Tech 3 confirms Dunlop split.

Earlier this morning, Crash.net columnist Mike Nicks revealed that Dunlop will quit the premier-class due to Tech 3's expected switch to Michelin and a lack of interest from other teams - despite current Tech 3 riders Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada qualifying fifth and sixth for this afternoon's Valencian season finale.

"We started this project with Dunlop two and a half years ago, with the objective of providing them with the platform they needed to push forward their development of tyres for MotoGP. It is clear to everyone that their progress has been very significant, particularly during this season," said Tech 3 team owner Herve Poncharal.

"In a championship where competition between the three tyre manufacturers has never been so intense as it is now, Dunlop have increasingly given us the possibility to challenge for top ten positions. Sylvain Guintoli missed out on a podium in Motegi by less than half a second, and here in Valencia both Guintoli and Tamada will start from second row of the grid.

"Unfortunately, however, for various reasons, we have decided that we will not continue with Dunlop for 2008.

"We would like to thank the Dunlop technical teams both in Europe and Japan for the tremendous efforts they have put behind this project, and we in Tech 3 are proud to have been involved in it," the Frenchman concluded.

Tech 3 will officially announce its 2008 tyre supplier 'shortly'.

Dunlop's withdraw from the premier-class means that only Michelin and Bridgestone will be present in MotoGP next season. Dunlop will continue to supply the 125 and 250cc field.