Michelin is facing a crucial decision ahead of Sunday’s Japanese MotoGP Grand Prix after severe tyre degradation became a major talking point in Saturday’s sprint race.
Jorge Martin suffered a significant loss of rear grip in the closing laps, while Francesco Bagnaia was forced to pit after damage to his rear tyre. Martin also received a track-limits penalty, dropping him from second to third.
The issue has raised the possibility of Michelin requiring riders to use its harder rear tyre for the full-length race. The option features a reinforced casing, but several riders had previously questioned whether it was suitable for Motegi.
Motegi’s newly resurfaced track has made tyre behaviour difficult to predict, with Michelin having limited real-world data on the new asphalt. The sprint’s tyre problems could now force teams to rethink their race strategies.
Will the harder tyre solve the problem, or could it create another challenge for the riders?
