Unlike MotoGP (this season, at least), World Superbike competition has been white-hot, with nine riders reaching the podium on five different makes-and all on Pirelli slicks. | | |
Many motor-racing series, ranging from Formula 1 to World Superbike to NASCAR, have gone to "spec" (as in specified) tires, eliminating all but one supplier. MotoGP, the highest level of motorcycle racing, has always been open to any tire manufacturer, but is now considering going the spec-tire route as well. What's changed to make this more attractive?
In MotoGP, the motorcycle manufacturers have essentially settled on a one-year cycle of development that sees new or extensively revised designs introduced at the beginning of each season. Modifications are made during the season as necessary, but radical redesigns are rare. In contrast, the development cycle for racing tires is monthly, sometimes weekly and possibly even daily. A MotoGP tire supplier must be able to supply its contracted teams with tires of different sizes, constructions, profiles, rubber compounds, even multiple compounds on a single tire. A given team-or even a given rider-may have a specific requirement for tires, or may be experiencing a problem that can only be solved with a unique tire. Add to this the possibility of a wet race, requiring full wet or intermediate tires-each in more than one construction and/or compound-and the tire supplier's task seems overwhelming.
If there are multiple tire suppliers in a series, each supplier must at the very least match the others, which means not only that this complex inventory must be provided, but that new tires must be constantly designed, built, tested and added to the inventory as less successful tires are phased out. This competition has become a race within a race, and is often called a "tire war." It can be ruinously expensive for tire companies, teams and even for the series itself. Eliminating the tire war certainly slows the rate of development, but controls costs and often improves competition.
In MotoGP, Michelin and Bridgestone-and, at a lower level, Dunlop-compete in such a war. In previous years Michelin dominated, with Bridgestone making steady progress. Michelin, with factories in Europe, could at times supply updated tires overnight at the European tracks, while Bridgestone, which makes its tires in Japan, could not respond as quickly. To level the playing field and control costs, series organizers Dorna decided to limit the number of tires a team could use during a race weekend, and make the teams choose those tires before the weekend begins. Fewer tires reduce costs, and the fixing of the choice removes Michelin's advantage of supplying tires overnight. Logical and well thought-out. But successful? No.
What happened? Bridgestone had become accustomed to accurately predicting its race-weekend needs, Michelin to the luxury of last-minute changes. Perhaps predictably, Bridgestone did a better job with the new rules. Michelin runners often ended up with a few good tires that had to last all weekend and a stack of tires they couldn't use. Michelin's number-one rider, Valentino Rossi, complained and it's easy to see why: Through no fault of his own, he had to race on tires chosen before the weekend's conditions were even known. Michelin, and the Michelin teams, seemed unable to make good guesses. Bridgestone's guesses have been right on, and their top rider, Casey Stoner, has been leading processional, boring races with none of the place-swapping at the front that has in recent years made MotoGP the world's most exciting motorsport.
The last thing the MotoGP organizers and promoters want is for the series to become two-wheeled Formula 1, where passing is rare. People don't watch races to see which tire wins-they watch to see the bikes and riders. If a tire war hurts race attendance and TV viewing numbers, the series can't afford it. At mid-season, Dorna's CEO admitted that the 2007 tire rules were a mistake, but didn't offer a solution. Back to the 2006 rules? Not likely. Go the spec-tire route? Given the experience of the many series that have made the switch, don't rule it out.
"A tire war can be ruinously expensive for tire companies, teams and even for the series itself."