The Bugatti Circuit at Le Mans once again came alive this weekend to the rhythm of the FIM MotoGP World Championship during the 2026 MICHELIN Grand Prix of France. In front of 311,638 spectators gathered throughout the event, French fans witnessed an exceptionally intense weekend both technically and sportingly. Between summer-like temperatures on Saturday and cooler, trickier conditions on Sunday following morning rain, MICHELIN Power Slick tyres demonstrated outstanding versatility, consistency, and the ability to maintain an extremely high level of performance in constantly evolving conditions.
From Friday onwards, ideal weather conditions allowed teams and riders to explore the full range of tyre combinations available. Track temperatures gradually increased from 26°C during Free Practice 1 to 36°C during the afternoon Practice session. This evolution confirmed the consistency and effectiveness of the MICHELIN Power Slick Soft rear tyre, which quickly emerged as a preferred option for the weekend’s races. The density of the MotoGP™ field was equally spectacular, with the top ten riders covered by less than three tenths of a second during Practice, and the top nineteen within less than one second.
On Saturday, under clear skies and with a track temperature of 28°C, Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) pushed the limits of performance even further at Le Mans. Equipped with MICHELIN Power Slick Soft tyres both front and rear, the Spanish rider set a new all-time circuit lap record in 1m29.288s during Qualifying 1. Later in the afternoon, track temperatures climbed further, reaching 42°C at the start of the Tissot Sprint. As a result, the majority of riders opted for a Hard front tyre combined with a Soft rear tyre in order to optimise stability and endurance while maintaining excellent rear grip levels.
On Sunday morning, rainfall over the circuit suggested that the Grand Prix could take place in difficult conditions. However, by the start at 2:00 p.m., the rain had stopped and the track had progressively dried, while temperatures remained moderate with 18°C ambient temperature and 26°C on the asphalt. In these intermediate and evolving conditions, Michelin once again provided riders with a wide strategic range.
Fourteen riders chose a Hard front tyre, while seven preferred the Soft front option. At the rear, almost the entire field selected the MICHELIN Power Slick Soft, with only Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha) opting for the Medium compound.
At the start, Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) immediately took the lead of the race, setting a very strong pace and gradually building a one-second advantage. Behind him, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) kept up the pressure. The complexion of the Grand Prix changed on lap 16 with Francesco Bagnaia’s crash, followed by Jorge Martin’s (Aprilia Racing) overtake on Pedro Acosta, opening the door to an intense battle between the two official Aprilia riders.
In the closing laps, Jorge Martin and Marco Bezzecchi maintained an extremely consistent pace. Jorge Martin eventually claimed victory after 41m18.001s of racing effort, setting a new race duration record in the process, improving the previous benchmark by more than five and a half seconds. Marco Bezzecchi secured a historic one-two finish for Aprilia, while Ai Ogura (Trackhouse Racing) completed a remarkable all-Aprilia podium.
Piero Taramasso, Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, said:
“The 2026 Le Mans weekend perfectly illustrated the versatility and performance level of our MICHELIN Power Slick range. We encountered very different conditions between Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with track temperatures ranging from 26°C to more than 42°C, followed by a cooler and partially drying track on race day. Despite this wide variety of conditions, riders were able to maintain excellent confidence and sustain extremely high pace levels throughout the weekend.
Marc Márquez’s new all-time lap record in qualifying demonstrates the outright performance potential of our tyres, while Jorge Martin’s new race duration record confirms their consistency and efficiency over race distance. We also observed extremely small gaps between riders, proving that our tyres allow every competitor to fully exploit the potential of their machine. Finally, seeing more than 300,000 spectators attending the MICHELIN Grand Prix of France at Le Mans is a tremendous source of satisfaction for Michelin. The public enthusiasm surrounding this event, combined with the exceptionally high sporting level demonstrated throughout the weekend, makes this 2026 edition a major success for our sport and for our brand.”
With records broken, world-class racing spectacle and yet another demonstration of the versatility of its tyres in varied conditions, Michelin concludes its home event in the best possible way. The FIM MotoGP™ World Championship will continue next week with the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya, taking place from May 15 to 17 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
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