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Michelin Announces Departure from MotoGP as Pirelli Takes Over

Michelin has revealed its decision to exit the MotoGP championship, following Dorna’s push for a singular tyre supplier across all racing series. This shift has led to Pirelli being named as the new tyre manufacturer for MotoGP starting from 2027 through 2031. Pirelli already provides tyres for Moto2 and Moto3 and will also take over the responsibilities in MotoE.

The transition marks the end of Michelin’s involvement in MotoGP as their current contract is set to conclude, despite the French company actively developing new tyre compounds for the upcoming technical era, which will feature an 850cc engine formula.

Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s manager for two-wheel competition, discussed the negotiations with Dorna, which had been ongoing for several months. He noted that Dorna’s decision to unify suppliers across all world championship categories—including MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, and MotoE—was a significant factor in Michelin’s departure. “For strategic reasons, they decided that having one supplier was better than two, and we were not interested in doing other categories outside of MotoGP and MotoE,” he stated.

According to Taramasso, Michelin was eager to continue its involvement in MotoGP, as the premier motorcycle racing series is unmatched in terms of technological advancement and data collection opportunities. “MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorbike racing, with the best riders in the world and bikes capable of surpassing 300km/h, which have enormous power,” he explained. “This category allows you to gain experience and acquire a lot of data, which is invaluable for the development of commercial tyres. What you do in MotoGP, you can’t do in any other category.”

In contrast, Taramasso highlighted that MotoE serves as a platform for Michelin to focus on sustainable materials, aligning with the company’s commitment to environmental initiatives. “Since we entered MotoE, we have managed to integrate more than 50% sustainable materials into the tyres,” he remarked. “Those two championships were perfectly in line with the Michelin group’s strategy.”

Additionally, Taramasso expressed concerns about the potential decline in quality if the company were to supply tyres for multiple championships simultaneously. “Taking the rest for us didn’t make sense, and that’s why we didn’t want to continue. Concentrating on just two championships meant that we could offer a better service to the drivers and teams. If you scatter your resources, you risk reducing the quality of service and tyres, which is another reason for our decision to leave,” he added.

Pirelli is currently contracted to supply tyres for the World Superbike championship until the end of 2026, along with its ongoing partnership with Formula 1, which is expected to last at least until 2027.

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