Michelin : A Fond Farewell

The spirit of competition has always been at the heart of Michelin. Racing has been a part of the company history and the company has been a part of racing history. MotoGP now becomes a one-make tyre championship. Michelin is leaving MotoGP because there is no longer competition in the area of tyres.

After 36 years of MotoGP World Championship racing, Michelin would like to thank all the teams and pilots who put their trust in the Group during this period.

Prior to the last MotoGP event in Valencia this coming weekend, 42 pilots won at least one race riding on Michelin tires, giving the brand 360 victories in Premier Class racing.

In 1973, Jack Findlay became the first pilot to lead Michelin to a Premier Class Grand Prix victory during the mythic Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man. He was also the first to test Michelin's Slick technology. It was then on Michelin slick tires that Barry Sheene won his first Grand Prix 500 title in 1976.

In 1984, Randy Mamola brought Michelin's radial technology, mounted on both front and rear tires, home to victory. Randy Mamola, still racing in 2008, declares: "I am happy to have contributed to making this new radial technology a reality as all motorbike riders today can benefit from it".

Silica technology was developed and registered its first success with Mick Doohan on a rainy March 29th in 1992 at the Suzuka event in Japan.

Throughout the 1994 season, our dual-rubber technology triumphed thanks to Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz, Luca Cadalora and John Kocinski.

Marketed today under the name 2CT or Two-Compound Technology, our complete range of Michelin high performance motorbike tires benefits from it.

Starting in 2002, Michelin's chemists introduced new synthetic rubber compounds, enabling Valentino Rossi to climb to the highest step of the podium. As a matter of fact, all 2002 victories were won on tires incorporating these revolutionary synthetic components.

The first mass produced tyre to benefit from these same synthetic rubber compounds was Michelin Pilot Power launched in 2004, only 2 short years after being introduced in MotoGP!

Over the past 36 years, the Michelin brand was World Champion 26 times.

Michelin wants to express its warmest thanks to all those who contributed to this success.

As Michelin's competitive spirit is ingrained into its DNA and racing is a better way forward in the service of customers, the brand calls its motorbike supporters to forge ahead and meet up once again for new motor sports adventures in 2009 and beyond.

List of the 42 riders who have won premier-class GPs with Michelin tyres

1973     Tourist Trophy             500                  Jack Findlay                            Suzuki

1975     Hollande                       500                  Barry Sheene                         Suzuki

1976     Finlande                       500                  Pat Hennen                             Suzuki

1977     Hollande                       500                  Wil Hartog                               Suzuki

1977     Finlande                       500                  Johnny Cecotto                     Yamaha

1978     Allemagne                    500                  Virginio Ferrari                      Suzuki

1979     Finlande                       500                  Boet Van Dulmen                   Suzuki

1980     Hollande                       500                  Jack Middelburg                    Yamaha

1980     Allemagne                    500                  Marco Lucchinelli                   Suzuki

1982     Autriche                       500                  Franco Uncini                          Suzuki

1982     France                         500                  Michel Frutschi                       Sanvenero

1982     Belgique                       500                   Freddie Spencer                    Honda

1982     Hollande                       500                  Takazumi Katayama               Honda

1984     Hollande                       500                  Randy Mamola                         Honda

1985     Afrique du Sud             500                  Eddie Lawson                        Yamaha

1985     Allemagne                    500                  Christian Sarron                     Yamaha

1986     Espagne                       500                  Wayne Gardner                       Honda

1988     Japon                           500                  Kevin Schwantz                       Suzuki

1990     Japon                           500                  Wayne Rainey                          Yamaha

1990     Hongrie                        500                  Mick Doohan                            Honda

1992     Pays-Bas                     500                  Álex Crivillé                             Honda

1992     Afrique du Sud            500                  John Kocinski                        Yamaha

1993     Allemagne                    500                  Daryl Beattie                            Honda

1993     Grand Prix FIM             500                  Alex Barros                             Suzuki

1995     Espagne                       500                  Alberto Puig                           Honda

1996     Malaisie                        500                  Luca Cadalora                         Honda

1996     Japon                           500                  Norick Abe                              Yamaha

1996     Catalogne                     500                  Carlos Checa                           Honda

1996     Australie                       500                  Loris Capirossi                      Yamaha

1997     Indonésie                      500                  Taddy Okada                           Honda

1998     Japon                           500                  Max Biaggi                               Honda

1999     Malaisie                        500                  Kenny Roberts Jr                   Suzuki

1999     Valence                        500                  Régis Laconi                          Yamaha

2000     Afrique du Sud             500                  Garry McCoy                          Yamaha

2000     Grande Bretagne          500                  Valentino Rossi                     Honda

2001     Valence                        500                   Sete Gibernau                       Suzuki

2002     Afrique du Sud  Moto GP - 990cc         Torhu Ukawa                         Honda

2005     USA                 Moto GP - 990cc          Nicky Hayden                          Honda

2005     Turquie             Moto GP - 990cc          Marco Melandri                     Honda

2006     Chine                Moto GP - 990              Dani Pedrosa                          Honda

2006     Portugal            Moto GP - 990              Toni Elías                                Honda

2008     Portugal            Moto GP - 800              Jorge Lorenzo                      Yamaha

October 2008