Sunday's season-ending grand prix at Valencia will be Michelin's final MotoGP race, with the sport moving to a single tyre supplier (Bridgestone) for 2009.

To mark its departure, Michelin has released the following statement:

"The spirit of competition has always been at the heart of Michelin. Racing has been a part of the company history and the company has been a part of racing history. MotoGP now becomes a one-make tyre championship. Michelin is leaving MotoGP because there is no longer competition in the area of tyres.

"After 36 years of MotoGP World Championship racing, Michelin would like to thank all the teams and pilots who put their trust in the Group during this period.

"Prior to the last MotoGP event in Valencia this coming weekend, 42 pilots won at least one race riding on Michelin tyres, giving the brand 360 victories in Premier Class racing.

"In 1973, Jack Findlay became the first pilot to lead Michelin to a Premier Class Grand Prix victory during the mythic Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man. He was also the first to test Michelin's Slick technology. It was then on Michelin slick tires that Barry Sheene won his first Grand Prix 500 title in 1976.

"In 1984, Randy Mamola brought Michelin's radial technology, mounted on both front and rear tyres, home to victory. Randy Mamola, still racing in 2008, declares: “I am happy to have contributed to making this new radial technology a reality as all motorbike riders today can benefit from it”.

"Silica technology was developed and registered its first success with Mick Doohan on a rainy March 29th in 1992 at the Suzuka event in Japan.

"Throughout the 1994 season, our dual-rubber technology triumphed thanks to Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz, Luca Cadalora and John Kocinski.

"Marketed today under the name 2CT or Two-Compound Technology, our complete range of Michelin high performance motorbike tires benefits from it.