MotoGP
MotoGP has welcomed a new challenge with the re-launch of the American Laguna Seea race. This time however, the circuit that staged its last GP eleven years ago, will host 990 cc-MotoGP bikes.
The Laguna Seca circuit is known for its steep ascents, tight corners, fast direction changes and the famous drop-off zone as well as a notorious Corkscrew and a blind downhill S-curve.
The 2006 World Rally Championship will not be a battle between Pirelli and Michelin, but BFGoodrich and Pirelli. The French manufacturer has decided to substitute Michelin name for the brand that uses to compete in the Rally Raid World Cup.
Team d’Antin MotoGP has announced that it will use Dunlop tyres in 2005. The team will enter Roby Rolfo on a Ducati Desmosedici GP04. The 2005 MotoGP World Championship starts in Jerez on 10 April.
Team owner Luis d’Antin and Roby Rolfo recently visited Dunlop Motorsport’s European R&D headquarters in Birmingham. “We are delighted that Dunlop has decided to support our programme,” confirmed Luis d’Antin “it will be a very interesting challenge for our team to help Dunlop move forward with their MotoGP tyre development.”
Ducati Corse CEO Claudio Domenicali has announced that it is to set-up a special tyre test team in collaboration with Bridgestone, reports MotoGP News.
The MotoGP project will see Japanese rider, Shinichi Itoh, become the official test-rider alongside a group of technicians, including a Ducati Corse engineer.
Pierre Dupasquier Looks Forward to New Formula 1 Season
Motorsport isn’t just about speedy overtaking manoeuvres and exciting finishes. Instead a major part of its attraction is owed to the people that live for motorsports and who – if missing – would make the event that bit less interesting. Without doubt one of these people is Pierre Dupasquier. For 30 years the Michelin motorsport director has been generally regarded as the driving force behind the French tyre manufacturer’s involvement. In addition, he is one of the few who, although not a driver himself, is allowed to comment on races on TV. Tyres & Accessories had the opportunity to meet the passionate 67 year old Frenchman and talk about the coming season.
For a long time Pierre Dupasquier has been part of the Formula 1 circus, having worked for his employer Michelin in a number different fields. Be it Formula 1, the World Rally Championship (WRC) or MotoGP, he lives for everything that’s fast and runs on two or more wheels. Although interested in and involved in all sorts of motorsports, Mr Dupasquier’s committed to the premier league of motorsports, namely Formula 1. This season wasn’t as glorious as it might have been for Michelin. Out of the 18 races Bridgestone, its only competitor in the Formula 1, won 15. Michelin’s problem? The domination of Michael Schumacher and his Ferrari with its Bridgestone tyres.
Motorsport isn’t just about speedy overtaking manoeuvres and exciting finishes. Instead a major part of its attraction is owed to the people that live for motorsports and who – if missing – would make the event that bit less interesting. Without doubt one of these people is Pierre Dupasquier. For 30 years the Michelin motorsport director has been generally regarded as the driving force behind the French tyre manufacturer’s involvement. In addition, he is one of the few who, although not a driver himself, is allowed to comment on races on TV. Tyres & Accessories had the opportunity to meet the passionate 67 year old Frenchman and talk about the coming season.
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Ducati’s MotoGP team has announced that it will change tyre suppliers next year. The team is leaving behind its long association with Michelin, “in order to seek advantages by being different.” As a consequence of the change, Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Carlo Checa will use the same tyres as Suzuki and Kawaski. All the other major factory and satellite teams will use Michelin.
“We have a great respect for Michelin, and a good relationship with them. They always gave us the best tires that were available. But they also supply all the best factory teams, and all the best riders. We decided after a lot of discussion that if we have different tires, then that will give us different opportunities for success. And we also believe that the Bridgestone tyres have already reached a high level,” commented team manager, Livio Suppo.
Triumph Motorcycles has chosen the Michelin Pilot Power as the sole OE fitment for its 2005 Speed Triple.
The tyre was chosen as the best option for the 1050cc machine following extensive tests. It is described as combining “aggressive streetfighter looks” with “high quality chassis components.”
Bridgestone Corporation has announced plans to supply tyres to competitors in a sweeping range of motorsport events in 2004. “Bridgestone technology has helped the world’s best racing teams win in Formula One and in other motorsport series, and we are determined to help them keep winning,” declared the company’s CEO, Shigeo Watanabe.
Winning ways continued for Bridgestone in Formula One in 2003. The company’s Potenza tyres carried Michael Schumacher and Ferrari to the drivers’ and constructors’ season championships. Bridgestone tyres have now been first across the finish line in a total of 79 F1 races.
In the 2004 F1 season, Bridgestone will again supply tyres to world champions Ferrari and to three other teams. That means that eight machines will be racing on Bridgestone Potenza tyres. The 2004 season got under way on March 7 with the Australian Grand Prix. This year’s F1 calendar features 18 races, culminating in the Brazilian Grand Prix on October 24.
IndyCar control tyre
Bridgestone’s Firestone brand will again be the sole tyre brand in the IndyCar Series, formerly known as the Indy Racing League. That racing series will include the Bridgestone Indy Japan 300 Mile at Japan’s Twin Link Motegi circuit on April 17. Altogether, the 2004 IndyCar Series will comprise of 16 races.
Domestic series too
Japan’s premier open-wheel racing series, Formula Nippon, will be another showcase for Bridgestone tyres in 2004. This year’s Formula Nippon series will consist of nine events, including a race at Malaysia’s Sepang Circuit.
Teams race on tyres from multiple manufacturers in the Japan GT Championship. But competitors equipped with Bridgestone tyres won seven of the eight races in the GT500 class of that series in 2003. The 2004 Japan GT Championship series will comprise of seven races. Bridgestone will also supply tyres for other Japanese auto racing series, including the Japan Gymkhana Championship, the All Japan Dirt Trial Championship, and the All Japan Rally Championship.
And on two wheels
Motorcycle racing also remains an important emphasis in Bridgestone’s motorsports program. At the pinnacle of motorcycle racing is the MotoGP series, and Bridgestone began supplying tyres to competitors in that series in 2002. The company will concentrate its support for grand prix motorcycle racing exclusively on MotoGP competition in 2004. A Bridgestone-equipped rider mounted a MotoGP victory podium for the first time in 2003. That was when Makoto Tamada achieved a third-place finish in the 12th race of the season.
After supplying tyres on just one MotoGP works team in 2003, Bridgestone will provide tyres to three works teams in the 2004 season. Those teams will be racing a total of five machines. In motorcycle racing besides grand prix events, Bridgestone will furnish tyres for the All Japan Road Race Championship, the All Japan Motocross Championship, and the AMA Supercross/National Series.
Bridgestone Corporation will supply tyres to the Kawasaki Racing Team for MotoGP racing in the 2004 season. Bridgestone began supplying tyres for MotoGP competition in the 2002 season displaying winning potential in the past two seasons.
On Saturday 20th September Bridgestone celebrated a podium finish for its rider Makoto Tamada at the Rio De Janerio MotoGP. The Pramac Honda rider produced an immaculate display to claim a thoroughly deserved third place finish marking Bridgestone’s first podium since deciding to enter the premier class at the beginning of 2002. Bridgestone’s ecstatic technicians could barely conceal their delight after watching Tamada cut a swathe through the field in the 24-lap race, run in searing hot temperatures at a sun-drenched Rio de Janeiro.
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