MOTOGP TO KEEP TYRE-PRESSURE RULES IN PLACE FOR NOW

MotoGP’s 2026 season has produced a close title fight, with eight riders from six teams and three manufacturers winning Grands Prix so far. But the weekend at Indonesia’s Mandalika circuit also revived a contentious issue: tyre pressure, and the way its rules can shape what happens on track.

Michelin’s race tyres must be run at a minimum pressure of 1.8 bar. Running below that threshold can offer a performance advantage, but carries safety risks. The regulations are intended to protect riders while preserving sporting fairness, MotoGP Sports Entertainment Group sporting director Carlos Ezpeleta said.

At Mandalika, concern about pressure appeared to affect the racing itself. Championship leader Jorge Martin rode cautiously in the sprint, while Pedro Acosta did so during Sunday’s Grand Prix, with both seeking the warmer air behind another rider and wary of their tyre pressure. The spectacle was unsettling for viewers, particularly in Martin’s case: the Aprilia rider had the pace to score more points in his title battle with Marc Marquez, but the pressure issue became a significant factor in the Indonesian heat.

Acosta has proposed checking pressures shortly before the start, then allowing riders to manage their tyres freely during the race. Under that approach, there would be no further artificial regulation, pressure-related dashboard messages or pit-board warnings. Riders, he argues, can judge for themselves what their machinery needs.

Ezpeleta acknowledged the complexity of the issue but said MotoGP would not make an immediate change. With the championship due to switch to Pirelli tyres in 2027, he described the initial approach as cautious: the current protocol will remain in place, with safety the priority. Longer term, the aim is to develop tyres less affected by a rider following another and to remove any potential advantage from running close to the minimum pressure.

He also pointed to technical developments in MotoGP, especially aerodynamics and ride-height adjustment systems, as factors that have made tyre pressure more complicated. For now, the rules remain, despite the confusing scenes at Mandalika. The episode left some less regular viewers unsure why riders were holding back, highlighting how the pressure regulations can affect both the competition and the audience’s understanding of it.