Honda’s March 2 tribute to Joan Mir was shadowed by a stewards’ decision that erased his fourth‑cycle podium from the calendar.
Mir’s Controversial Second Place
The 2024 Catalan Grand Prix saw Mir finish on the yellow‑banded top two, a result that later vanished from the race table as a tyre‑pressure breach was announced more than an hour after the finale.
Mir’s single podium for Honda actually amounts to two: Japan and Malaysia last year, with the Catalan finish unrecorded after the penalty. The rider now stands listed as 13th in the official results.
Rule Details and Recent History
MotoGP’s tyre‑pressure regulation mandates a minimum of 1.80 bar on the front and 1.68 bar on the rear for 60 % of traditional race laps (30 % in sprint events). Violations trigger 16‑second penalties for races and 8 seconds for sprints.
Questions Loom Over the 2027 Supplier Switch
With Pirelli slated to replace Michelin in 2027, rumours spread that the tyre‑pressure rule would be dropped. Pirelli’s senior racing director, Giorgio Barbier, denied the claim, insisting the regulation would remain until sufficient data validate its safety premise.
Barbier emphasizes respect for Michelin’s 11‑year partnership with Dorna and suggests that lower pressures could pose “dangerous” overheating, especially for front tyres affected by aerodynamics, slipstreaming, and carbon‑disc influences.
Barbier on Pirelli’s Approach
Unlike Michelin’s tyres, Pirelli’s construction offers a broader operating pressure window. “We don’t believe a Pirelli tyre behaves better at 1.4 bar than at 2.0 bar,” Barbier explains, noting the material stability across pressure variations.
His caution extends to the possibility that, should Pirelli’s tyres lose efficiency below the set threshold, the rule might need adjustment or removal—yet for now it remains enforced.
Pirelli’s Six‑Month Perspective
Pirelli acknowledges the controversy from 2023 onward, flagging the ongoing “negative image” of post‑race penalties. Keeping the regulation on the books for now allows for data collection and risk assessment without compromising safety.
Barbier highlights that Pirelli’s tyres have a less dramatic response to pressure changes compared to Michelin. “The behaviour of the tyre does not shift significantly between pressures,” he says, citing a wider safety margin.
What This Means for Teams and Fans
The rule’s persistence continues to strain relationships with teams, riders, and enthusiastic audiences. Honda’s own post, noting only two podiums for Mir, compounds the disappointment of a silicon‑based manufacturer seemingly unable to convert wins into lasting podium results.
With only a single season left before the 2027 supplier transition, the conversation about this rule may influence future regulatory decisions and the design of MotoGP tyre systems.
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