Marc Marquez and Ducati are facing a familiar headache ahead of this weekend's Japanese MotoGP. The resurfaced Motegi circuit has forced Michelin to revise its tyre allocation, including bringing back the reinforced rear construction that troubled the Desmosedici riders in Austria.
In an official statement, Michelin confirmed it has expanded its allocation to three front and three rear options. The decision was made due to the lack of testing data on the new asphalt, with simulations and information from previous Motegi events serving as the primary reference.
"At the front, the Soft, Medium and Hard retain the same level of stiffness as last year and all use symmetrical compounds," explained Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Competition Manager. "The Hard front, however, features a specific reinforced construction. This is a solution particularly well suited to certain Asian circuits and one that we will also offer at Mandalika."
The spotlight, though, is on the rear. Michelin has selected a higher level of stiffness than in 2025 to provide an additional margin given the uncertainties of the new surface. The Soft and Medium use the standard casing, while the Hard features the reinforced casing already offered in Austria.
If the hard rear proves to be the most competitive choice at Motegi, Ducati could once again grapple with grip issues. At the Red Bull Ring, the Italian manufacturer's riders struggled with that tyre, and Marquez had to settle for fifth in the grand prix after early brake problems.
"In the end, it's the same for everybody," Marquez said when asked about Ducati's rear grip issues in Austria. "It's true that we need to work well on the stiffer rear tyre, because in Thailand we struggled a lot, here again we struggled a lot, but at least here we were competitive. So let's see if we can improve for Mandalika especially, where again we have not this one, but another special casing."
Marquez did not mention that the stiffer tyre would also be available at Motegi. However, the weather forecast offers some relief. Cool temperatures are predicted, reducing the likelihood of the stiffer hard rear being the favoured choice.
"We will need to learn very quickly from Friday onwards and carefully monitor how the track evolves," Taramasso added. "The weather could also play an important role, with relatively cool temperatures forecast and the possibility of rain."
Motegi kicks off a run of Asian races, immediately followed by Mandalika, where the most extreme version of the stiffer construction will be used. For Marquez and Ducati, quick adaptation will be crucial to avoid losing valuable points in the title fight.
Baca Juga
Alex Criville analisis teknik balap Dani Pedrosa di simulator DAZN, dari pick-up hingga adaptasi di kondisi basah. Simak ulasan lengkapnya.
Motegi kembali jadi pusat perhatian MotoGP. Sirkuit ini telah menobatkan enam juara dunia, dari Stoner hingga Marquez. Siapa selanjutnya?
Marc Marquez kembali ke Motegi untuk perebutan gelar MotoGP 2026. Cedera bahu dan performa Ducati yang fluktuatif menjadi tantangan utama.
Lanjutkan dengan Google
Diskusi & Komentar (0)
Mari Bergabung dalam Diskusi!
Masuk dengan mudah untuk mulai memberikan komentar, membalas, dan berinteraksi dengan pembaca lainnya.
Komentar Terbaru
Belum ada komentar. Jadilah yang pertama!