--- pfy1101 --- see thats what i dont get about the UK. In Oz if you're on a track you can run a race bike. no lights, slicks etc. tracks days over here are run by a group of old tossers from what i can tell. I'm mean your on a track why should your bike be roadworthy? Your not on a road! Road tyres are about 3-5 years behind MotoGP tyres. Look at the various types of compounds available in grooved tyres. The contructions and the Manufacturing processes all follow thru. Compare the old Dunlop D364 to the D-208 / Sportsmax available now... Or the old TX-15 / 25 Highsports to the Pilot Power and 2CT... They are worlds apart. All due to racing.
And whether a single compound is good for prototype bike racinf is yet to be seen. It didnt help Minardi or Sauber get to the front in F1 did... Or the Kawasaki's in WSB for that matter....

Apologies, after re-reading my previous comment it was perhaps a little strong.... i do agree that cutting edge development does filter down to the normal consumer but am not sure eactly how much. Whilst MotoGP technology is a good thing the normal punter is not even allowed to use slicks on a track day let alone on the road. Bike mags (generally) pay little attention to carrying out tyre tests but if they did it might help competition a bit though appreciate certain tyres may suit certain bikes more than others. I guess a single tyre rule is good for racing but not for development...

Good,most of us agree that the one tyre rule is not the best way forward. Its a pretty safe bet that all those who agree are bikers.Im old enough to remember when bikes like the Norton Dominator,Royal Enfield clipper,Oh,and the awesome(at the time) Vincent Rapide were pretty dodgy on there skinny radial ply tyres,but we mastered them. I recently rode arebuilt Dominator fitted with Dragon corsas,and could it be chucked around!.Tyre development,Obviously.

pfy1101 --- mate what happens on the track will end up on the road. Tyre constructions and compunds and manufacturing processes all follow thru to road tyres... EG: multiple compound tyres were first used in racing. Now that there is no need for development in racing it will all stagnate the progress of road tyres. Maybe a little research first yeh...

MotoGP is kudos racing for the manufacturers and sponsors. How a slick tyre that lasts for 45minutes of hard riding will ever be relevant to the road riders is beyond me. We need a treaded tyre that lasts 3-5k miles and keeps you upright in the wet. Bridgestone have the best tyre in MotoGP so they are hoping thats what you'll be putting on your bike, nothing more, nothing less.

Tony... You've completely missed this point in this issue. Your comparing BSB and WSB to prototype racing where there are special composite materials, the latest in electical and mechanical technology. It aint gonna happen.
---- Lobster27 - Michelin failed because, rather than build a tyre to cope with varying conditions they were flying them in over night. This has absolutly no benefit to the road rider. Bridgstone spent years with Ducati and Kawasaki developing their tyres and now they have the results. An example of this is how they use to run their rain tyres on dry tracks to see how long they would last. Thats forward thinking. Michelins concept of forward thinking was overnight. They've paid the price. I dont think you could be more wrong Tony. But then again i dont think you know that much about the sport or its history. As Burgess said. For years it was One make and Doohan smoked all comers... How is this going to be any different? Its not. It will still be Rossi and Stoner and occasionally Pedrosa and Lorenzo.

Bought in to make lap times slower and reduce corner speed but in the first test most of the riders went quicker, doesn't really look like it's working does it?

Oh good, a debate on tyres. On one hand, a single tyre (compounds, carcass aside) would create a benchmark to measure the set up skills of the teams and rider skills. On the other hand, no competition lowers the development for the greater field of tyre users - Road Machines. Now the hole on the second cases? Since when are MOTOGP machines and teams any measurement for road bikes and personal users? Therefore 2nd case invalided.
For road machines, if you do not have a preference, look at bike mag tests, they have been exhaustive for our benefit. For instance I have found Dunlops have suited my bikes over the years, YZF600, YZF1000R, YZF750, different tyres for each, but all Dunlop. Now for Track/Race use, then if you can't use slicks, Perelli or Bridgestone semi slicks are top use. Plus, when it's raining on track, any wet tyre does the trick. Paul in Mablethorpe

This is absolutely a negative for bike riders on the street, who at the end of the day are the ones who have to choose a tyre for thier individual bike and riding style. Like many industries competition keeps everyone honest and while sponsorship on all motorsports drives sales, we as the riders, are going to be left with a choice. Do we fit the tyre thrust into our face via the media i.e. Bridgestone or do we "gamble" with a.n other. I for one will always pick the tyre I think fits the bike, not what I see on the media.

All handly,my mistook

Invalid comment,All i tried to say was that i have 3 Dukes, 900ss 748r 1098. All handly well, but on differing tyres. One tyre for all will not be good for development for road bikes.

By have one tyre company it's not exactly going to keep them on their toes.

i for one would prefer to see as many tyre manufactors as poss supplying tyres ans as notptintable says they spend millions on bikes as a long time bike rider have a ducati 1098s just now have had lots bikes a no some bikes handle better on some tyres but not on other tyres so its going to be the same in motogp bring back dunlop plz and at end of day it helps us rd riders as any omprovemnt they make on tyres in racing does work its way down to the rd and makes it safer in all weather conditions for us rd riders

A bit of a chicken and egg situation really. Riders and bikes will have to get used to the new tyres and adapt to suit i guess. I'm not a guru on World Super Bikes but the single tyre rule there seems to have done no harm at all and possibly / probably improved things. Now tell me i'm wrong but don't most punters support a favourite manufacturer or rider? I don't see many people supporting a tyre manufacturer. Anything that can level the playing field, give excellent close racing and show off the abilities of the riders and machinery must be a good thing?

I agree with not printable - in my opinion, competition between tyre manufacturers provides a championship a few more sparks. Dunlop were squeezed out just as they were improving, I was sad to see them go, so I'm not going to rejoice now that we have another tyre monolopy.
However - and Carter fails to point this out -, Michelin just haven't been competitive. For the last two seasons, Michelin have failed to react to Bridgestone in a swift manner... This is why they're out: no works team wants a tyre manufacturer who is seemingly unwilling to catch up with the opposition in real time.

Tony, I am suprised you have come down so heavily on one side of the issue. Bikes, like cars, have defferent designes, materials, center of gravity etc. This ultimately means that slight differences in contact with the road can be cruicial. If you spend millions to manufacture a bike and then find it doesnt go because the tyres, worth peanuts, are rubbish, that entails them going back to the drawing board and start over, and again without a guarantee of being a hand in glove fit. Just ask Rossi how his bike compared on two different sets of rubber! In any case - I also think that competition between manufacturers of rubber is a good thing.