Michelin's World Superbike switch may tempt MotoGP riders

Michelin will become the control tyre manufacturer for the World Superbike Championship from 2027 onwards, essentially swapping places with current supplier Pirelli as it in turn takes over Michelin's MotoGP deal as part of a significant set of regulation changes.

The news comes as no surprise given weeks of rumours suggesting that Michelin was keen to replace MotoGP with World Superbikes - but marks a big change in the production bike championship given that they've exclusively used only Pirellis since moving to a single tyre manufacturer in 2004.

It comes as part of what seems to be a switch in how Michelin markets its road-going products, with the firm quick to highlight how it plans to use its investment into WSBK (likely to be many millions of Euro smaller than what it currently spends on MotoGP) to market directly to the owners of road-going superbikes rather than all motorcycle-riding consumers. 

“We are very pleased to be able to commit so quickly to a world-class motorcycle racing championship starting in 2027," said Matthieu Bonardel, director of Michelin Motorsport. 

“The WorldSBK offers an ideal environment to bring our technologies even closer to those used by all riders, whether on the track or on the road. The audience of this championship is mainly made up of enthusiasts who own supersport motorcycles. 

"For them, we will do everything possible to deliver high-quality entertainment, supported by tyres with outstanding performance."

The news comes at an interesting time for a number of people on the current MotoGP grid, given that most riders' contracts expire at the end of the 2026 season and that there's expected to be something of a clearing of houses at the end of the next deal cycles.

Multiple riders on the current grid are likely to be forced to look for new pastures, with names like Miguel Oliveira, Jack Miller, and Franco Morbidelli already linked to World Superbike switches; something that would be substantially eased if they're not forced to learn how to ride a whole new design of tyre.

In fact, it's a similar switch in the other direction that has played a significant factory in the decision of two-time WSBK champion Toprak Razgatlioglu to finally make the move to MotoGP for 2026, in anticipation of being fighting fit and used to the vastly different machines when Pirelli arrives the following year.