Tech 3 Yamaha boss not worried by new tyre ruling

James Toseland’s Tech 3 Yamaha boss Herve Poncharal is not concerned that the independent teams might find it harder to compete in MotoGP after the implementation of a single tyre rule for 2009.

It is feared the switch to a single tyre rule will lessen the chances of a non-factory rider being able to make an impact next season against the faster developing factory machines.

But Poncharal, who had been willing to keep Toseland and American team-mate Colin Edwards on Michelin tyres next season, said: “We can’t say that the independent teams will suffer because with competition we have been suffering.

“With competition the best is going to the best. That has always been the case. It is a never ending debate because when there was competition you had a lot of teams at some stage that were suffering because they didn’t get the same support as the factory teams.

“And though there was competition, still there are some factory teams that complain they don’t get the same support as other factory teams. This will always happen and with a mono tyre we will be sure that everybody is going to have equal treatment.”

Poncharal said one of his only concerns was who would be chosen to develop the tyre for ’09, with the obvious favourite being newly crowned world champion Valentino Rossi. The Italian though prefers harder tyres compared to the majority of his rivals, and Poncharal added:

“The big question mark is who is going to develop the tyres? If it is one rider with one machine doing this it is going to suit him better than some other riders on other bikes. All the riders have been spoilt because of competition because they all had their own tyres and this will be something new.

“But a world championship is based on rules, this is a new rule and the excitement is to see how everybody can cope and to see who is going to be better than somebody else.”