Dorna surprised the
MotoGP paddock, at the recent Japanese Grand Prix, when it announced an 'initial proposal' for a one-tyre rule in 2008, which would end the current competition between
Bridgestone, Michelin and Dunlop.
The proposal was made because 'some factories believe they can't have tyres which they think are competitive' next season, but Stoner - who, together with Ducati and Bridgestone, ended Michelin's 15-year premier-class championship win streak - is furious that a radical rule change might be made after just one bad year for the French manufacturer.
"There has been one [bad] season [for Michelin] and now everyone wants to jump ship," Stoner said. "This is a prototype championship. These bikes are built just for this championship and these tyres are built just for this championship. If we bring in a single tyre rule, then you bring in single manufacturer bikes, and then it's the R6 Cup."
Stoner's views echoed those of many MotoGP riders, the Bridgestone-shod competitors anyway, but the Australian claims the opinions of a select few will ultimately decide what happens.
"[The tyre rules] are going to be decided without our opinion," he claimed. "There has always been a couple of riders in this championship who really make all the decisions and [decide] the way things go."
Stoner is believed to be referring to
Valentino Rossi and
Dani Pedrosa, Michelin's leading riders, who have been openly frustrated at seeing their title chances disappear due to, in their opinion, a disproportionate advantage enjoyed by the Bridgestone riders. This is despite Michelin having previously held the upper hand over Bridgestone since its 2002 debut.
Rossi has already publicly backed the one-tyre proposal, while Pedrosa's Repsol Honda team are known to have requested a switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres next season - which was rejected by Bridgestone, in order to keep Michelin in the championship.
A final decision on the rule is due to be made by the Malaysian Grand Prix, on October 21.
