With Bridgestone still unsure if they will continue to be the single tire supplier in MotoGP when their three year contract is up at the end of 2011, another manufacturer could show up and take their place for the 2012 season.
Giorgio Barbier, Pirelli’s Director of Racing Activities was spotted at Estoril this weekend and this could meanthat Bridgestone is indeed going to announce that 2011 will be their last season in MotoGP, as they have with their pull-out from Formula 1, with Pirelli will be taking their place.
Pirelli currently supplies all the tires in the World Superbike series and their contract is up at the end of 2012, when MotoGP will switch to the new 1000cc rules and adding MotoGP to their list could be another great marketing coup and making tires for an extra 17 and hopefully more teams, wouldn’t cause any problems to the Italian tire manufacturer, because according to Barbier, ” the differences between a superbike and a MotoGP isn’t that big, the two bikes are very similar.
”Apparently Bridgestone will announce their future plans in Valencia and also confirm if MotoGP teams will have to pay for their tires in 2011.