Remember this photo of Dani Pedrosa’s tire after the Motegi race, where Bridgestone apologized and that they would investigate the reason?

Bridgestone Motorsport Manager, Tohru Ubukata during the post race debrief of Le Mans released his findings regarding Pedrosa’s tire issue, here’s what he had to say:

“Since Motegi we have also learned more about Dani’s front tyre. After a detailed inspection, we found a small foreign object that had become embedded within the tread of the front slick. This was the origin of a weak point in the tread of the tyre which, during the course of the race, worked its way to the surface, causing a crack to form in the rubber.”

Source | bridgestone

Continue reading: Bridgestone releases findings on Pedrosa's Tire

If you happen to visit the upcoming Motor Show fair in Essen, Germany you can see this big drivable motorbike. The fair will open from November 29th until December 7th.

This mega-bike was made by Gregory Dunham from the US, Stockton California, and measures 3.429 meters tall to the top of handlebars, 6.187 meters long and the weight of this bike 2.948 tonnes. Is powered by a 8.2 Litre V8 engine. The tyres are 1.88 meters tall, we don’t know if the brand is Bridgestone or Michelin? If you were looking for a hefty snow-bike… Picture by AP Photo/Frank Augstein.

Source | motorbiker

Continue reading: The biggest drivable motorbike

When Jeremy Burgess , legendary crew chief and mastermind behind the wins of World Champions Wayne Gardner, Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi , decides to talk, everyone has the tendency to sit up and listen.

The quiet Australian has always been against the single tire rule saying that it would be bad for the championship and still continues to believe this. “To me its taking away the reason we go prototype racing, which is to improve bikes and technical partners and the engineering challenge which can make motorcycles better and safer in the future. It’s a disappointing decision given we are in prototype racing and we need a many technical contributors, so we can to differentiate ourselves from the World Superbike category.”

Burgess is also convinced that MotoGP spectacle will not improve now that everyone is on the same tires and that it will be even harder for top riders like Casey Stoner and Dani Pedrosa to defeat Valentino Rossi : “If I was a rider out there now I wouldn’t want to be on the same stuff as Valentino Rossi. That’s a tough call” He also added: “It was virtually a mono tyre several years ago without a regulation with Michelin in 500s and we saw some pretty uninteresting racing there with Mick (Doohan) clearing away and winning races. When it was Mick and Valentino in the past with everyone on the same brand, those guys did most of the winning, so nothing will change.”

Continue reading: Jeremy Burgess still against one tire rule

It’s a huge list of riders starting with Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Garry McCoy, and so many other riders from today and the past. The slogan at the end “Michelin will never give up” shows what a historic moment this is for the brand, in losing it’s exclusive MotoGP supplier contract.

Continue reading: Video: Michelin thanks MotoGP across the years

Bridgestone has been officially appointed as the tyre supplier for all MotoGP riders for a three-year period starting from 2009. Bridgestone was the only manufacturer who submitted a proposel to FIM and Dorna.

In a press release from Bridgestone Motorsport, Hiroshi Yasukawa, Director of Bridgestone Motorsport, said: “Bridgestone is pleased that we have been appointed the sole tyre supplier to the MotoGP World Championship for the next three seasons, starting from 2009.We submitted a proposal to FIM and Dorna in order to continue competing at the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, and to continue to be a part of the MotoGP community, of which we are proud to have been involved since the 2002 season.”

About the topic regarding safety Hiroshi Yasukawa said: “Our technical department has already started looking at how best to approach the 2009 season with the desired push for improved safety in MotoGP at the forefront of our development plans. We must make sure that our tyres work safely and competitively at each event, bearing in mind the complexity of tyre performance at each individual circuit and, most importantly, we must ensure that our tyres offer the same performance potential across all teams.”

Source | motogp

Continue reading: MotoGP 2009: Bridgestone tyre supplier

Valentino Rossi was fast last year riding his bike with Michelin tyres on the Motegi track. But today Valentino is riding with Bridgestone. And he’s eager to see the results with his new tyres. Rossi could clinch his first MotoGP World Championship with Bridgestone tyres this Sunday!

“We will have to see about the performance between Bridgestone and Michelin,” Rossi said in the pre-event press conference. “Motegi has always been a great one for Bridgestone in the past, but last year myself and Dani Pedrosa were a bit faster than the Bridgestone riders.”

Casey Stoner also has mixed feelings about his results at Motegi, some are good and some bad. But Casey wants to look to the future with his Desmosedici, and not the past.

