS wanted to pull out and concentrate on street tyres they couldn't. Because of a large share of OE-fitment on street bikes and the recent switch from Honda/Pedrosa BS can't exit now. Also BS on the winning Honda on Suzuka 8-hours would indicate something....

BS is caught in a catch 22.....so it'll be Bridgestone next season MotoGP

But how about allowing tyre change and fuel like F1 during races ??
Massa-show anyone
Now that's entertainment - or not!

Lets be honest here folks , if it wasn't for Rossi we would all be watching WSB and WSS.
and Honda supplied 600cc engines and free chassis? BORING

D-U-N-L-O-P!!!!!

It's bad for development yes, but I for one am glad.

THREE ... The top THREE guys were on Bridgestones ... I hate to think that Lorenzo could've gotten a podium but didn't because he was on Michelins.

I'm tired of the tire disparity, I don't want people having excuses ... put them all on the same tires. This should make for more exciting racing ... Moto GP has had a lack luster year as far as excitement compared to WSBK ... this should definitely help to level the playing field and provide us fans with a real show.

Who said Carmelo Ezpeleta doesn't have a sense of humour?

Anyone who listened to him explaining to the TV commentator(s) that next season Moto GP will race on tyres that (implicitly) aren't as grippy as they could be - because that will slow the down for SAFETY - had to be rolling on the floor hoping their trousers would dry soon.

How do you explain to the bloke you don't make them safer by having tyres with less adhesion? You might make them slower. But only because they're finding the limits of grip sooner! Crash with less kinetic energy = safe?

If you want to make them slower AND safer you limit the power.

Not saying they should. Just pointing out that's how its done.

Well said Matt - I follow MotoGP because I like following the racing, the bikes and the riders. I have no interest in the tyres, the sparkplugs, the handlebar grips or what type of oil the teams use. Hopefully now everyone will have access to a set range of tyres and we won't get the historic differences which meant that lower order riders were handicapped. In Niall Mackenzies book he talks about being given Biaggis secondhand tyres when he was in 250 and getting the "B" tyres in 500's when his team mates got the "A" tyres. This move should make the racing closer and fairer. It will also improve safety because lap times will increase through lower cornering speeds.

It makes no sense to complain about lack of competition in tires. Saying "might as well go spec series! Let them all race hondas!" is going beyond overboard. You watch the series to watch the best bikes and the best riders. The reality of it is that very few people actually care about the tires provided that there's close racing. The only time tire discussion even comes up on ANY forum is when the results of a race are so obviously skewed by what tires the rider was using. Thats the only time anyone talks about it, so why are you all complaining now? Cause this means you'll have less to complain about between races next year?

cont'd...

The problem is that, unlike in the past with Bridgestone, Michelin was supplying top teams and they still weren't performing even when they were on competitive bikes (or semi competitive). In the past the Bridgestone teams were in no place to complain about tire performance because their bikes wouldn't be capable of winning no matter what. Since Michelin was supplying the factory teams and they were used to winning but were not able to, the riders began to complain. Complained about not being competitive, complained about inconsistant performance, etc.

It's not a cut and dry comparison when trying to compare Michelin to the Bridgestone of old.