Michelin has withdrawn its soft rear tire from the Japanese Grand Prix allocation at Motegi after severe degradation issues during the Saturday sprint race left riders with shredded and blistering rubber. “I don’t even know how I finished; I thought I wasn’t going to be able to finish the race,” Jorge Martín said, as reported by espanol.motorsport.com.
Tire Destruction Force Michelin Hand in Motegi
The decision to pull the soft compound comes after a sprint race where high track temperatures and an abrasive new asphalt surface pushed rear tires past their limits. Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s motorcycle manager, explained that the new asphalt provided high grip levels, which paired with track temperatures near 40 °C and an exceptionally fast pace to generate extreme heat, according to espanol.motorsport.com and Grande Prêmio. The race was completed nine seconds faster than in 2025.
Damage varied widely across the grid. While some riders managed the conditions, others suffered catastrophic failures. Martín’s rear tire showed extreme blistering and degradation, causing him to post the slowest time on the final lap and lose over a second to his pursuers. Francesco Bagnaia suffered even worse damage, returning to the pits on the final lap after his rear tire split directly down the center. The sprint of the Japanese GP ended with Marc Márquez taking the victory ahead of Diogo Moreira, Jorge Martín, and Enea Bastianini, with the latter two penalized by one position for exceeding track limits on the final lap.
Available Compounds and Rider Reactions for Sunday
With the soft option banned, Michelin confirmed that the medium compound remains available for Sunday’s full-length grand prix, though it requires careful management. The manufacturer’s recommended choice for maintaining a solid pace is the hard rear tire, which features a reinforced casing. Although Yamaha and other teams suggested extending Sunday morning’s Warm Up session—which normally lasts 10 minutes—MotoGP is maintaining the current schedule for now, as a kart race involving the riders is programmed immediately following the practice.
Grid reactions to the tire withdrawal varied. Jack Miller and Marco Bezzecchi were the only two riders to gamble on the medium tire during Saturday’s sprint. Miller noted that while his medium tire performed well on the right side, it still developed blistering in the center, leading him to predict that the entire grid will switch to the hard option for Sunday. Conversely, Fabio Quartararo and race winner Marc Márquez indicated they would have considered the soft tire if given the choice, though Michelin’s preventive ban now removes that option entirely. Marc Márquez had no trouble with the soft compound, unlike Martín, who barely finished. The Japanese GP takes place this Sunday at 07:00 in Spain, 02:00 in Argentina, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay, 01:00 in Venezuela, and 00:00 in Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, while starting in Mexico at 23:00 on Saturday.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Motegi Tire Ban
Why did Michelin withdraw the soft rear tire at Motegi?
Michelin pulled the compound after Saturday’s sprint race revealed extreme degradation, heavy blistering, and structural splitting on multiple rear tires due to high track temperatures and a newly paved, high-grip surface.
Which tire compounds are available for Sunday’s race?
Riders can choose between the medium compound, which requires careful temperature and wear management, and the hard compound featuring a reinforced casing, which is Michelin’s recommended option.
Did any riders use the medium tire during the sprint race?
Yes, Jack Miller and Marco Bezzecchi were the only two riders on the grid to start Saturday’s sprint on the medium compound.
What time is the MotoGP qualifying in Japan?
Q1 will start on Friday at 22:50 in Argentina, 19:50 in Mexico, and on Saturday at 03:50 in Spain, while Q2 will take place at 23:15 in Argentina, 20:15 in Mexico, and 04:15 in Spain.
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