It's been agonizing to watch Michelin sponsor MotoGP for the past few years. Tire pressure problems were the most talked about topic, before becoming a taboo, off-limits subject. Either way, it didn't paint Michelin in a good light.
Serious fans were sick of watching media training come into play and riders suppressing opinions, while casual fans who read the headlines were only seeing negative press about Michelin. It made me wonder if the higher ups at Michelin regretted paying, what's sure to be a massive sum, to sponsor MotoGP. The tire manufacturer only has to suffer two more years of potentially bad press because Pirelli is coming to the rescue.
Pirelli already provides rubber for Moto3 and Moto2, but from 2027 it'll add MotoGP to that list. MotoGP's organizers and Pirelli have agreed on a five-year deal, which will last until 2031 and put an end to a decade of Michelin sponsorship. The MotoE racing series will continue to be sponsored by Michelin for the next two years.
