alentino Rossi's 2005 MotoGP World Championship was just one part of a remarkable season for Michelin, in which the tire maker swept every major world championship in motorsports. In addition to Rossi's fifth straight title, Spaniard Fernando Alonso won the Formula 1 World Championship in a Michelin-shod Renault, while in the World Rally Championship, Sebastien Loeb earned the laurels for Citro‘n and Michelin.
     But the tire maker's unprecedented run of success didn't stop there. Victories in such diverse events as the Dakar Rally, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Suzuka 8 Hours were supplemented by world championships in supermoto, indoor and outdoor trials, and GP motocross.
     In the U.S., Michelin captured an off-road triple crown, with Juha Salminen's Grand National Cross-Country Championship, Mike Lafferty's seventh National Enduro Championship, and Chuck Woodford's first National Hare Scrambles title. And if that weren't enough, Jean-Sebastien Roy scooped his fifth consecutive Canadian National Championship in the MX1 category, while his Blackfoot Honda/Michelin teammate Dusty Klatt grabbed the MX2 West crown. Not to mention the Canadian National Supermoto Championship that fell to Ben Carlson riding a Michelin-equipped KTM.
     Such widespread success is no accident, according to Michelin Chairman and CEO Edouard Michelin. "We're absolutely thrilled to have won so many prestigious titles in 2005," Michelin said, "but we're also delighted to have demonstrated throughout the season, regardless of the event, that Michelin tires were instrumental in boosting user performance by giving them a greater chance of winning."
     "The competitive advantage of Michelin technology isn't restricted to competition, but is featured across our entire range of tires. Racing is a fantastic testing and learning ground that delivers long-term benefits to all our customers."
     In fact, the relationship between Michelin racing tires and its high-performance tires for consumers is much closer than you might think. For example, the rubber mix of the Pilot Power sport tire incorporates synthetic elastomers that were originally developed for MotoGP. The silica-charged rubber compounds found in the Pilot Road and Anakee sport touring tires are based on technology used in Michelin rain tires for GP racing. And the Michelin off-road and motocross tires that champions like Salminen, Lafferty and Roy use are identical to those you'll find at any Michelin dealer.
     Pierre Dupasquier, the longtime director of Michelin motorsports activities who retired in 2005 after more than 30 years of service, attributes the company's success to a corporate culture focused on constant improvement.
     "We've been successful in motorcycles because we learned how to listen to the riders," Dupasquier said. "The only thing in our mind was being curious, working out how we were right, how we were wrong and how we could improve for the next race. When we say we'll do something, we do it and we do everything to make sure all our partners and riders have full confidence in us. The product is always the focus of what we do."
     The importance of tires in the overall performance of a motorcycle can't be overstated. Riders like Rossi understand full well how critical a role tires play in their success. "I have a very special relationship with Michelin," said the world champion. "It is important because in racing, you may have an advantage of 10 km/h or five horsepower, but if your competitors have better tires, you have no chance!"

World Championships: MotoGP: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) Supermoto S2: Boris Chambon (KTM) Motocross MX2: Antonio Cairoli (Yamaha) Outdoor Trials: Adam Raga (Gas Gas) Indoor Trials: Adam Raga (Gas Gas) National Championships: Enduro: Mike Lafferty (KTM) GNCC: Juha Salminen (KTM) Hare Scrambles: Chuck Woodford (Kawasaki) Canadian MX1: Jean-Sebastien Roy (Honda) Canadian MX2 West: Dusty Klatt (Honda) Canadian Supermoto: Ben Carlson (KTM)