After the pre-season tests held in February in Malaysia and Thailand, the 2026 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship officially gets underway from 27 February to 1 March at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram (Thailand), for the PT Grand Prix of Thailand.
Traditionally part of the Asian leg at the end of the season, the Thai round once again opens the championship this year. Climatic conditions will come as no surprise to the teams: intense heat, high humidity and the risk of sudden storms are expected throughout the weekend. During the previous edition, track temperatures reached as high as 58°C, placing the tyres under extreme thermal stress.
Located around 500 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, the Chang International Circuit is a layout that is particularly demanding on tyres. Measuring 4.554 km in length, it features five left-hand corners, seven right-hand corners, and two long straights, one of which exceeds one kilometre. This configuration, combined with asphalt offering a moderate level of grip, promotes rear-wheel spin and generates a rapid rise in temperatures, particularly in the central band of the tyre.
To meet these specific constraints, Michelin Motorsport has chosen to renew at Buriram a tyre allocation that proved effective during the 2025 edition and the tests held on this same circuit.
At the front, Michelin's partners will have two types of symmetrical MICHELIN Power Slick tyres, now named Soft and Medium. The 2026 allocation stands out for its simplified offering, with two specifications instead of three previously.
At the rear, two asymmetrical slick tyres, Soft and Medium, will be available. They benefit from a reinforced internal structure, as well as a more resistant rubber compound on the right-hand shoulder, in order to limit the rise in internal temperature under conditions of extreme load and stress. This specific construction is essential on a circuit where long acceleration phases and increased wheelspin can quickly degrade tyre performance.
All four of these specifications were successfully used during the Tissot Sprint and the Grand Prix in 2025. The two rear options deliver high performance but with distinct behaviours: the Soft version provides more grip, but with more pronounced movement, while the Medium stands out for its greater consistency and improved stability. Riders will therefore be able to adapt their choice to their riding style, the characteristics of their motorcycle and their race strategy.
"Buriram is one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar in terms of thermal constraints," explains Piero Taramasso, manager of Michelin Motorsport's two-wheel competition. "This circuit combines several unfavourable factors: very long straights that heavily load the rear tyre, extremely high track temperatures, and asphalt with limited grip that promotes wheelspin during acceleration phases."
"In these conditions, managing 'spinning' is crucial. Teams will have to work intensively on bike settings and electronics to limit wheelspin and preserve tyre performance over distance. Wear levels are high, but they remain under control, and both grip and consistency are there. The Soft and Medium rear tyres are both competitive, with different characteristics, which will give riders real freedom of choice."
"The atmosphere at Buriram is always exceptional, with very passionate fans. After the pre-season tests, the teams arrive here well prepared, and I believe we will witness an intense, closely fought race, with riders ready to push hard from the very first round of the season."
In the event of rain, Michelin will make its MICHELIN Power Rain range available, in Soft and Medium compounds, symmetrical at both the front and rear.
The PT Grand Prix of Thailand will begin on Friday 27 February with the first practice sessions. Qualifying will take place on Saturday 28 February, with Q1 from 10:50 to 11:05, followed by Q2 from 11:15 to 11:30 (local time).
The Tissot Sprint, contested over 13 laps, will start on Saturday at 15:00. The Grand Prix, run over 26 laps, will get underway on Sunday 1 March 2026 at 15:00 (local time).”
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