Despite its public lack of enthusiasm for the rule, it is presumed that Bridgestone, currently on course for a second MotoGP title in succession, will win the exclusive tyre contract, especially since the top three riders in the championship - Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner and Pedrosa - already use Bridgestone tyres and have openly criticised Michelin in the past.
Pedrosa's mid-season move left his Repsol Honda team-mate Nicky Hayden and Yamaha's Jorge Lorenzo as the only factory riders still using Michelin tyres, and meant the full time 18-rider grid is divided 12-6 in favour of Bridgestone.
Bridgestone supplies the F1 grid, with Pirelli providing tyres for WSBK and BSB.
Dunlop, which enjoys an unofficial monopoly in the 125 and 250cc World Championships, was forced out of MotoGP at the end of 2007, when Tech 3 Yamaha switched to Michelin.
