Following the MICHELIN Grand Prix of France, the FIM MotoGP World Championship continues its European tour with the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya 2026. From May 15 to 17, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will host the sixth round of the season on a track renowned for being both spectacular and highly technical.
Located just a few kilometres from Barcelona, this historic circuit is one of the benchmark venues on the MotoGP calendar. It combines long straights, heavy braking zones, fast corners, slower turns and elevation changes that place significant demands on both tyres and machines.
But beyond its technical diversity, Barcelona presents another major characteristic: a naturally low level of grip, both in dry and wet conditions. This feature promotes rear wheelspin and has become, over recent seasons, one of the main challenges for riders and their tyres.
A complete but demanding circuit
Opened in 1991, the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya measures 4.627 km in length and features a track width of 12 metres. Its layout alternates between a long slightly downhill straight, fast corners generating heavy lateral loads, and slower sections where acceleration phases put the rear tyres under particular stress.
The low grip level of the asphalt causes significant wheelspin under acceleration. This phenomenon leads to an increase in tyre surface temperatures, progressively reducing grip capacity and making traction even more difficult to manage.
Under these conditions, electronic settings, power management and bike balance play a decisive role in preserving performance over race distance, both in the Tissot Sprint and in the Grand Prix itself.
Should temperatures rise during the weekend, this phenomenon could become even more pronounced, as heat further reduces the available grip level.
Michelin’s allocation for Barcelona
For the 2026 edition, Michelin has chosen to continue with the technical solutions that proved successful during the previous Catalan event.
At the front, riders will have access to two symmetric slick tyres: Soft and Medium (7+7 tyres).
These two specifications, identical to those successfully used in 2025, were selected for their ability to deliver grip and feedback in the specific conditions of the Catalan circuit. The Hard front tyre offered last year is no longer part of the 2026 allocation.
At the rear, Michelin will also provide two asymmetric slick tyres, Soft and Medium. These tyres retain a reinforced right shoulder to cope with the specific demands of Barcelona’s long fast right-hand corners.
In wet conditions, the MICHELIN Power Rain range will be available in Soft and Medium compounds.
Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Competition Manager
“Barcelona is a very complete circuit, but also particularly complicated to exploit, there are long straights, heavy braking zones, slow corners, fast turns, as well as elevation changes. It is a technical layout that puts a huge amount of stress on the tyres.
“But its main characteristic remains the low level of grip offered by the asphalt. Riders experience a lot of rear wheelspin during acceleration phases, and this will once again be one of the key factors of the weekend. This phenomenon exists both in dry and wet conditions and must be controlled in order to preserve performance over distance.
“To limit this effect, we are bringing tyres based on relatively soft compounds offering a high level of mechanical grip. We have chosen to continue with the solutions that worked extremely well last year. At the front, we are keeping the symmetric Soft and Medium tyres, while at the rear we retain the asymmetric Soft and Medium tyres with a reinforced right shoulder.
“We know Barcelona extremely well since we race there every year and the official post-race Monday tests are also organised there. Despite this, the challenge always remains significant because as soon as temperatures rise, grip decreases even further and wheelspin becomes more difficult to manage. It will therefore not be an easy weekend, either for the teams or for us, and work from the very first sessions will be crucial to find the best settings.
“Barcelona also remains one of the championship’s historic events. Thanks to its geographical location, it always attracts a huge Spanish crowd as well as many French fans. The atmosphere is always very special there, and we hope to witness a great show throughout the weekend.”
A key event on the MotoGP calendar
The Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya is one of the most popular events on the MotoGP calendar, supported by a strong motorcycle culture and traditionally large crowds.
Track action will begin on Friday, May 15 at 10:45 a.m. with Free Practice 1, followed by the Practice session scheduled for 3:00 p.m., which will determine the ten riders directly qualified for Q2.
On Saturday, May 16, following Free Practice 2, qualifying sessions will take place between 10:50 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The 12-lap Tissot Sprint will start at 3:00 p.m.
Finally, on Sunday, May 17, the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalunya 2026 will begin at 2:00 p.m. with a 24-lap race.
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