Summary
- Michelin recommends the hard rear for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
- The medium remains permitted, but requires careful management.
- Miller suffered blistering on the medium during the Sprint, while Bezzecchi’s tyre was unaffected.
Michelin has warned that the medium rear remains a risky option for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix, despite leaving it available after withdrawing the soft. Teams and riders can still choose between the medium and hard, with the supplier recommending the latter.
The distinction matters for MotoGP at Motegi: withdrawing the soft does not mean the remaining options offer equivalent durability. Michelin’s two-wheeled motorsport manager, Piero Taramasso, explained that managing wheelspin and tyre temperature will be essential for anyone choosing the medium.
Michelin recommends the hard rear
“Michelin’s suggestion is to use the hard,” Taramasso said in an interview to The Race after Saturday’s Sprint.
The reinforced hard uses a construction designed to dissipate heat, also used at the Austrian round. The medium is more resistant than the withdrawn soft, but Miller’s Sprint tyre showed that it can still develop blisters.
Bezzecchi and Miller provided contrasting examples on the same compound: the Aprilia rider’s medium remained clean, whereas the Yamaha rider experienced blistering. Taramasso explained that reducing spinning and the energy put into the rear tyre can help keep its temperature under control.
“But for sure the medium will be risky,” he added.
A decision with consequences for Sunday
The hard is recommended, rather than mandatory. Riders choosing the medium will therefore need to weigh its performance against the management required over the race distance.
That creates an additional question for the teams before Sunday. A tyre that demands more restraint can affect acceleration, overtaking attempts and the ability to respond when another rider increases the pace. Conversely, committing to the hard requires confidence in how the motorcycle performs with that option.
The key comparison will be sustainable race pace. A rider may feel comfortable during the opening laps, but the decision must also account for how much performance remains later in the grand prix.
MotoGP returns this weekend, from 2–4 October, to Japan. GRANDE PRÊMIO will cover all the action at Motegi.
MotoGP today: FAQ
Who won the Japanese MotoGP race today?
Marc Márquez won the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix at Motegi, finishing 1.363s ahead of Jorge Martín. Marco Bezzecchi completed the podium, while Márquez secured a weekend double after also winning Saturday’s Sprint.
Who leads the MotoGP championship after the Japanese GP?
Jorge Martín remains the MotoGP championship leader with 333 points, just 2 ahead of Marc Márquez on 331. Márquez’s two victories in Japan reduced the gap from 12 points at the start of the weekend.
When is the next MotoGP race?
The next MotoGP race is the Indonesian Grand Prix at Mandalika on Sunday, 11 October 2026. The weekend runs from 9–11 October.
Is the medium rear tyre banned for the Japanese MotoGP?
No. It remains available alongside the hard rear.
