Pirelli tyre switch for 2027 MotoGP sparks tension with Marc Márquez

From 2027 the MotoGP world will move from Michelin to Pirelli as the sole tyre supplier. Pirelli said it will not develop a custom tyre for any rider, stating “La volonté de Pirelli n’est pas de faire un “pneu Márquez”, ce n’est pas notre façon de travailler ni d’agir, ce n’est pas notre style.”

Marc Márquez warned that the new rubber will be the decisive factor, telling DAZN, “I think the big change, what will make bikes and/or riders competitive and winning next season, will be the performance of the Pirelli tyres, how each brand adapts to the new tyres, and above all, how they suit each of our riding styles.” He also blamed a Pirelli tyre for a crash at a Brno test.

The switch is seen as an advantage for riders with Pirelli experience, notably Turkey’s Toprak Razgatlıoglu, who performed strongly on the compound in testing, suggesting the tyre change could reshape the championship hierarchy.