The 2026 Red Bull Grand Prix of the United States, the third round of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, took place from March 27 to 29 at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. In a technically demanding context and with changing weather conditions, MICHELIN Power Slick tyres demonstrated a very high level of performance, consistency and versatility, contributing to a clear improvement in lap times compared to previous seasons.
A weekend rich in data and insights
From the very first day, held in relatively mild conditions (27°C air temperature), riders quickly found good feeling with the Medium rear tyre, offering an excellent balance between grip and stability on a still very bumpy track. Both front tyre options, Soft and Medium, also showed a very high level of performance and confidence.
In the afternoon, with track temperatures reaching 48°C, choices shifted toward the Medium front tyre, preferred for its increased stability. At the rear, both compounds remained competitive: the Soft proved effective for attacking lap times, while the Medium impressed with its consistency and stability, particularly in fast sequences.
Saturday morning surprised teams with cooler and windier conditions. Despite this, performances reached an exceptional level during Qualifying, with a new all-time lap record set by Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in 2’00.136, improving the previous benchmark by seven tenths. Eight riders went under the former record, illustrating the overall performance level.
A spectacular and strategic Tissot Sprint
The Tissot Sprint, held in ideal conditions (36°C track temperature), saw all riders opt for a Medium front and Soft rear combination, except Jorge Martín (Aprilia Racing), the only one to choose a Medium rear tyre.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) dominated most of the race before being overtaken in the final corners by Jorge Martín, whose Medium rear tyre choice proved decisive in terms of stability and control. Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3) completed the podium.
Overall performance was remarkable, with race times improved by one second per lap compared to 2025, confirming the effectiveness of Michelin's 2026 allocation.
A race dominated by the consistency of Medium tyres
On Sunday, under clear skies and track temperatures reaching 40°C, the entire grid opted for a Medium/Medium configuration, confirming trends observed throughout the weekend.
The race was led by a trio consisting of Marco Bezzecchi, Jorge Martín and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). At the finish, Marco Bezzecchi took victory with a new race duration record of 40’50.653, 19 seconds faster than the previous benchmark.
Race pace was exceptional, with an average gain of around one second per lap over the 20 laps. Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) also set a new fastest race lap in 2’02.037.
These performances highlight the remarkable consistency of MICHELIN Power Slick tyres, capable of maintaining a very high level of grip and stability over time, despite the mechanical and thermal stresses of the circuit.
Piero Taramasso, Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, Michelin Motorsport
"This weekend in Austin is an excellent demonstration of the relevance of our new 2026 allocation philosophy. We deliberately simplified our offer with two tyre choices at the front and rear, and the results confirm that this approach allows teams and riders to work more efficiently while achieving a very high level of performance.
From Friday, we observed that both front tyre options worked well, and that the Soft and Medium rear tyres offered complementary solutions depending on riders' needs.
Conditions varied greatly throughout the weekend, with cool temperatures and wind on Saturday morning, followed by a gradual increase in temperature leading to hotter conditions on Sunday. In this context, the tyres' ability to deliver consistency and stability was decisive. The widespread choice of the Medium tyre for the race clearly shows that teams found a reliable solution capable of guaranteeing a high level of performance over distance.
Finally, the recorded performances speak for themselves: a new qualifying record, a significantly faster Tissot Sprint, and a Grand Prix improved by nearly twenty seconds compared to 2024. This represents an average gain of about one second per lap, which is considerable at this level of competition. It confirms not only the potential of the bikes, but also the key role of tyres in this progression. We are very satisfied with the work accomplished and the data collected, which will be valuable for the rest of the season."
The next round of the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship will take place in Spain at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, where Michelin, teams and riders will meet again from April 24 to 26, 2026.
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