• Michelin had planned a specific tire allocation in anticipation of planned work on the Sepang circuit. As this work has not yet been carried out, the Michelin tire ranges once again had the opportunity to perform on the old asphalt, in temperatures sometimes exceeding 55°C at ground level.
• On Saturday, Álex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, Ducati) secured pole position with a time of 1'56.493, just one-tenth of a second off the absolute circuit record. He is the 9th different rider to start from the front of the grid this season.
• Rain proved disruptive on Saturday for the Tissot Sprint, but the Michelin Soft tires remained unfazed. On Sunday, the same combination worked wonders, overcoming all the challenges of the Sepang circuit.
At 5,543 km long, the Sepang circuit (15 corners, 10 right-handers and 5 left-handers) is an iconic venue for the sport, which has raced there every year since its inauguration in 1999. With the asphalt resurfacing (scheduled for 2026) not yet completed, Michelin was able to leverage its extensive knowledge of the track to support its partners throughout the weekend. For the 2026 Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, the Michelin teams adapted their approach by combining data collected on track during previous races with driver feedback, while also taking into account Sepang's tropical climate, which demands constant attention to tire operating temperatures. As the practice sessions progressed, where the lack of grip and the dirty track conditions (further complicated by severe thunderstorms) presented a challenge, the best setups began to emerge.
To meet these intense demands, Michelin brought three types of tire compound to Malaysia: two compounds, Soft and Medium, identical to those used in 2025 for the front; and three compounds, Soft, Medium, and Hard, for the rear. The Soft compound was the same as last year, and the 2025 Medium compound was repositioned as Hard to make room for a new Medium compound in anticipation of the potential track resurfacing.
In Tissot Sprint, all Michelin partners ultimately selected a Soft (symmetrical) tire for the front, and also a Soft (asymmetrical, with the right side of the tread reinforced) tire for the rear. On Sunday, for the Grand Prix, and with the rain having held off on Saturday evening after three consecutive nights of thunderstorms, they selected the same compound compounds on a track slightly more conducive to pure performance.
Piero Taramasso , Michelin's Two-Wheeled Competition Manager
“Our tires, and particularly the Soft compound, lived up to all expectations in all conditions, which wasn't a given considering the varying weather. Track grip, which was lacking all weekend, was also a factor to consider. Nevertheless, I note that we came within a tenth of a second of the absolute track record, and that our tires demonstrated great versatility, even when part of the track was wet during the Tissot Sprint on Saturday. With two starts in track temperatures exceeding 55°C (57°C during the Grand Prix), the durability and consistency of our tires also made a difference, with consistent lap times throughout, including towards the end of the race. Our Team Technical Advisors, always highly committed to our partners, were invaluable allies in helping them manage their tire allocation.” We leave Malaysia with a sense of accomplishment, having effectively supported our partners through a particularly challenging race weekend. We now turn our attention to Qatar, where further unknowns await us next weekend, particularly regarding temperatures, following the postponement of the race originally scheduled for April.
On Saturday afternoon, the Tissot Sprint was won by Pedro Acosta with a Soft combination front and rear, ahead of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who had both opted for the same combination.
On Sunday, the Grand Prix was won by Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), ahead of Pedro Acosta and Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). All three riders had chosen the same tire combination: symmetrical soft at the front, asymmetrical soft at the rear.
The next round of the MotoGP World Championship will take place in the Middle East. The Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar will be held from November 6 to 8 at the Lusail circuit.
Michelin Sepang
