With most major motorsport series adopting a sole tyre supplier for some time – a notable exception being the World Rally Championship, which has frequent competition advocates Michelin and Dmack tyre brands available this year – one could be forgiven for assuming that there is little need for continuing development of the product. However, Pirelli is bringing tyres to the forefront of Formula One analysis with a brave initial development process attempting to promote greater competition followed by “evolutions” of compounds – this weekend will see the Italian brand take an altered soft compound, designed to “reduce degradation and improve tyre wear”, to Spain. Last weekend, Bridgestone – MotoGP’s sole tyre supplier – debut a brand new asymmetric rear tyre, comprising soft compound rubber in the right shoulder and extra soft compound rubber in the lesser-used left shoulder, at the French Grand Prix. Hirohide Hamashima, assistant to director, Motorsport Tyre Development Division says continued safety improvements, as well as rider demand continues to drive motorsport tyre development in spite of the lack of competition with another manufacturer.