Motorcycle tyre decision postponed to next week

[EvilGixxer]

SEPANG, Malaysia (AFP) - - Controversy over the proposed single tyre brand rule for the 2008 MotoGP season will continue until next week after officials announced Saturday that no final decision will be made in Malaysia.

 

"It will not be made today. It has been postponed to next week," Mike Trimby, secretary-general of the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA), told AFP.

 

"A few things need to be resolved. So it was decided not to finalise today in Malaysia," he added, without elaborating.

 

IRTA looks after the interests of all the teams in the MotoGP championship.

 

MotoGP commercial rights holder Dorna proposed the single tyre rule in Motegi, Japan last month.

 

They were expected to announce a decision on Saturday during the Malaysian Grand Prix on whether they would press ahead with the rule change.

 

The rule is being proposed in the face of falling TV ratings.

 

On many occasions one brand of tyre has had a distinct advantage at a particular circuit and a single rider has easily won the race.

 

Usually this has been newly crowned world champion Casey Stoner aboard his Bridgestone-shod Ducati.

 

Tyre giants Bridgestone and Michelin opposed the plan and Friday threatened to quit MotoGP if the rule was implemented in the next season.

 

Both Bridgestone and Michelin officials told AFP that the single tyre proposal was bad for the manufacturers and the MotoGP championship.

 

Jean-Philippe Weber, Michelin's director of motorcycle racing, said a decision was expected to be made either on Thursday or Friday.

 

"We have to wait until next week," he said.

 

Bridgestone has dominated the 2007 season with 11 victories compared to five by Michelin with just two races to go -- on Sunday in Sepang and on November 4 in Valencia, Spain