Repsol Honda have confirmed Dani Pedrosa's switch to Bridgestone tyres for the remainder of the 2008 MotoGP season and that he will begin testing tomorrow.
Arturo Sus, Vice-director of Repsol Sports Sponsorship, said: “One of our obligations as main sponsor of the Repsol Honda Team is to put pressure on the team, the factory and even the riders,when we think we have to do so, this is so that we get the results we expect after investing in this project. After the race in Brno, we all knew that Dani Pedrosa was not satisfied with the sensations he was getting from his bike.
"Mr. Hamane thought it was HRC`s responsibility to back any decision taken by the rider. We all understand that for the 2009 season HRC would seriously think about changing to the option of having Bridgestone as supplier. From Repsol`s point of view it was thought that this was not enough and so we then told Honda about the need for an immediate change in supplier, a move to Bridgestone for Dani Pedrosa.
"This is not a comfortable situation, neither for us nor for Honda, and obviously more so for Michelin, but we think that this is the right decision. Fortunately, this change has occurred this Sunday, and so from Monday onwards Dani Pedrosa will use Bridgestone tyres.”
Report from 11am today:
Repsol Honda's Dani Pedrosa is to make a shock, mid-season move to Bridgestone tyres and might well test the new rubber at Misano tomorrow.
Pedrosa is fed up with the performance of his Michelin tyres and Bridgestone has said it received a request from Honda and Dorna today. The deal looks set to be done and dusted by the end of play, with an official announcement no later than tomorrow morning.
The Spaniard should make the permanent move before the Indianapolis GP. There is no word yet if Nicky Hayden is to make a similar swap.
Michelin statement at 4pm:
For 24 years Michelin and Honda have worked together at the highest level of motorcycle racing. Together the two companies have won 14 premier-class World Championships.
The two companies fully understand the importance of the “feeling” between the rider and the equipment he has at his disposal, especially tyres.
Despite making an excellent start to the season and leading the World Championship going into the German GP, during the last few races Dani Pedrosa has made it know to both Michelin and Honda that he doesn’t feel at ease with the tyres that Michelin have offered him.
Honda and Michelin believe that rider confidence needs to be at its maximum if the rider is to fully exploit the tactical potential of the tyres.
In these circumstances Michelin and Honda have therefore decided not to equip Pedrosa with Michelin tyres for the remainder of the 2008 season.
