Dorna Extend with Bridgestone as Official MotoGP Tyre Supplier

A new three-year deal has been agreed between Bridgestone and Dorna Sports that will see the Japanese manufacturer continue as the Official Tyre Supplier to the premier class of the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) MotoGP World Championship from 2012-2014.

Bridgestone will continue to provide tyres and technical support to every team and rider on the premier class grid as the championship enters the new era of increased engine capacity, up from 800cc to 1000cc.

In 2009 Bridgestone was named the championship’s first Official Tyre Supplier, after just seven seasons of competition. As of the end of the 2010 season, four World Championship Titles, 70 Grand Prix victories and 197 podiums have been scored in the premier class using Bridgestone tyres.

Mikio Masunaga; Vice-President and Member of the Board, Bridgestone Corporation, stated: “I am both proud and excited that we are able to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to MotoGP by extending our participation as Official Tyre Supplier to the premier class with a new three-year deal. Bridgestone has a very rich heritage in the leading motorsport categories across the world, and MotoGP represents a significant part of this history.”.

“I am happy that we can continue what has been a very successful relationship with the premier class of motorcycle road racing over the past nine years. I would like to thank the riders, the FIM, Dorna, the MSMA and IRTA for their support of us, in particular over the last two years as Official Tyre Supplier. MotoGP is a key global platform for Bridgestone in carrying our brand and messages to an international audience and in enabling us to develop and prove our products and technical expertise on the world stage. I believe our involvement in MotoGP will enable us to continually improve the safety and performance of our consumer tyres.”

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta added: “I am very please that we can continue to work closely with Bridgestone for another three years after this season, and I would like to thank them for their continued commitment to MotoGP. Bridgestone has a great track record in all forms of motorsport, in particular MotoGP, and has done a great job since they were appointed the championship’s first ever Official Tyre Supplier so we all know they are up to the task this season and over the following three years.

“Their ongoing commitment at these early point is important in allowing us to plan for the future, especially for the teams as they are already underway with their development plans for next year and the new 1000cc era, and I believe it also demonstrates the value of MotoGP as a business platform”.