The hard Michelin tyre finally proved its worth on Motegi’s freshly resurfaced circuit, a shock that sent teams scrambling to adjust strategy after a initially avoided allocation.
Missed opportunity in practice
Before the race, Michelin supplied three dry compounds: soft, medium and hard. The hard version carried a stiffer carcass, but its rubber surface matched the soft tyre’s composition.
Jack Miller answered questions at the press‑day briefing, stating emphatically: “That hard compound is not an option.” His verdict echoed across the paddocks, as teams rejected the hard tyre during Friday and Saturday.
Sprint chaos forces change
The sprint saw Jorge Martín and Pecco Bagnaia lose the soft rear tyres to a central section tear, prompting a crisis meeting that overhauled the event’s plan.
Michelin banned the soft tyre use, extended the warm‑up from ten to twenty minutes, and gave riders a chance to test the hard compound – an option none had previously accepted.
Warm‑up reveals truth
Contrary to expectations, the hard tyre delivered outstanding grip on Motegi’s abrasive surface. The entire grid moved to a medium front and hard rear set for the feature race.
Marc Marquez crossed the line 37 seconds faster than Bagnaia’s best run last year, underscoring the track improvement and tyre performance. Enea Bastianini also set four consecutive fastest laps at the race’s end.
Post‑race reflections
Bagnaia, finishing eighth, blamed the collective decision to avoid the hard tyre: “We should have tried every option. Michelin’s reserve was dropped, but the new asphalt and the compound’s stiffness created a clean package.”
Luca Marini said, “We know how this tyre behaves from other circuits; we dismissed it, yet it performed brilliantly in the warm‑up.” Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s MotoGP boss, concurred, citing time constraints as the root problem.
Future lessons
With five manufacturers and 22 riders reaching the same conclusion – that the hard tyre proved vital – teams must rethink tyre selection protocols for upcoming races.
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