Bridgestone begin talks on MotoGP future

Internal discussions have started at Bridgestone about whether the Japanese factory will quit MotoGP at the end of 2011, MCN can reveal.

Bridgestone has a contract to be the single tyre supplier in MotoGP for the forthcoming campaign and next year as part of a three-year deal with rights owners Dorna.

But talks have already commenced in Japan about Bridgestone’s future after the tyre giant already announced it will end its supply deal in Formula One at the end of 2010.

Although development costs have plummeted without competition from Michelin, MotoGP is still a high expense undertaking for Bridgestone as it supplies 17 riders with 18 tyres at each race.

Bridgestone boss Hiroshi Yamada told MCN: “I’m not sure what will happen other than that we have a contract to be the official tyre supplier to MotoGP until the end of the 2011 world championship.

“We have not decided yet whether we continue beyond that into 2012 and now we have started to discuss this inside Bridgestone.

“My own personal feeling is that we should we continue for at least another three years. I believe MotoGP has been very good for Bridgestone as a brand.”