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Pirelli Prepares for MotoGP Testing in Spain
Italian tire manufacturer Pirelli is gearing up to test new tire compounds for MotoGP during an upcoming event in Spain, sources at Motorsport.com indicate. This testing phase will involve five manufacturers as they trial the innovative compounds Pirelli is developing in anticipation of their official MotoGP debut in 2027.
As the exclusive tire supplier for MotoGP starting in 2027, Pirelli will fill the gap left by Michelin, which had expressed intentions to remain involved past 2026. However, MotoGP has decided to streamline tire supplies across all three world championship categories, including the electric MotoE series.
Plans are in place for a test session at the Aragon circuit in Spain to reveal the MotoGP prototypes. While no specific date has been set, the test is expected to occur during the summer and will be limited to test riders from five participating manufacturers: Honda, Aprilia, Yamaha, KTM, and Ducati.
The Aragon circuit test will follow the Aragon Grand Prix on June 8 and a scheduled MotoGP test day on June 9. Throughout this event, Pirelli aims to collect extensive data regarding their compounds to optimize their approach ahead of the MotoGP entry.
After this initial round of tests, further sessions are planned for 2026, where Pirelli will actively seek feedback from teams and riders to refine their tire offerings.
However, the planned test sessions have sparked some concerns within the MotoGP community. Pirelli is expected to cover all expenses related to the 2025 development tests, but teams may need to absorb costs associated with the 2026 testing phases, an expense they may not have anticipated in their budgets.
Despite some pushback, Pirelli appears poised for a significant role in global motorsport. The Italian company’s involvement in MotoGP will complement its existing partnerships with Formula 1 and the World Superbike championships.
Pirelli has also been supplying tires to Moto2 and Moto3 since the beginning of the 2024 season.
Source
www.motorsport.com