Dorna, the MotoGP commercial rights holder, have withdrawn their proposal to implement a single tyre-brand rule for next season, the International Motorcycling Federation announced yesterday.
They proposed the rule in the face of falling television ratings, but Bridgestone and Michelin threatened to quit if the rule was implemented. The matter will be discussed at an extra meeting of the Grand Prix Commission in Valencia on Nov 3. Telegraph.co
A single tyre rule would have been wrong for the MotoGP world championship had it been implemented for 2008.
That’s the view of International Race Teams Association boss Mike Trimby, despite the fact that a one-make rule next season would have significantly benefited independent teams like Tech 3 Yamaha, LCR Honda and D’Antin Ducati.
Dorna chief Carmelo Ezpeleta officially withdrew his controversial proposal for a one-make tyre rule today, with Bridgestone, Michelin and Dunlop agreeing in principal to increase the tyre allocation from 31 to 40 next season.
A final decision on the tyre rules will be made at the last round of the world championship in Valencia earlier next month.
IRTA boss Mike Trimby told MCN: “Commercially for the private teams it was a very good idea because it had the possibility of reducing their costs for tyres or getting free tyres.
“It also has tremendous implications on testing because the only thing private teams test for is to develop tyres. They don’t test to develop bikes, so if you take the element of testing out of the equation there is a hell of a saving there. Matthew Birt, MotorCycleNews.com
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