Makoto Tamada made history in Rio de Janeiro this year, capturing Bridgestone’s first-ever MotoGP win.

here is an adage that “Racing Improves the Breed,” and for Bridgestone that is certainly true. When it comes to motorsports, what’s learned on the track filters right down to the street—the “breed” gets improved. With all that Bridgestone has learned on the tracks in 2004, with their phenomenal success in MotoGP, Supercross, motocross and cross country, the future looks brighter than ever for this breed of Bridgestone street and dirt tires.
     Start with Bridgestone’s first ever MotoGP first-place finish in Rio de Janeiro. Bridgestone riders took the pole position, set a new lap record for the Nelson Piquet Course and topped off the day with Bridgestone’s maiden MotoGP victory.
     The excitement in Rio started when Suzuki star Kenny Roberts Jr. stunned the competition with a blindingly fast qualifying lap, taking his Bridgestones to the pole position ahead of four Honda riders. Then Makoto Tamada dominated the free practice session on Bridgestone tires, building hope for a strong race finish. He did not disappoint. Tamada relentlessly pushed his Camel Honda, and by lap seven had set a new track record in a pitched battle with Valentino Rossi. Four laps from the checkered flag, Tamada swept past Honda teammate Max Biaggi and powered on to extend his lead to more than two seconds by the time he crossed the finish line to capture Bridgestone’s first-ever MotoGP win.
     As the exclusive tire supplier and technological partner to all four championship riders in the 2004 THQ World Supercross GP/THQ AMA Supercross series, Bridgestone supplies tires to the very best in the business—riders like Chad Reed, Heath Voss, Ivan Tedesco and James Stewart, all of whom had stellar years.
     In the hotly contested 250 class, Bridgestone’s dominance was unequaled. Every single victory of the season was snared by a Bridgestone-equipped rider. In all 16 events, only one podium finish was taken by a rider who was not on Bridgestone tires. Things were not much different in the 125 classes. After the dust setled, James “Bubba” Stewart took the Eastern Regional Supercross Championship and Ivan Tedesco clinched the 125 Western Region title. In the 125 East/West Shootout, Stewart took the lead at lap 6 and never looked back to clinch the shootout honors. And Stewart continues to barrel through the 125-class motocross season with win after win. Jason Raines, last year’s winner of the AMA National Hare Scramble Series is on his way to a repeat this year with his recent win at Dutch Sport Park in Michigan. Bridgestone has been with them the whole way.
     “This year is a perfect showcase of Bridgestone’s superior technology,” said Bob Graham, motorcycle and kart manager, Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC. “It’s also a tribute to the working relationship we have with the finest, hardest-working factory race teams in this sport. What we learn with every win, with every time a racer pushes the envelope, becomes inspiration for the next generation of Bridgestone tires available for the market.”
     So be on the lookout for what’s new out of the gate by Bridgestone this year. The old adage is truer now than ever—Racing Improves the Breed—and the bets are on that Bridgestone will ride out 2005 with equal success!

James “Bubba” Stewart rode Bridgestones to the Eastern Regional Supercross Championship podium.