Just as the issues regarding tyre pressures have regained their saliency in pre-season testing and after the 2025 Thailand Grand Prix, the announcement of MotoGP’s exclusive tyre supplier in Michelin has still come as a shock to many fans.
As the premier class’ supplier since 2016, the Clermont-Ferrand manufacturer has confirmed its exit after the 2026 season, coincidentally also the final season before MotoGP’s shift to its new regulations.
The decision primarily stems from a strategic difference between Dorna Sports, now owned by Liberty Media, and the French tyre manufacturer in regards to a move to unify suppliers across all categories of motorcycle racing.
Michelin’s focus on its innovation and pioneering efforts in the pinnacle of road racing falls against Dorna’s vision. Its reluctance to stretch its resources across MotoGP’s junior categories has inevitably opened the doors for Pirelli to swoop in as a supplier for the premier class post-2026, unifying the supplier across all classes, including the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup and MotoE.
Michelin’s legacy in MotoGP
Returning as MotoGP’s sole tyre supplier in 2016 after a seven-year hiatus, Michelin has used the premier class as a testing ground for advanced technologies which are to be implemented in their consumer rubber lineup.
Collaborations with top manufacturers in MotoGP further refined Michelin’s approach to grip, durability, and performance, key factors in an ultra-competitive sport where fractions of a second can determine not only a race, but also championships. The partnership isn’t without its criticisms.
The tyre manufacturer was held accountable for Marc Marquez’s highside at the 2022 Indonesian Grand Prix by Honda. Yet, similarly , Michelin found themselves in hot waters again earlier this year following reigning world champion Jorge Martin’s crash at pre-season testing.
Dorna’s decision to unify tyre supply across all MotoGP-related categories is inevitably aimed at streamlining technical regulations and improving rider development. Despite Michelin’s interest in deepening its involvement in MotoGP, as the manufacturer believed it could not gather similar information in any other racing series, it also remained steadfast in their disinterest to expand beyond the premier class.
Pirelli’s selection as the unified tyre supplier from 2027 only adds on to its well-established presence in global motorsport. Already the sole provider for Moto2, Moto3, World Superbike (WSBK), and Formula 1, the Italian tyre counterpart then found itself in the perfect spot.
The switch to Pirelli coincides with MotoGP’s broader regulatory overhaul in 2027, which will introduce smaller 850cc engines and ban ride-height devices, necessitating tyre adaptations to accommodate reduced mechanical grip and altered aerodynamics.
