Francesco Bagnaia says it’s “a disgrace” Michelin received’t roll out its new entrance tyre in 2026, having been one of many riders impressed by the design.
The brand new era tyre was Michelin’s response to the additional hundreds generated by aerodynamics and experience peak units, in addition to providing higher warmth resistance behind different bikes.
Initially deliberate to be used this season, it was postponed till 2026 for additional testing.
Throughout that point, Michelin misplaced the unique MotoGP tyre provide contract to Pirelli for 2027 however saved the door open on introducing the brand new tyre till closing suggestions ultimately month’s Aragon check.
“We took the choice principally all collectively. For one season, we predict it was not a good suggestion to introduce the brand new entrance,” stated Michelin’s MotoGP boss Piero Taramasso.
“It’s a pity as a result of everyone was feeling a superb potential on this tyre. However anyway, on the finish of subsequent season, we are going to transfer to different championships and for certain, we are going to use this expertise.
“However the most effective for us, the championship, for everyone is to simply end with the present mannequin of entrance tyre… It is simply not the appropriate timing, not the appropriate second.”
Bagnaia understood the logic.
“I believe it’s a regular resolution,” he stated. “They’ll transfer away from MotoGP, so they are going to begin to develop for Superbike.”
Nonetheless, “It’s a disgrace as a result of the tyre I attempted final 12 months in Misano was tremendous good.”
Bagnaia wasn’t alone in praising the brand new design. World champion Jorge Martin – at the moment sidelined by means of harm – was one other to immediately really feel the advantages in testing final 12 months.
“When Pecco and Jorge Martin tried it in Misano, they have been more than happy, very quick with that tyre immediately,” confirmed Taramasso.
Whereas the revised entrance tyre was unlikely to disrupt Ducati’s dominance, it might have helped enhance the racing by higher dealing with the warmth and strain build-up that happens when following carefully behind different bikes.
“If we might have a tyre that isn’t struggling that a lot with tyre strain or temperature it will be a lot better as a result of we will have some extra overtakes and combat extra carefully all of the race,” stated Bagnaia, who has struggled this season when driving in site visitors on the GP25.
“The [new front] we tried in Misano final 12 months was in that path. It’s true that it was a bit harder to experience the bike [heavy during direction changes], but it surely was extra secure, and I used to be having lots of feeling with the entrance. It was good.
“Temperature and strain are nonetheless the principle issues that we have to adapt to in the course of the race, so it may very well be higher to have extra stability in that.”
Taramasso agreed: “The brand new tyre was higher for that. It was greater however 1 kg lighter, from 6.5kg to five.5kg. So the share weight discount may be very excessive. It was a superb step.
“However once more, we are going to use this expertise, this innovation, for the longer term [in other championships].
“The nice level is that we developed this tyre with excessive machines and excessive circumstances with the quickest riders on the earth. So, we all know we’ve got gathered very invaluable knowledge.”
In accordance with Taramasso, most riders favored the brand new tyre’s potential, even when some hadn’t but dialled in an ideal setup.
“A majority favored it. They discovered the appropriate setup for the bike, the appropriate feeling,” he stated. “The others, it’s not that they didn’t prefer it. They stated ‘I really feel the potential. I really feel it’s higher if you brake. I really feel the soundness is best,’ however they didn’t discover the correct set-up.”
However the reluctance to commit got here largely from the groups, not the riders.
“It’s a totally new idea of tyre and you need to change rather a lot on the bike. Some they discovered it immediately, some others not,” Taramasso defined.
“Usually, groups like stability. In case you don’t change, that is what they like.
“As a result of in the event that they stick with the present tyres, they know the way they work, they know the way they react. Possibly it’s not good, however they know the way it will reply. So, they’re ready.
“Usually, what groups ask you for isn’t any change.”
Michelin will shift its focus to the World Superbike Championship, the place it is going to turn into unique tyre provider from 2027.
