and proper sponsorship to be competitive. With the signing of Toseland, the first part of that mission has been accomplished.And Toseland's signing points to another change: Currently, the Tech 3 Yamaha run Dunlop tires, as Dunlop provide the biggest part

into the fast right of the Dunlop Curve, before lining up for the chicane. Rocket SandwichColin Edwards, the man who had come so close to taking two poles in a row on Saturday, got away from the line well, but his misfortune was that he had the two quickest

of everyone who switches from Bridgestones to Michelins: A lack of confidence in the front end, a feeling which is exacerbated by the Honda's lack of feel at the front. As for Checa, the rewards he was hoping for after a year of sterling work on the Dunlop

of short straights connected by wide hairpins, with a couple of chicanes and the long, fast Courbe Dunlop which hurt Alberto Puig so badly back in 1995. Where Shanghai and Istanbul favored outright, sixth gear speed, Le Mans demands agility for the first

, and probably more if the Repsol Honda team hadn't imploded so badly. John Hopkins was the first Bridgestone rider home, and right behind Hopper came Carlos Checa, then aboard the Dunlop-shod Tech 3 Yamaha. The question is, can Michelin retain the advantage

are very near to being works Ducatis, for the simple fact that there are no 2006 Ducati 800s available. Combined with this is the fact that d'Antin will no longer be running the still (sadly) uncompetitive Dunlops, but will have access to Bridgestone rubber

would be using Bridgestone tires in 2007, instead of the ill-fated Dunlops on which they had struggled. Another key change was an increase in support from the Ducati factory, building a closer relationship, and allowing access to better equipment

, it was still a long way from being wet, and a dry line sure to form after a few laps. When the lights finally went out and the pack exploded off the line, all thoughts were on the Dunlop Chicane, whether everyone would get through safely, or whether we would

for the 2008 MotoGP championship will be laid over the next few weeks, and it starts on Sunday, at Le Mans. There's a long hard road ahead, and what better place to take the first step than at a track so steeped in legend? Read more articles by David Emmett

lacks experience to be able to push the development of the Dunlop tires, which is the very reason the Tech 3 Yamaha team exists. If Tamada goes, his replacement will have to be someone with plenty of experience.The Very, Very Short Goodbye