Bridgestone - That's Confidence

[elephino]

Buoyed by its success in other areas of
competition, the Bridgestone motorcycle racing program will take on what
many consider to be the pinnacle and ultimate challenge of the sport - World
Grand Prix 500cc racing.

Bob Graham, Manager of Bridgestone/Firestone Motorcycle and Kart programs,
said the entry to the World Grand Prix 500cc arena "sends a powerful message
about the technological capabilities of Bridgestone tires."

"We've been involved with World Grand Prix 125cc motorcycle racing since
1991, and have earned an excellent reputation in that competition," Graham
said. "By moving up to the more powerful 500cc class, we're going to
demonstrate to more people around the world just how serious we are about
winning in the top forms of racing. This move to compete in the top forms of
motorcycle racing complements our efforts in the open-wheel automobile
motorsports arena, where drivers on Bridgestone and Firestone tires have
earned top honors."

In 2000, Bridgestone- and Firestone-equipped drivers made a clean sweep of
the world's top open-wheel racing competitions. The FIA Formula One World
driver's championship was earned by Michael Schumacher on Bridgestone
Potenza tires, while the Championship Auto Racing Teams title was won by Gil
de Ferran on Firestone tires, as was the driver's championship in the Indy
Racing League (earned by Buddy Lazier). Another Bridgestone/Firestone
success in 2000 was the performance of its Dayton brand tires in the Dayton
Indy Lights championship.

Successes in the two-wheel world were highlighted by Jeremy McGrath winning
his seventh AMA 250 Supercross title, riding a Bridgestone-shod Yamaha,
while rising star Ricky Carmichael captured the AMA 250 National Motorcross
series title. Bridgestone also took top honors in the FIA Formula Super A
Karting Championship in Portugal with Italian rider Davide Fore.

"The first of 11 planned testing sessions for the tires in the 500cc
competition is set for Thursday of this week (Jan. 18) at Spain's Jerez
circuit," Graham said. "Kanemoto Racing is assisting in our testing efforts,
using NSR500 machines manufactured by Honda Racing. Our riders for this
testing include Nobuatsu Aoki and Shinichi Ito. Aoki has been in 500cc
competition since 1997, after four seasons in 250cc racing. Ito competed in
WGP 500cc racing from 1993 to 1996, and won the Japan Super Bike Series in
1998."

Graham said the more powerful 500cc machines place greater performance
demands on tires than the 125cc motorcycles, affecting the testing process.

"Fortunately we're not totally unfamiliar with 500cc machines," he said.
"While we haven't competed in WGP 500cc racing, Bridgestone tires have been
used in the 500cc All Japan Road Race Championship in the 1980s and 1990s.
This experience, coupled with our research in developing tires for the 125cc
competition, puts us ahead of the learning curve."

Graham said the status of the testing and development work will determine
the date when actual racing will begin. Thirty-eight people have been
assigned to the project, headed by Akira Inoue, vice president of tire
development at Bridgestone's Tokyo Technical Center.

"Just as in Formula One, CART, IRL and other series, we make sure our tires
are ready before we jump into the fray of competition," he said. "We don't
go racing as a hobby; we race to win. When we're confident our tires are
ready for the competition, we'll start racing." Nashville-based
Bridgestone/Firestone Inc. is the largest subsidiary of Bridgestone
Corporation, the world's largest tire and rubber company.
Bridgestone/Firestone develops, manufactures and markets Bridgestone,
Firestone, Dayton and associate and private brand tires. The company also
produces Firestone air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and
industrial fibers and textiles.

[dododo]

Bridgestone/Firestone aye? Isn't that the company with that little Ford problem? Blowing tires and all that?

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I know, I know. The bike tires are all Bridgestone........I use 'm too.

[ernesto emmi]

I didn't reand any official announcement from Bridgestone, but they are at work! Look at the first pictures of Kanemoto's Honda sponsored by Bridgestone at Jerez in http://www.gpone.com

Ernest