MELANDRI SAYS MICHELIN TYRE CHOICES COULD SHAPE THE 2026 TITLE

Marco Melandri believes Michelin’s rear-tyre choices could have a decisive influence on the 2026 MotoGP title fight, as the competitive order has shifted repeatedly through the season.

Speaking on the Chiacchiere da Box podcast after the Austrian Grand Prix, the former rider pointed to the different results seen with stiff and standard rear casings. Aprilia, led by Marco Bezzecchi, dominated the opening three races when Michelin supplied a stiffer rear tyre, while Ducati struggled. After the standard casing returned in Europe, Ducati regained the upper hand, although several manufacturers were competitive at the front. In Austria, Michelin again brought a hard casing for safety reasons, and Melandri said Ducati could not make progress.

“At this stage Michelin could win the world championship – they really could,” Melandri said. He added that the title outcome could appear “already a foregone conclusion” depending on what tyres Michelin supplies next.

Michelin’s motorsport chief, Piero Taramasso, has previously rejected the idea that the tyre casing alone explained Aprilia’s early-season advantage. He told Motorsport.com’s Italian edition that Michelin had offered the stiffer construction for several seasons, giving teams and riders time to understand it and adapt their settings. “Right now, Aprilia really has something extra in terms of the bike,” he said.

The stiffer rear casing is confirmed for the Indonesian Grand Prix in October. Its use at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang has not yet been confirmed. Michelin is due to leave MotoGP after the 2026 season, with Pirelli taking over in 2027, when the championship will also introduce new technical regulations.