Bridgestone extends MotoGP supply through to 2014
Bridgestone Corporation has confirmed its continuation as official tyre supplier to the premier class of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) MotoGP World Championship with the signing of a new three-year deal covering the 2012 to 2014 seasons. The Japanese tyre maker began supplying the premier class in 2009 and the new contract signed with Dorna Sports covers the provision of tyres and technical support to the grid at a time when the championship enters a new era of increased engine capacity, up from 800cc to 1000cc.
Announcing the deal’s signing, Mikio Masunaga, Bridgestone’s vice president and senior officer member of the Board responsible for motorsport products, began by reflecting on recent events in Japan: “Firstly I’d like to send our deepest condolences to the people suffering from last week’s terrible Pacific Coast of Tohoku earthquake disaster. We sincerely hope that quality of life and a sense of normality can be restored for all those affected by this tragedy and Bridgestone group promise to help with the relief and recovery effort.
“Turning our attention for a moment towards out motorsport activities though, I am proud that we are able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to MotoGP by extending our participation as official tyre supplier to the premier class with a new three-year deal,” Masunaga continued. “Bridgestone has a very rich heritage in the leading motorsport categories across the world, and MotoGP represents a significant part of this heritage.
Since the start of its involvement with MotoGP in 2002, Bridgestone says riders, the FIM, Dorna, the Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association (MSMA) and the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA) have all expressed a “strong desire” to continue the relationship. Masunaga comments: “I am encouraged that we can continue what has been a very successful relationship with the premier class of motorcycle road racing over the past nine years. I would like to thank the riders, the FIM, Dorna, the MSMA and IRTA for their support of us, in particular over the last two years as official tyre supplier. MotoGP is a key global platform for Bridgestone both in carrying our brand and messages to an international audience and in enabling us to develop and prove our products and technical expertise on the world stage. I believe our involvement in MotoGP will enable us to continually improve the safety and performance of our consumer tyres.”
Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta added: “From Dorna we want to send our sincere condolences to the families of the victims of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan. It was a natural disaster that has left us stunned and saddened by its magnitude, but we are sure that a country such as Japan will overcome a situation such as this.
“I am very pleased that we can continue to work closely with Bridgestone for another three years after this season, and I would like to thank them for their continued commitment to MotoGP,” said Ezpeleta. “Bridgestone has a great track record in all forms of motorsport, in particular MotoGP, and has done a great job since they were appointed the championship’s first ever official tyre supplier so we all know they are up to the task this season and over the following three years. Their ongoing commitment at this early point is important in allowing us all to plan for the future, especially for the teams as they are already underway with their development plans for next year and the new 1000cc era, and I believe it also demonstrates the value of MotoGP as a business platform.”
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