October 06, 2008
 
MICHELIN WILL NOT BID FOR THE CONTRACT TO BE SINGLE-SOURCE SUPPLIER OF TIRES FOR MOTOGP
 

 MICHELIN WILL NOT BID FOR THE CONTRACT TO BE SINGLE-SOURCE SUPPLIER OF TIRES FOR MOTOGP

(Paris - October 4, 2008) Michelin has decided not to submit a bid to the
governing body of the MotoGP World Championship. At the same time, Michelin
regrets not being able to contribute to the organizers' important discussions to
improve rider safety and reduce costs.

The spirit of competition has always been central to Michelin. Motor sports at the
highest level are useful because competition among several tire manufacturers is a
valuable stimulus for developing increasingly high-performance tires that will one
day equip customer vehicles. Tires play a key role in a vehicle's performance and
can make a considerable difference. This competition among manufacturers helps
to make racing exciting.

The radial tire, which was invented by Michelin, has been improved through racing,
and the improvements have since been passed on to consumers. Michelin's dual
compound technology for motorcycle tires was first tested in MotoGP racing and is
today integrated into premium products for the brand's customers. The MotoGP
Championship organizers have decided to use a single tire supplier for the coming
seasons, which effectively eliminates the competitive environment that has led to
so much progress.

The R&D resources allocated for MotoGP racing will be redeployed to support
innovation, which is at the heart of Michelin's customer-focused strategy.



 
 
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