Michelin Not Bidding for MotoGP Tyre Supply Contract

Despite stating on September 28 it “notes with interest” the switch to a single tyre supplier for the 2009 MotoGP World Championship, Michelin has decided not to submit a bid to the championship’s governing body. Upon announcing this decision on October 4, the company added that it “regrets not being able to contribute to the organisers’ important discussions to improve rider safety and reduce costs.

“The spirit of competition has always been central to Michelin,” said the tyre maker in a statement. “Motor sports at the highest level are useful because competition among several tyre manufacturers is a valuable stimulus for developing increasingly high-performance tires that will one day equip customer vehicles. Tyres play a key role in a vehicle’s performance and can make a considerable difference. This competition among manufacturers helps to make racing exciting.”

Michelin, in addition to being the inventor of the radial tyre, claims credit for a number of innovations, many of which it says were gained through racing experience – dual compound technology for motorcycle tyres is one it highlights as significant. Therefore the new arrangement is not one the company favours: “The MotoGP Championship organisers have decided to use a single tyre supplier for the coming seasons, which effectively eliminates the competitive environment that has led to so much progress.”

The R&D resources it had allocated to MotoGP will now be redeployed to support innovation, says Michelin, something “at the heart of Michelin’s customer-focused strategy.”