MotoGP EXPLAINED: Things to know about Pirelli's brand-new MotoGP tyres

Formula One's sole tyre manufacturer Pirelli will become MotoGP's tyre supplier from 2027, and the Italian company has now completed its initial tests with their first prototype MotoGP tyres. F1Technical's senior wrtier Balazs Szabo explains the key things to know after Pirelli's first test with its brand-new MotoGP tyres.

Before becoming MotoGP's sole tyre supplier in 2027, Pirelli has now completed its initial tyre test, working with test riders from the test teams of the five manufacturers.

Augusto Fernandez drove for Yamaha, Daniel Pedrosa for KTM, Takaaki Nakagami for Honda, Lorenzo Savadori for Aprilia, whilst Michele Pirro carried out the test outing with Ducati.

The test took place at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in mainly sunny and dry track conditions with asphalt temperatures between 25 °C and 43 °C. The Italian firm noted that the aim was to "obtain feedback to continue the development and process of defining the characteristics of the front and rear tyres to be used in MotoGP."

Pirelli has organised and defined the parameters and the run plan of the test in agreement with the manufacturers and has made 7 sets of tyres available to each team, in two different versions for the front and three for the rear, in the current sizes used in MotoGP, i.e. 17 inches in diameter for rims with a width of 4” at the front and 6.25" at the rear.

The new Pirelli tyres, as required by regulations, have been tested with the bikes that are competing in the current season, with ride height devices deactivated and, in some cases, detuned, and with appropriate aerodynamic changes to make them as similar as possible in terms of characteristics and performance to the configuration of the new 850cc bikes, to be used in the new era of the World Championship starting in 2027.

Pirelli tyres for MotoGP will be made in the company’s factory in Breuberg, Germany, the same one that produces all motorcycle radial racing tyres and also some of the most successful models for road use.

The choice is motivated by the fact that Pirelli intends to apply to MotoGP the basic philosophy that has guided the entire development of the racing motorcycle tyres produced by the company in recent decades.

This is to utilise existing technologies and production processes in favour of the sustainability of the MotoGP project, product quality and the ease of transfer of technology and experience gained in the top motorcycle competition in products intended for use on the road.

Commenting on the test, Pirelli's Motorcycle Racing Director, Giorgio Barbier said: "The Misano test was the first step in our return to the World Championship, and we are very satisfied with both the excellent working relationship that has been struck up between our engineers and all the teams and riders of the Test Teams and the tyre performance.

"The test took place according to the run plan, which also included a Sprint race simulation, and the first feedback received is very encouraging – this test has generated a lot of data to be analysed in order to continue our development work of Pirelli MotoGP tyres.

"The most appreciated features are definitely grip, warm-up speed and confidence. We have decided to approach MotoGP™ with the same philosophy that has always distinguished us in motorcycle racing: the tyres will have to be dedicated exclusively to the premier class, because this is what the regulations require.

"We also want to exploit the technologies and processes consolidated over years of production with the triple objective of making our participation in this championship a virtuous example of sustainability in motorsport, offering a quality and homogeneous construction of the product and, last but not least, transferring more directly the technologies and know-how that we will develop in MotoGP to tyres intended for road use for the benefit of motorcyclists all around the world".