I'd be disappointed.

The news is out the Rossi will be racing on Bridgestone next year.

http://moto.gpupdate.net/en/news/2007/11/04/rossi-to-ride-on-bridgestone-tyres-in-2008/

Wouldnt you be disaponted if you were Michelin?
You supply Rossi with the best tyres for years. He wins multiple world championships on them. You fly in special tyres for him overnight after assessing the conditions.
You have one bad year and he dumps you for the competition.
Where's his faith in Michelin? Its not like its been a disaster and a Michelin rider hasnt even won a race. They came second and third in the championship.

What happens next year if it turns out Michelin lifts their game and are better then Bridgestone. Is he going to want to change back again?

The only good thing about Rossi changing to Bridgestone is that when Stoner wins again, it cant be denied Stoner won fare and square. Although will then Rossi demand to be put on Ducatti?

I think its unfortunate Michelin will be copping alot of blame when Yamaha didnt have the best equipment and even Rossi himself made a few crucial mistakes through the year. If Michelin didnt have an existing contract though for Rossi to be on their tyres for next year, then its really fair game for Rossi and his team to seek anything they feel will give them the competitive advantage.

I suspect that being on different tyres to Lorenzo (and all the other Yamaha guys) is part of Rossi's reasoning. Bridgestone did have the better tyres in 2007 - their teams finished higher than you'd expect whereas the Michelin guys generally finished worse than you'd expect. I think they probably did in 2006 as well. Still, it's far from certain that they'll be better for 2008. Michelin still have the Repsol team which has given them such success over the years. It's a gamble for Rossi; he could end up handing Pedrosa (the likely top Michelin runner) a relatively easy first title.

I think it's a mighty big gamble by Rossi. Michelin won't take their slaughtering in 2007 sitting down and will come back with something in 2008...

Theyre limited though in their development with how many teams are left.

Most importantly, who will steer them in the right direction? It has been Rossi they've been listening to over the last 5-6 years, who will take his vacancy?

Colin Edwards has been doing a lot of Michelin's development over the years. Possibly one of the reasons he still has a ride in MotoGP.

Well, this is an interesting read, Jeremy Burgess thinks Michelin are a bit in trouble losing VR, cause like I asked in an earlier post :innocent:, who is going to take his place???

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2007/november/nov26-30/nov2607motogpvalentinorossibridgestoneswitchmajorlossmichelin/

“It takes a serious string out of the bow of Michelin. From what I’ve seen this year it’s Valentino who has done most of the winning with Michelin.

“It will be a win for one and a major loss for another. They have lost one of their aces for development and then you are down to Dani Pedrosa who uses tyres different to the others.

“Then you are down to Nicky Hayden who is a good rider but it leaves you a little bit thin on the ground to turn it around really quickly.