Grand Prix Commission decides on single tyre rule for 2009

For safety and cost reasons, the Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Claude Danis (FIM), Herve Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Mr. Paul Butler (Secretary of the meeting), in a meeting held today at the circuit of Motegi, unanimously decided to introduce the following change to the FIM Road Racing World Championship Grand Prix Regulations:

The Grand Prix Commission has decided unanimously that there will be a single tyre supplier for the MotoGP class from 2009. Proposals to supply the tyres must be handed to the FIM and Dorna by 3rd October at the latest. The final decision will be announced by the GP Commission by 18th October at the latest.

Mr. Ezpeleta commented, `We postponed the decision until today so that we could get more ideas and opinions about it. Finally we decided, the Grand Prix Commission, unanimously, for safety reasons and to reduce costs that we would go to a one tyre rule. Now the FIM ask for a tender, which means that the tyre manufacturers who are interested in competing for the tender must send their offers before next Saturday. From there we will study the different offers and then no later than 18th October the Grand Prix Commission will decide who will supply the tyres.´