Bridgestone have today announced they will end their spec-tyre supply service to MotoGP at the end of 2015.
Reasons for the move, officially, are the firm have achieved their goals of global brand promotion but behind the scenes, arguments with Dorna have made their tenure difficult.
The Japanese firm entered the series in 2002 and subsequently won the spec-tyre contract. Never an easy path, Bridgestone made durable tyres which more often than not saw fastest lap times set at the end of races, but they proved tough for rookies to master.
Their withdrawal may pave the way for a return by Michelin or Dunlop, or for complete motorsport domination by Pirelli, who already supply WSBK, BSB and Formula One.
Hopefully, with the introduction of the spec-ECU in 2016, MotoGP can return to the slideways, tyre-smoking, all-action last laps of bygone years.
Dorna, in agreement with the FIM, has decided to call a tender for tyre manufacturers interested in becoming the new tyre supplier from 2016 onwards. The tender application starts today (May 1) and will conclude on the 22nd.
