Tyre Pressure Rules in MotoGP Set to Remain Until 2027
Top MotoGP riders are in agreement that the contentious tyre pressure regulations will likely stay in effect until 2027. This issue was highlighted again during the recent race in Qatar, where Maverick Vinales lost his second-place finish due to his front tyre being below the required pressure. These pressure limits, imposed by the tyre supplier Michelin, have been enforced since the 2023 British GP and were revised for the upcoming 2024 season.
The 16-second penalty that Vinales received, dropping him to 14th place, was announced only after the podium celebrations at Losail. This incident has exacerbated the existing dissatisfaction among fans and observers regarding the tyre pressure regulations, which many see as a technical formality.
During a press conference in Jerez, the top four riders in the championship standings unanimously expressed that maintaining these regulations is crucial for safety and fairness. VR46 rider Franco Morbidelli noted, “The MotoGP bike is very demanding on tyres, so it’s right to follow Michelin’s safety guidelines.”
Concurring with this sentiment, Marc Marquez acknowledged the need for the rule while suggesting that the stipulation requiring tyres to be above the limit for 60% of the race distance could potentially be reconsidered. This change would lessen the pressure on teams to predict race dynamics that could lead to dropping tyre pressures.
While Marc’s brother, Alex, concurred with the need for equal regulations, he mentioned that some adjustments might be reasonable for the laps’ percentage. Two-time world champion Francesco Bagnaia supported the enforcement of the pressure limits for safety, maintaining that the established margin of error is acceptable even after the Qatar GP incident.
Vinales, undeterred by the penalty, explained that his tyre pressure issues in Qatar stemmed from unexpectedly leading the race, which can lead to a drop in pressures. He compared his situation to Marquez in Thailand, who tactically fell back to raise his tyre pressures. “It’s difficult when you’re upfront,” Vinales admitted, “as our calculations were based on racing in a group.”
Vinales emphasized that operating with low tyre pressures does not provide any advantage. “The penalty is 16 seconds for a reason,” he highlighted, adding that if the penalties were lighter, it might incentivize risky behaviour. Given the lack of strong opposition from the riders and teams, the discussion around changing tyre pressure rules is unlikely to resurface until MotoGP transitions to a new tyre supplier, Pirelli, in the 2027 season.
