Dorna propose single tyre for MotoGP.

The controversial proposal follows a 'transition' season in which new tyre restrictions, combined with new 800cc machines, have resulted in one brand - usually Bridgestone - gaining a 'significant' advantage over its rivals at most races.

However, Michelin - winner of every premier-class world title since 1992 - has recently fought back, taking victory with Valentino Rossi last weekend at Estoril and claiming all three leading positions during qualifying for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

Dunlop`s Ferguson, Michelin`s Weber and Bridgestone`s Yamada, Japanese MotoGP 2007
Dunlop`s Ferguson, Michelin`s Weber and Bridgestone`s Yamada, Japanese…
© Gold and Goose

The controversial proposal follows a 'transition' season in which new tyre restrictions, combined with new 800cc machines, have resulted in one brand - usually Bridgestone - gaining a 'significant' advantage over its rivals at most races.

However, Michelin - winner of every premier-class world title since 1992 - has recently fought back, taking victory with Valentino Rossi last weekend at Estoril and claiming all three leading positions during qualifying for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

Nevertheless, Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta - who has previously hinted that something must change to avoid a repeat of the 'dull' mid-season races - has today (Saturday) proposed that all teams use the same tyre brand next season.

"We have made a proposal in the Grand Prix Commission meeting today to reach an agreement between all the different tyre manufacturers for the use of tyres in 2008, owing to the situation in which some factories believe that they can't have tyres which they think are competitive. We thought the best possibility is to go to a one-tyre rule," Ezpeleta told the official MotoGP website. "This is only an initial proposal. If the situation is not resolved by Malaysia [21st October], then all relevant parties - the FIM, IRTA [teams] and the MSMA [manufacturers] - will reflect on the situation and during the grand prix weekend make their final decision."

The words 'some factories believe that they can't have tyres which they think are competitive' suggests that Ezpeleta's proposal has been triggered by Bridgestone's reluctance to add Repsol Honda to its list of teams.

Upon announcing Dani Pedrosa's new deal on Friday, HRC revealed that it would like to follow its riders' wishes and switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres next season. However, if that happens, Michelin would only be left with one factory team for 2008 in the form of Fiat Yamaha.

The French company believes that it wouldn't be worth staying in MotoGP if that situation arouse and Bridgestone is known to want Michelin, Dunlop - and therefore the tyre war - to remain. However, it is not clear if Bridgestone's reluctance to supply Repsol Honda is in order to keep Michelin on the grid, or simply because it is happy with its existing team line-up and doesn't want to dilute its resources.

The single tyre suggestion could also have been made to put pressure on the three brands to amend the current tyre rules for 2008, so that the likelihood of one brand getting it very right and the others getting it very wrong is reduced. It had been rumoured that the existing tyre limits were set to remain in place, since Bridgestone naturally felt it was unfair to be punished for a great season after so long in Michelin's shadow.

Bridgestone has won nine of the 14 rounds so far this year, but eight of those wins have been with Ducati's Casey Stoner - making it far from tyre performance alone. The other was taken by wet weather magician Chris Vermeulen at Le Mans. Michelin have won the other five rounds, with Valentino Rossi taking four wins and Pedrosa triumphing at Sachsenring. Dunlop, which only supplies Yamaha Tech 3, has no limit on the number of tyres it can use because it is yet to win two dry races.

In the title chase, Stoner holds a near unstoppable 76 point lead over Rossi, with Pedrosa third. The next best Bridgestone rider after Stoner is Suzuki's John Hopkins in fourth.

Perhaps the fairest indication of form between the two leading brands can be found by comparing the total number of podium finishes so far this year. On that count, Bridgestone leads Michelin by 24 to 18, or by 57% to 43%.

Formula One (Bridgestone) and World Superbike (Pirelli) are among the world championships which have a single tyre supplier.

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