He said: “The track has always given me the impression that it is more suited to cars than bikes because it is full of hard breaking and acceleration zones and there aren’t many flowing sections. Anyway, it is a fun track and I think it can be good for our bikes and tyres.” And about his possibility for undergoing surgery he said: “The wrist hasn’t given me great problems over the last week and seems to be improving on the last couple of weeks so I can’t wait to get back on the bike and try to get a better result than we’ve managed lately.”

Source| MotoGP

Continue reading: MotoGP Motegi: Rossi and Stoner's feelings.

After the meetings about safety in MotoGP and the tyre problems from some teams, a rumour has emerged about a renewed tyre regulation for next year in MotoGP. It might be the end of the association with Michelin as could be confirmed soon at the Grand Prix Commission later this month.

It all started with the discussion about cornerspeed. According to MCN most of the riders would prefer to switch back to 990cc four-strokes engines to reduce cornerspeed. But according to Dorna boss Ezpeleta this is completely impossible. Although Michelin will bid for the contract, the overwhelming support for Bridgestone will tip the balance for the Japanese company. With Bridgestone, Rossi and Stoner will be relieved.

Continue reading: MotoGP 2009: association with Michelin finished?

After the announcement to use Bridgestone tyres for the next coming races, Dani Pedrosa and the Repsol Honda team announced that Dani will ride the next Indianapolis race with the pneumatic valves engine, just like his team mate Nicky Hayden hsa been riding for a while.

Dani has previously rejected riding the bike because he was uncomfortable with the engine’s power delivery but after his latest test session he decided to ride the more powerful pneumatic valves bike.

It seems like Dani Pedrosa is already preparing for the 2009 season. He is taking a risk in riding the other bike and the Bridgestone tyres after only one test session.

Source | motogpmatters

Continue reading: Dani Pedrosa to ride the pneumatic valves engine bike

As the battle between Rossi and Stoner continues, we should remember it’s hard to race against Valentino. Stoner won the fight against Rossi last year, the package from Ducati was very strong with the Desmosedici, the Bridgestone tyres and the rider, Casey Stoner. But it’s not easy to fight against a seven times Italian World Champion. Don’t forget the way Sete Gibernau and Max Biaggi have tried before to win and they lost. Not only because of the package from Valentino, also because of the smile on Rossi’s face, the way he can handle the media and all the fans in the world.

Dani Pedrosa will ride next round also with the Bridgestone tyres and we are all excited about it. Dani’s test run on the Bridgestones last week was good, he was fast. But Rossi comments and warns Dani to be patient and careful.

Casey is not thinking anymore about this year, he’s looking at next year. If next year only one tyre brand will be used, the advantage for the 2008 Bridgestone riders could be less. The only advantage is the telemetry, the information they are getting in this year’s competition on every racetrack.

The other question is all about safety, called: corner speed. What changes will be made? And how will best engineers will find again the solution to increase it?

Photo | Ducati Corse

Continue reading: MotoGP: Stoner, Rossi and Bridgestone.

Valentino Rossi is leading the MotoGP with 75 points over Stoner in the general standings, and Visordown reports his statements to Spanish journalists on how he feels about this positive position. Rossi said:

“I have made many changes to be able to do what we have done so far. I am riding very well and I have a great team with me. The people at Yamaha are very good and this year I have been able to have the Bridgestone tyres, there is a great relation between me and the tyres! Now everything goes better for me. I always have thought that I could fight against Stoner but I admit that I was worried in three races where he was so strong but from Laguna Seca things have changed. That race was a key point in the championship.”

Source | Visordown

Continue reading: Rossi's point of view - success in the MotoGP

Repsol Honda have announced that they will ride the next MotoGP in split garage. Dani Pedrosa using Bridgestone tyres and teammate Nicky Hayden on Michelin.

It all started during the Brno Grand Prix with grip problems and complaints about a “powerlessness” feeling on the bike. After talks with HRC President Masumi Hamane and the team sponsors by Dani, the decision came to switch tyre manufacturer for Dani.

Repsol Sporting Sponsering Director Arturo Sus commented:
“On behalf of Repsol, we’d like to thank Michelin for their understanding of the situation and the way that they handled it. Having said this, our role as the main sponsor of the Repsol Honda team is to push the team, factory and even the rider when we think we have to push to get results we expect to get from our investment in racing.

“For Repsol it was not good enough and we decided to push Honda to do anything to get Bridgestone. It was not easy for us, Honda and Michelin of course. A decision like this implies some other movements and we thought it was the right thing to do. We talked to Michelin after Brno to agree on the fact it was the best decision for everybody”.

Via | MotoGP

Continue reading: Repsol Honda in "split garage" with tyre choice