MotoGP's official tire supplier Bridgestone announced on Thursday that "it would withdraw from the sport at the end of the 2015 season," according to REUTERS. The Japanese company, which first entered the championship dominated by bike makers Honda and Yamaha in '02, said in a statement that "it had achieved its objectives of boosting technical ability and enhancing the brand globally." The Tokyo-based company said that "it would continue investing in MotoGP tyre development over the next two seasons" (REUTERS, 5/1). AUTOSPORT reported Bridgestone has been the championship's sole supplier since '09, when its last remaining rival, Michelin, "withdrew and MotoGP switched to control tyre rules." Bridgestone Global GM Kyota Futami said that the company "had achieved all its MotoGP objectives." Futami: "Yet, having achieved everything we set out to do when we entered the championship over 10 years ago, including sharing in many MotoGP world championships, our company believes it is the right time to implement an exit strategy from the series" (AUTOSPORT, 5/1). Dorna has called a tender through May 22 for tire manufacturers insterested in becoming the official tire supplier of MotoGP (Dorna).
