If Valentino Rossi wins the inaugural Indianapolis Grand Prix tomorrow and Casey Stoner crashes for the third race in a row, the Italian will have his sixth elite world title in the bag. Storm clouds are looming over MotoGP, however, with some accusing the sport of slitting its own throat. The cause of the dissent can be traced back several years to when Rossi tested Honda's traction control system. “F***, this is no fun any more,” he said.

Now Dani Pedrosa, the lead rider for Repsol Honda, has made an astonishing mid-season switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres. He competes for the first time on his new rubber tomorrow, having suggested that Michelin had “humiliated” him. Last year, Rossi demanded that his Yamaha team switch to Bridgestone. Next season, a control tyre is to be brought in, which is designed to increase parity, but some fear it will kill off the idea that MotoGP is a forum for pioneering technology.

The issue of electronics is also festering, with many believing that they have become too dominant, resulting in less exciting races. Last season, Ducati developed a system that enabled Stoner to open the throttle, stay on board and benefit from the bike's flat-line speed. He won the 2007 title at a canter and lost the “Rolling Stoner” moniker in the process. Rossi, never one to let the opportunity of a barbed compliment go by, said: “Casey is unbelievable, the first of the traction control generation.”

It is a situation that MotoGP could scarcely have envisaged as the 2006 title reached a stunning climax. In the penultimate race in Estoril, Rossi was beaten on the line by Toni Elias. The winning margin was two thousandths of a second and the result effectively did for Rossi's crown. The top four were covered by eight tenths of a second. It was a breathtaking spectacle and not unusual for MotoGP, but in 2007 the average winning margin rose to 5.4 seconds.

Many blame the switch to 800cc engines last year. They were slower, but faster through the corners. The electronics also moved on. The struggling Marco Melandri said that he barely used traction control - “the next setting down from what I use is zero” - but the results were painful and he has become an also-ran.

There is a website petition to ban traction control and a timeline of legends hoping for change. Even Wayne Rainey, a champion paralysed by a crash at the Italian Grand Prix in 1993, supports a ban. “The 500s were too dangerous, but the bikes look too easy to ride with traction control,” he said.

Rossi said famously, while holding up his right wrist: “I have all the traction control I need here.” The manufacturers, however, are against any such ban. As Rossi seeks to wrap up another title tomorrow, the battle within the corridors of power is likely to be more closely contested.

Explore More Sport

• Athletics

• Boxing

• Cycling

• Sailing

• US Sport