The FIM has announced full details of how the new single tyre rule will work in MotoGP next season.

Bridgestone has already been announced as the exclusive MotoGP tyre supplier from 2009, but the exact number and variety of tyres available to each rider at each grand prix was still to be officially confirmed.

Such regulations - plus additional details regarding tyre allocation procedure, testing and what will happen in the event of unforeseen tyre problems - were addressed during a meeting of the Grand Prix Commission on December 9 in Barcelona and have now been made public. The Grand Prix Commission is composed of Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Hervé Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA).

For those interested, the exact wording of the new tyre rules is shown in full at the base of this story, but the rules can be summarised as follows:

* Identical tyres must be available to every rider at every grand prix. The quantities of each specification of tyre will also be the same for every rider.

* On the day prior to the start of practice the Technical Director and staff will allocate the tyres (for each rider) on a random basis without the involvement of any representative from Bridgestone, the teams or riders.

* During a grand prix, each rider will be restricted to a maximum of 20 slick tyres:
Front slick tyres: 4 of Specification “A” + 4 of Specification “B” = 8 in total
Rear slick tyres: 6 of Specification “A” + 6 of Specification “B” = 12 in total

* During a grand prix, each rider will be restricted to a maximum of 8 wet tyres:
Front wet tyres: 4 of the standard specification
Rear wet tyres: 4 of the standard specification

* In the case of every practice session being fully wet, 1 extra set (1 front + 1 rear) of wet tyres will be allocated to every rider for the race.

* Tyres may not be materially altered in any way, such as handcutting, unless deemed necessary by the tyre supplier.

* Should an exceptional and unpredictable (tyre) safety problem arise during an event then a re-allocation of new, more suitable, tyres may be made. The same specifications and quantities of these new tyres will be given to all riders.

* At official post-race tests lasting one day, each rider will be given:
Front slick tyres: 2 of Specification “A” + 2 of Specification “B” = 4 in total
Rear slick tyres: 2 of Specification “A” + 2 of Specification “B” = 4 in total
Front wet tyres: 2 of the standard specification
Rear wet tyres: 2 of the standard specification

* At official winter tests lasting two days or more, each rider will be given:
On day one:
Front slick tyres: 2 of Specification “A” + 2 of Specification “B” = 4 in total
Rear slick tyres: 2 of Specification “A” + 2 of Specification “B” = 4 in total
On each additional day:
Front slick tyres: 3 tyres out of the 2 specifications “A” and “B” = 3 in total
Rear slick tyres: 3 tyres out of the 2 specifications “A” and “B” = 3 in total
A maximum of 4 wet tyres per day, up to a maximum total of 8 wet tyres.

* At any official post-race or winter test, Bridgestone may allocate extra tyre sets with a different specification (for tyre development). The same quantity of identical specification tyres will be allocated to at least all of the factory MotoGP riders at the test.

* When a new specification tyre is to be introduced, the tyre supplier should inform all teams at least two months in advance of the proposed test date for the new specification.