One year after returning to the FIM MotoGP™ World Championship calendar, the Automotodrom Brno will host the ninth round of the 2026 season from 19 to 21 June. Last year, Michelin Motorsport and its partners rediscovered this historic circuit after several seasons away, as well as a completely renewed track surface.
To address the uncertainties associated with the new asphalt, Michelin selected three compounds for the front and three for the rear in 2025. The data gathered over the weekend confirmed the quality, grip level and low abrasiveness of the new surface. This year, it enables Michelin Motorsport’s teams to offer a more targeted allocation, comprising the two specifications that demonstrated their versatility and performance in 2025.
The 5.403-kilometre Brno circuit features 14 corners, six left-handers and eight right-handers, as well as several fast sections. Riders face a succession of hard braking zones, direction changes, fast corners and strong acceleration phases. The elevation difference between the highest and lowest points is 73 metres, making it one of the most undulating circuits on the calendar.
This sequence of climbs and descents adds a further challenge for the riders, but also for the tyres. The front tyre must provide stability and precision during braking and corner entry, while the rear must deliver traction, consistency and effective temperature control under acceleration.
“Everyone at Michelin is delighted to be returning to Brno, a historic circuit that we rediscovered last year after several seasons away,” says Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager. “The 2025 event was a special one because the track had been completely resurfaced and we had very little data on the characteristics of the new asphalt. As a precaution, we therefore brought three front and three rear specifications. The Hard tyres were mainly intended as a back-up solution in case the surface proved particularly abrasive or aggressive, but that did not happen. The asphalt was consistent, smooth and free from bumps, with a good level of grip, and the riders immediately reported an excellent feeling. Our Soft and Medium specifications were used successfully during practice, qualifying, the Sprint and the Grand Prix. On Sunday, almost every rider selected the Medium at both the front and rear, a combination that provided a very good balance of grip, stability and consistency over the 21-lap race. The level of performance was also remarkable, as the main lap records were broken. Thanks to the information gathered, we can return this year with a more precise allocation comprising two front and two rear options. Brno nevertheless remains a complete challenge: the elevation changes are significant, the speeds are high, the braking zones are demanding and some corners place heavy loads on both tyres. We must also remain attentive to the weather, as we may encounter hot conditions, cool temperatures or rain during the same weekend. We also ran on a wet track last year. Our allocation therefore enables us to cover the full range of possible conditions and provide our partners with tyres that are competitive from the outset. Brno is also a very popular event with fans, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, while many enthusiasts also travel from Italy, France, Spain and Germany. The atmosphere is always exceptional.”
Two compound choices for the front and rear
For the 2026 Monster Energy Grand Prix of Czechia, Michelin Motorsport will make two MICHELIN Power Slick specifications available to its partners for the front wheel: Soft and Medium. Both options will feature a symmetrical construction.
At the rear, riders will also have a choice of Soft and Medium compounds. These tyres will feature an asymmetrical tread, with a harder right-hand side to meet the greater demands generated by the circuit’s eight right-hand corners, compared with six left-handers.
These four specifications are identical to those offered and successfully used in 2025. The Hard tyres available last year, which were intended as back-up solutions in case the new asphalt proved abrasive, are therefore no longer included in the allocation.
In the event of rain, Michelin will provide its MICHELIN Power Rain range in Soft and Medium compounds for both the front and rear, following the same profile as the MICHELIN Power Slick range.
The lap records
The outright circuit record is held by Francesco Bagnaia. The Italian rider set a time of 1’52.303 during qualifying for the 2025 Grand Prix.
The race lap record belongs to Marc Márquez, with a time of 1’53.691, set on lap 15 of the 2025 Grand Prix.
Both performances significantly improved the previous Automotodrom Brno benchmarks and confirmed the potential of the new asphalt, as well as the performance level of the MICHELIN Power tyres.
The weekend schedule
Track action in the Czech Republic will begin on Friday 19 June at 10:45 local time with Free Practice 1, lasting 45 minutes. Practice will follow in the afternoon at 15:00 and will run for one hour. At the end of the session, the ten fastest riders will qualify directly for the second phase of qualifying.
On Saturday 20 June, following Free Practice 2, qualifying will take place in two sessions between 10:50 and 11:30. The two fastest riders from Q1 will join the ten riders already qualified, forming a 12-rider field for Q2.
The 10-lap Tissot Sprint will start on Saturday at 15:00.
The 2026 Monster Energy Grand Prix of Czechia will begin on Sunday 21 June at 14:00. Riders will complete 21 laps of the Automotodrom Brno.
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