.: Media Release – Tissot Grand Prix of The Netherlands 2026

Media Release

Michelin masters extreme heat at Assen, delivering performance and consistency to the riders

• The tenth round of the 2026 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship took place in exceptionally hot conditions, with track temperatures approaching 60°C on the opening day of the Grand Prix.
• Despite these demanding weather conditions, Michelin tyres delivered consistently high levels of performance throughout the weekend, regardless of the significant temperature fluctuations.
• At the front, the MICHELIN Power Slick Medium compound proved to be the tyre of the weekend. Based on the former Hard compound from the 2025 package, it stood out for its outstanding consistency. At the rear, the Soft and Medium compounds, unchanged from last season, gave Michelin's partners the flexibility to fine-tune their race strategies.

The Michelin Tyre Technicians had never previously recorded such high temperatures at the TT Circuit Assen. During Friday’s practice sessions, track temperature peaked at 57°C. It then measured 50°C at the start of the Tissot Sprint despite overcast skies, before reaching 48°C at the start of Sunday’s Grand Prix, following overnight rain showers. By comparison, the track temperature never exceeded 40°C during the 2025 edition.

Such conditions are more commonly encountered during certain Asian Grands Prix held later in the season, for which Michelin develops dedicated tyre solutions. Yet for Assen, Michelin chose to bring exactly the same tyre allocation as in 2025: symmetrical MICHELIN Power Slick front tyres and asymmetrical rear tyres featuring a reinforced right shoulder to withstand the higher loads generated on that side of the circuit.

Despite these exceptionally demanding conditions, the selected tyres demonstrated remarkable performance and consistency, enabling the riders to exploit the full potential of their machines and fight flat out from the start to the chequered flag.

Piero Taramasso, Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, Michelin Motorsport:

“The operating temperature range of our tyres is truly impressive, and any concerns raised by this sudden heatwave disappeared as soon as the first practice sessions got underway. After evaluating every possible combination, all of our partners selected the Medium front and Soft rear for the Tissot Sprint. The Medium front corresponds to what was our Hard specification in Assen last year.

By anticipating the evolution of MotoGP machines and analysing the technical data we had gathered, we identified this requirement well in advance, and the results confirmed that our choices were the right ones. At the rear, 100% of our partners selected the Soft compound for the Tissot Sprint, while almost everyone switched to the Medium for Sunday’s Grand Prix after overnight thunderstorms had washed the track clean.

Lap times throughout the weekend remained very close to those recorded last year, despite conditions being considerably more demanding for the tyres, which clearly demonstrates the relevance of our package. It was a particularly challenging race weekend, but one that leaves us with a great deal of satisfaction.”

On Saturday, Raúl Fernández (SuperFile Trackhouse MotoGP Team) claimed victory in the Tissot Sprint ahead of his team-mate Ai Ogura and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team). Every rider opted for the Medium front/Soft rear combination for the 13-lap race.

Sunday’s Tissot Grand Prix of The Netherlands was won by Ai Ogura, ahead of his team-mate Raúl Fernández and Jorge Martín (Aprilia Racing).

Most riders chose the Medium front/Medium rear combination for the Grand Prix. However, it is worth noting that Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) set his fastest race lap with just three laps remaining while running the Soft rear tyre. This underlines the remarkable consistency of Michelin tyres under all conditions, including with the compounds most exposed to wear and degradation.

The next round of the 2026 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship will take place in Germany from 11 to 13 July at the Sachsenring circuit.

About Michelin

Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences. Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world. Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare. The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide. Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 175 countries and employs 122,600 people.

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