Michelin to Withdraw from MotoGP at the End of 2026
MotoGP has announced that Pirelli will become the official tire supplier starting from 2027. In response, Michelin explained that the decisive factor in not renewing its contract with Dorna Sports was the latter’s desire to unify all categories under a single tire supplier.
As announced this Thursday, Pirelli will be the official tire supplier for MotoGP from 2027 to 2031. Pirelli, already supplying tires for Moto2 and Moto3, will also take over MotoE from Michelin. Michelin will withdraw from MotoGP upon the expiration of its current contract at the end of 2026. Reports suggest Michelin had already begun developing new compounds for MotoGP’s new era, which will feature 850cc engines from 2027.
Piero Taramasso, Head of Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport, stated:
“We negotiated with Dorna Sports for several months, but they ultimately decided to unify all World Championship categories (MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, MotoE, and junior categories like the Rookies Cup and Talent Cup) under a single supplier. They judged that having one supplier was preferable to multiple ones. However, Michelin had no intention of involving itself in categories outside of MotoGP and MotoE.”
“MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, featuring machines exceeding speeds of 300 km/h and top riders. The experience and data we gain here greatly contribute to developing commercial tires. In MotoE, we have been advancing research into sustainable materials, making it an ideal environment for developing tires for electric motorcycles. These two categories were perfectly aligned with Michelin Group’s strategy.”
“Focusing on these two championships allows us to provide higher-quality services to riders and teams. Spreading our resources thin could risk lowering the quality of both service and tires, which is another reason we decided to withdraw.”
Currently, Pirelli also supplies tires to the Superbike World Championship (WSBK) under a contract running until the end of 2026. Its contract with F1 is expected to continue through 2027.
(Photo courtesy of Michelin)