From Matt Beer
Dani Pedrosa is to make a shock mid-season switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres, starting at the forthcoming Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Speculation about a possible change mounted at Misano this weekend, and Michelin has now confirmed that it has agreed for Pedrosa to switch to its arch-rival's rubber with immediate effect.
Michelin has come under heavy criticism in recent months, as its riders fell behind their Bridgestone-shod rivals, particularly from the Laguna Seca race onwards. At Brno a fortnight ago the Michelins' practice and qualifying performance was so bad that a rider boycott was a genuine possibility.
The French tyres showed better form at Misano this weekend, with Jorge Lorenzo and Pedrosa taking second and fourth, but that improvement was not sufficient to keep Pedrosa on Michelins for the rest of the year.
Pedrosa's move means that just six of the 18 MotoGP regulars will use Michelin tyres in the remaining 2008 races. Current championship leader Valentino Rossi had already persuaded Yamaha to let him swap to Bridgestones for this season after he struggled to beat Casey Stoner's Bridgestone-shod Ducati last season.
Michelin's problems have led to renewed speculation that MotoGP could implement control tyres next season to avoid performance disparities of the kind seen at Brno, but Michelin has reiterated its long-held opposition to any such move.
Pedrosa's teammate Nicky Hayden will remain on Michelin tyres for the rest of the year.
Dani Pedrosa is to make a shock mid-season switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres, starting at the forthcoming Indianapolis Grand Prix.
Speculation about a possible change mounted at Misano this weekend, and Michelin has now confirmed that it has agreed for Pedrosa to switch to its arch-rival's rubber with immediate effect.
Michelin has come under heavy criticism in recent months, as its riders fell behind their Bridgestone-shod rivals, particularly from the Laguna Seca race onwards. At Brno a fortnight ago the Michelins' practice and qualifying performance was so bad that a rider boycott was a genuine possibility.
The French tyres showed better form at Misano this weekend, with Jorge Lorenzo and Pedrosa taking second and fourth, but that improvement was not sufficient to keep Pedrosa on Michelins for the rest of the year.
Pedrosa's move means that just six of the 18 MotoGP regulars will use Michelin tyres in the remaining 2008 races. Current championship leader Valentino Rossi had already persuaded Yamaha to let him swap to Bridgestones for this season after he struggled to beat Casey Stoner's Bridgestone-shod Ducati last season.
Michelin's problems have led to renewed speculation that MotoGP could implement control tyres next season to avoid performance disparities of the kind seen at Brno, but Michelin has reiterated its long-held opposition to any such move.
Pedrosa's teammate Nicky Hayden will remain on Michelin tyres for the rest of the year.