Michelin

By Peter McLaren Despite finishing second in the 2007 world championship with Dani Pedrosa, Honda is gambling on an all-new RC212V to try and regain the MotoGP crown - but at present it's slower than last year's bike.

The move was widely expected, although as recently as the Japanese Grand Prix in late September Honda had revealed that it was still discussing a switch to Bridgestone - as used by Ducati's 2007 world champion Casey Stoner - 'at the request of its riders', Dani Pedrosa and Nicky Hayden.

Rossi has been with Michelin ever since his 2000 premier-class debut and won the 500cc/MotoGP title five times with the French manufacturer from 2001-2005. However, chatter problems during 2006 and especially the dominance of Bridgestone in 2007 has seen the relationship rapidly cool.

Earlier this morning, Crash.net columnist Mike Nicks revealed that Dunlop will quit the premier-class due to Tech 3's expected switch to Michelin and a lack of interest from other teams - despite current Tech 3 riders Sylvain Guintoli and Makoto Tamada qualifying fifth and sixth for this a

On the eve of the season's final showdown, Rally Australia, Michelin has every reason to be pleased with the results of its 2004 FIA World Rally Championship campaign.

Extremely wet weather put Bridgestone and Michelin to the test today [Friday] during practice at the Japanese Grand Prix, however it was Bridgestone that came out top, thanks to rain master, Michael Schumacher, who topped the times in both sessions in his Ferrari F2004.

Michelin boss, Pierre Dupasquier reckons that the Chinese Grand Prix could have been won by Kimi Raikkonen, had the Finn got ahead at the start, and not been 'held up' by eventual winner, Rubens Barrichello.

World class rallying's first ever visit to Japan has ended in victory for Petter Solberg, the Subaru driver taking command on Leg 1 to cross the line ahead of Citroen-Michelin's Sebastien Loeb.

Michelin boss, Pierre Dupasquier is predicting that their partner teams will have the 'edge' this weekend at the Hungarian Grand Prix, despite the fact Ferrari and Bridgestone have won all but one of the season's races thus far.

In something of a pre-emptive move, Michelin group chairman and CEO Edouard Michelin (left on top pic) has underlined his company's opposition to any introduction of control tyres in MotoGP.

After the recent Cyprus Rally, a quick hop across the Mediterranean takes the WRC fraternity to Greece for the Acropolis Rally, second stop of the three-leg mini-marathon of 'hot and rough' sorties teams will have tackled in the space of six weeks, with the Rally of Turkey following in late-June.

Michelin have today revealed that they have been taken by 'surprise', following proposals by FIA president Max Mosley to end the tyre war, and introduce a single tyre monopoly in F1.

Michelin boss, Pierre Dupasquier has taken a subtle dig at Bridgestone, by implying that Jenson Button and BAR-Honda wouldn't be where they are currently, if they hadn't switched tyre suppliers at the end of last season.

Michelin will be up to the task of winning this weekend at the San Marino Grand Prix, that's the verdict of the French tyre companies' motorsport director, Pierre Dupasquier.

Michelin boss, Pierre Dupasquier has predicted that he expects his six partner teams to 'have tyres capable of winning' next weekend in Malaysia, the second of three Formula One races on as many continents in the opening month of the 2004 season.

Peugeot-Michelin's Gilles Panizzi clinched his first win of the 2003 season in the last stage of this weekend's Catalonia Rally today.

Michelin motorsport boss Pierre Dupasquier has promised that the French tyre manufacturer will be working flat out this winter, to ensure that they aren't thrashed again by the Bridgestone intermediates.

Michelin's F1 project manager, Pascal Vasselon, talks about the Italian Grand Prix, tyre wear at Monza, pit stops, and more... Q: Pascal, what special demands does Monza place on tyres?

The remaining three races in the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship could be thrown into confusion following news that the FIA plans to implement a new interpretation of the sporting regulations concerning F1 tyres.