Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa will switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres with immediate effect!
It has been officially confirmed that Dani Pedrosa will make a shock switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres with immediate effect - splitting the Repsol Honda Team in two for the five remaining rounds of the 2008 season, starting with the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix on September 14.
A statement from Michelin confirming the split read as follows:
"For 24 years Michelin and Honda have worked together at the highest level of motorcycle racing. Together the two companies have won 14 premier-class World Championships.
"The two companies fully understand the importance of the "feeling" between the rider and the equipment he has at his disposal, especially tyres.
"Despite making an excellent start to the season and leading the World Championship going into the German GP, during the last few races Dani Pedrosa has made it know to both Michelin and Honda that he doesn't feel at ease with the tyres that Michelin have offered him.
"Honda and Michelin believe that rider confidence needs to be at its maximum if the rider is to fully exploit the tactical potential of the tyres.
"In these circumstances Michelin and Honda have therefore decided not to equip Pedrosa with Michelin tyres for the remainder of the 2008 season."
"Pedrosa comments: "I thank Michelin and Honda for their mutual understanding and for agreeing to my personal demands. I am very conscious of the fact that I have made some excessively negative comments about Michelin tyres, even though Michelin helped me make an exceptional start to the season."
"Both Honda and Michelin hope that MotoGP World Championship will continue with a multi-tyre brand regulation in 2009, Michelin will equip one of the Repsol Honda's two riders for the remainder of the 2008 season."
Team-mate Nicky Hayden, expected to leave Honda for Ducati next season, will thus remain on Michelin tyres.
Comment 1 - 17 of 17
It might backfire on Pedrosa this season but this is a calculated gamble. He is not in the hunt for the title and second or third is not that important. He can get used to the tyres in these 5 races so that he can have a faster start to 2009 than Rossi had this season on the Bridgestones
On a different note, why are some people calling it honourless for Honda and Yamaha to ask for Bridgestones? Do Ducati want to have the best tyres while every one is on rubbish rubber? That was the case last season that allowed the Moaner to win, this season the Doctor has the same tyres and Moaner is getting his a$$ kicked
on the day Pedrosa announces he will be getting Bridgestone cos michelin are not good enough what happens, Lorenzo gets second ,on michelins and miles ahead of Pedrosa, MMMMMMM. So what will Danni do next when he cant win on bridgestones, who will he blame then. Danni cant win in his head so tyres wont make a difference, he cant battle and win thru, even when he is in a battle 90% of the time he loses out. He will be fine when pubity kicks in and he can grow some balls then he might win
Oh... it seems that after Rossi, now Pedrosa want the same "package" Ducati has. Please people... do something your own: Ducati has taken several risks, when switching to Bridgestone... when hiring Stoner...
And they managed to produce really dominant package.
What's next then? Honda and Yamaha with a Desmodromic system or a steel tubular frame?... ha ha ha
C.Duffell4
For at least the last 2 races Honda have had a full factory 2009 spec bike running on Bridgestones under Shinya Nakano this is not a quick decision. Honda have been evaluating the tyres before doing this and even on thursday the top man at Honda never mind HRC said that he would make sure his riders had the best tyres possible as soon as he could arrange it
quite right about backfire, michelin did well today, they wont be down for long, and i have just read stoner saying he had front tyre grip problems, maybe stoner and ducrapi should ask for michalins
DON'T THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT MOVE FOR DANNI, IT TOOK ROSSI A WHILE TO GET THE BIKE TO WORK ON BRIDGESTONES, THINK HE SHOULD SEE THE SEASON OUT WITH MICHELIN AS THIS MIGHT JUST BACKFIRE BADLY ON HIM, HE IS ONLY TWO POINTS AWAY FROM SECOND.
lets have this right now, racing is about having the elite equipment rode by elite riders. fair play to dani for voicing his disconcern with the french tyres. one thing i will say tho is i'm surprised with honda stand point on this. they are as a nation very loyal to their contracts etc. shocked that they allowed this to happen. may be it isn't dani clutching at straws but honda??????
Do what you've got to dani and stuff the negative feedback, make sure you do it on the track and soon to prove your move was correct- REPSOL ROSS
the disgrace is to do it during the season, to moan until your employer breaks a contract with a supplier, i understand that every racer wants the best, rossi moaned and got his wish for this season, honda have been very dishonourable which is not there way and only time will tell if it pays off, although a three way battle at laguna next year would be great
WAKE UP DORNA,
18 bikes,
15 getting points,
MY plans for next year, min weight bike and rider
only the first 10 get points
5 points for the fastest lap
5 points for pole
minimal 26 bikes on the start
one make of tyre
and some more from you girls.
instead of making stupid
remakes about someone racing againts our girl
grt john holland
Here we go again girls,
The reason i like Rossi is beacause he is GAY, look how he looks at his vriend in the PITS, and the way they are after the race, he gets more HUGS that i do hahahaahah, Rossi wins because he is on the best bike, otherwise he would have signed for DUCATI, nearly everyone can ride a YAMAHA fast except Toesland of cause, So this year its yamaha and ROSSI, congatulations next year Rossi in his true colours PINK mmmmmm
grt from Holland
Lorenzo ran the same tyres as Pedroso today, and got on the podium, the difference is Lorenzo was prepared to push the bike hard just like Rossi would, but Pedrosa will not do that
why is it a disgrace, rossi demanded the same, what makes him different to any other championship contender.
Pedrosa wants to play on a level playing field that's all.
I expect Lorenzo to go the same way, if he has bridgestones on his bike today, then who knows, maybe he would have won.
PEDROSA HAS NO CHANCE IN FRONT OF ROSSSI AND THE AUSSIE. EVEN LORENZO IS BETTER THAN HIM. VALENTINO IS MAY FAVOURITE FROM ALL SPORTS, I THINK IS ONE OF THE GREATEST IN ALL HISTORY, BUT I LIKE STONER FOR HIS AUDACIUOSNESS. PITY VALENTINO DID NOT WIN ON THE TRACK...
All a bike racer wants to do is win!.
If its the black stuff that makes the difference its a no brainer..
Dani, unlike last yr has made no real mistakes and should be more in the running for the championship than he is.
This is now extra testing for next year i think for Dani, It would be good to see him out in front at the US GP but i don't think this will happen
if this happens then pedrosa has just became bigger than hrc, it is a disgrace
During a commercial break on Eurosport Randy Mammola confirmed on the BBC that Pedrosa will test Bridgestone tomorrow (1/9/08) and an announcement will be made on a switch depending on the test
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