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Bridgestone will be the sole tyre supplier in MotoGP next season after being awarded a three-year contract.

The Japanese firm settled the deal after French rivals Michelin decided not to bid for the contract.

Motorcycling's governing body, the FIM, has adopted a single-tyre rule to its Grand Prix regulations in a bid to make competition more even.

Italy's Valentino Rossi regained the MotoGP world title this season after switching to Bridgestone from Michelin.

And Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who also moved to Bridgestone from Michelin, became the first rider to earn a pole position using two different tyre manufacturers in a season when he finished first in qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday.

"It is fantastic to be on pole especially since this is my first pole with Bridgestone tyres," Pedrosa said.

But Rossi's Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo is still using Michelin tyres this season, as is Britain's James Toseland.

(Source: BBC Sport)