{"id":1552,"date":"2026-09-03T09:11:47","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:11:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/?p=1552"},"modified":"2026-09-03T09:11:48","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T12:11:48","slug":"aprilia-test-rider-savadori-calls-michelin-and-pirelli-very-different-its-challenging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/aprilia-test-rider-savadori-calls-michelin-and-pirelli-very-different-its-challenging\/","title":{"rendered":"Aprilia test rider Savadori calls Michelin and Pirelli \u201cvery different\u201d: \u201cIt\u2019s challenging\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">News summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lorenzo Savadori says Michelin and Pirelli are \u201cvery different\u201d<\/strong>, describing the switch between the two tire manufacturers as \u201creally challenging.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Aprilia test rider has spent months working with the new 850cc prototype and said returning to the current 1000cc MotoGP bike highlighted how different the tires are.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Savadori believes riders moving up from Moto2 and those coming from World Superbike could benefit from already having experience with Pirelli tires.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aprilia test rider Lorenzo Savadori believes <strong>MotoGP\u2019s switch from Michelin to Pirelli will be \u201creally challenging\u201d<\/strong>, with the Italian highlighting the different way the two tire manufacturers\u2019 products work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Savadori has been heavily involved in Aprilia\u2019s development of the new 850cc prototype ahead of the major technical overhaul coming to MotoGP in 2027. After replacing the injured Ai Ogura at Trackhouse in Arag\u00f3n, however, he returned to the current 1000cc machine and had to readapt to a bike he had not ridden for several months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s challenging\u2026 Really challenging,\u201d Savadori told <em>GPOne<\/em> after Friday\u2019s practice sessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNot so much because of the engine capacity, but because of a different tire that works differently, and you need to get used to it,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Savadori explained that he had gone approximately five and a half months without riding with Michelin tires, as his development work had focused on Aprilia\u2019s 850cc prototype and the Pirelli rubber that will become MotoGP\u2019s exclusive tire supplier from 2027.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt had been five and a half months since I last used Michelin tires, so I mainly need to regain confidence with the tire. I can guarantee that they are very different,\u201d the Italian said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Savadori: \u201cTwo completely different worlds\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The change in tire supplier will coincide with a broader technical reset in MotoGP. From 2027, the premier class will move from <strong>1000cc to 850cc engines<\/strong>, while aerodynamic restrictions will become tighter and ride-height devices will be banned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For Savadori, however, the tire change could prove to be just as significant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked how different Michelin and Pirelli are, the Aprilia test rider was emphatic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThey are two completely different worlds. One works one way and the other works another way. They are two opposite extremes,\u201d Savadori explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirelli was confirmed as MotoGP\u2019s exclusive tire supplier from 2027 in March 2025, ending Michelin\u2019s tenure in the premier class after the French manufacturer replaced Bridgestone in 2016. The change will also affect how riders arriving from other categories adapt to MotoGP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That could create an advantage for riders coming directly from Moto2 or the World Superbike Championship, where Pirelli tires are already used. <strong>Pol Espargar\u00f3 has made a similar assessment<\/strong>, warning that riders coming from those championships could have a significant head start when the new era begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Savadori agrees, particularly regarding the transition from Moto2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think the jump from Moto2 to MotoGP will be less challenging,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHaving the same tires will make the transition easier, even though, logically, reaching a certain level of performance will always be difficult,\u201d the Aprilia test rider added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The difference will be particularly relevant for the riders entering MotoGP in 2027. Daniel Holgado, David Alonso and Izan Guevara are among those confirmed to make the move from Moto2, while Nicol\u00f2 Bulega is expected to join the premier class from World Superbike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Savadori\u2019s experience in Arag\u00f3n provided a useful reminder of just how much adaptation will be required when MotoGP enters its new technical era. After months focused on the 850cc project, <strong>returning to the current 1000cc machine with Michelin tires immediately exposed a major difference in the behavior of the two tire packages<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pirelli is already developing the tires that will be used from 2027. The manufacturer supplied 400 prototype tires at Arag\u00f3n as part of the development program, while the entire MotoGP grid is scheduled to gain access to the full range during the post-season test in Valencia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2027 season will therefore bring a combination of changes that goes well beyond engine displacement. <strong>New 850cc motorcycles, reduced aerodynamics, the removal of ride-height devices and the arrival of Pirelli<\/strong> will force the entire grid to adapt to a substantially different MotoGP environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">MotoGP returns to action from September 11-13 at the San Marino and Rimini Riviera Grand Prix, the 14th round of the 2026 season. The <strong>GRANDE PR\u00caMIO<\/strong> will follow the entire weekend, as well as all other categories of the World Motorcycle Championship, in the <a href=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/motogp\/\">MotoGP section<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_Round13_Aragon_MotoGP_Race_Savadori-208662-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"MotoGP 2026 Arag\u00e3o MotorLand Domingo Trackhouse Lorenzo Savadori\" class=\"wp-image-1020313558\" srcset=\"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_Round13_Aragon_MotoGP_Race_Savadori-208662-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_Round13_Aragon_MotoGP_Race_Savadori-208662-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_Round13_Aragon_MotoGP_Race_Savadori-208662-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_Round13_Aragon_MotoGP_Race_Savadori-208662-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_Round13_Aragon_MotoGP_Race_Savadori-208662-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026_Round13_Aragon_MotoGP_Race_Savadori-208662.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lorenzo Savadori highlighted the difference between Pirelli and Michelin (Photo: Trackhouse)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why will the switch from Michelin to Pirelli be challenging in MotoGP?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to Lorenzo Savadori, <strong>Michelin and Pirelli work in very different ways<\/strong>, meaning riders will need to adapt their riding styles and learn how to extract performance from the new tires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who could benefit from Pirelli becoming MotoGP\u2019s tire supplier?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Riders moving up from <strong>Moto2 and World Superbike could have an advantage<\/strong>, as Pirelli already supplies both categories. They will therefore arrive in MotoGP with previous experience of the manufacturer\u2019s tires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What changes will MotoGP introduce in 2027?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The premier class will move from <strong>1000cc to 850cc engines<\/strong>, while aerodynamic development will be restricted, ride-height devices will be banned and Pirelli will replace Michelin as the exclusive tire supplier.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lorenzo Savadori has spent months developing Aprilia\u2019s 850cc MotoGP prototype and says the switch from Michelin to Pirelli will be one of the biggest challenges of the 2027 technical revolution<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1020313559,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"42wp_featured_image_caption":"Savadori highlighted the difference between Pirelli and Michelin","42wp_featured_image_credits":"Trackhouse","42wp_featured_video":"","42wp_featured_image_hidden":false,"42wp_authors_list":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[297,284,303],"42wp_author":[36],"class_list":["post-1552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motogp","tag-lorenzo-savadori","tag-michelin","tag-pirelli","42wp_author-juliana-tesser"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1552"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1553,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1552\/revisions\/1553"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1020313559"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1552"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1552"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1552"},{"taxonomy":"42wp_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/grandepremio.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/42wp_author?post=1552"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}