“I hope it will not be Michelin, because I don’t know what tyre they would give me” says Rossi
TALK OF a single tyre rule was rife at Misano, in the wake of Dorna’s special safety meeting with the MotoGP riders. But some reservations seem to have crept in to what had been a unanimous decision – particularly concerning what make of tyre would be used.
If the decision is taken for a mono-tyre rule, then the series would be put up for tender. Any tyre company is at liberty to apply.
Rossi was insistent it should be one of the two existing MotoGP tyre companies, Michelin or Bridgestone. “It would be too risky to try another manufacturer without experience. Even for Dunlop it is a big risk, for them to develop a good enough tyre.
“But,” he added impishly, “I hope it will not be Michelin, because I don’t know what tyre they would give me.” Rossi fell out spectacularly with Michelin last year, and insisted that he be supplied with Bridgestones for 2008.
Stoner was more phlegmatic. “We’d have to accept the tyres, whether we like it or not.”
But the heat was off somewhat after Michelin came up with better rubber, after three disastrous races in a row. By the end of practice, after narrowly missing out on pole position, top Michelin qualifier Jorge Lorenzo said: “After we struggled at Laguna Seca and Brno, now I am riding again with flow. The tyres give me the confidence I need.”
