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Sylvain Guintoli: MotoGP’s Pirelli switch means “everything’s going to be different” – Exclusive
Sylvain Guintoli says MotoGP’s switch to Pirelli tyres will change “everything” and reward those who adapt fastest.
Sylvain Guintoli says MotoGP’s switch to Pirelli tyres could reshape the competitive order, with those adapting fastest set to gain a “big advantage”.
The former grand prix rider and World Superbike champion contributed to the development of Michelin’s current MotoGP tyres, but also knows Pirelli rubber from his work with the BMW SBK Test Team.
Pirelli made its ‘MotoGP’ debut during a private group test on 1000cc machinery at Misano last September.
Since then, KTM and Honda have both confirmed track tests of 850cc prototypes, with tyre development set to accelerate as manufacturers turn their focus to the 2027 regulations.
Alongside the switch to Pirelli, MotoGP will introduce smaller 850cc engines, powered by 100% ‘non oil-refinement origin fuel’, plus a ban on ride-height devices and restrictions on aerodynamics.
But for Guintoli, a MotoGP pundit for TNT Sports, the new tyres will be the defining factor.
“Tyres make such a huge difference. They are literally your contact point to the track,” Guintoli told Crash.net.
“Racing is basically about using the full potential of the tyres over the length of a race.
“So everything is going to be different because tyre [brands] all have very different characteristics.
“They flex in different ways, give different grip, at different angles, provide different feedback and have different levels of endurance.”
Guintoli expects Pirelli’s WorldSBK tyres to provide the ‘DNA’ for its MotoGP rubber.
“We don’t know what the final spec from Pirelli for MotoGP will be yet. We’ve heard that they’re going to be evolutions [of the SBK tyres],” he said.
“How much DNA of the current Pirellis are going to be in there? Probably quite a lot. But we don’t know exactly.
“So it’s difficult to predict, but I think we can be pretty confident that there’s going to be a lot of work to do for the manufacturers.
“And whoever is able to figure it out first is going to have a big advantage because tyres make such a massive difference.”
Sylvain Guintoli is running the 2026 London Marathon on 26 April, wearing racing leathers, in memory of his son Luca.
To support Guintoli in raising funds for children’s cancer charity PASIC, visit: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/sylvain-guintoli
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Sylvain Guintoli says MotoGP’s switch to Pirelli tyres will change “everything” and reward those who adapt fastest.
Sylvain Guintoli says MotoGP’s switch to Pirelli tyres could reshape the competitive order, with those adapting fastest set to gain a “big advantage”.
The former grand prix rider and World Superbike champion contributed to the development of Michelin’s current MotoGP tyres, but also knows Pirelli rubber from his work with the BMW SBK Test Team.
Pirelli made its ‘MotoGP’ debut during a private group test on 1000cc machinery at Misano last September.
Since then, KTM and Honda have both confirmed track tests of 850cc prototypes, with tyre development set to accelerate as manufacturers turn their focus to the 2027 regulations.
Alongside the switch to Pirelli, MotoGP will introduce smaller 850cc engines, powered by 100% ‘non oil-refinement origin fuel’, plus a ban on ride-height devices and restrictions on aerodynamics.
But for Guintoli, a MotoGP pundit for TNT Sports, the new tyres will be the defining factor.
“Tyres make such a huge difference. They are literally your contact point to the track,” Guintoli told Crash.net.
“Racing is basically about using the full potential of the tyres over the length of a race.
“So everything is going to be different because tyre [brands] all have very different characteristics.
“They flex in different ways, give different grip, at different angles, provide different feedback and have different levels of endurance.”
Guintoli expects Pirelli’s WorldSBK tyres to provide the ‘DNA’ for its MotoGP rubber.
“We don’t know what the final spec from Pirelli for MotoGP will be yet. We’ve heard that they’re going to be evolutions [of the SBK tyres],” he said.
“How much DNA of the current Pirellis are going to be in there? Probably quite a lot. But we don’t know exactly.
“So it’s difficult to predict, but I think we can be pretty confident that there’s going to be a lot of work to do for the manufacturers.
“And whoever is able to figure it out first is going to have a big advantage because tyres make such a massive difference.”
Sylvain Guintoli is running the 2026 London Marathon on 26 April, wearing racing leathers, in memory of his son Luca.
To support Guintoli in raising funds for children’s cancer charity PASIC, visit: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/sylvain-guintoli
Sylvain Guintoli says MotoGP’s switch to Pirelli tyres could reshape the competitive order, with those adapting fastest set to gain a “big advantage”.
The former grand prix rider and World Superbike champion contributed to the development of Michelin’s current MotoGP tyres, but also knows Pirelli rubber from his work with the BMW SBK Test Team.
Pirelli made its ‘MotoGP’ debut during a private group test on 1000cc machinery at Misano last September.
Since then, KTM and Honda have both confirmed track tests of 850cc prototypes, with tyre development set to accelerate as manufacturers turn their focus to the 2027 regulations.
Alongside the switch to Pirelli, MotoGP will introduce smaller 850cc engines, powered by 100% ‘non oil-refinement origin fuel’, plus a ban on ride-height devices and restrictions on aerodynamics.
But for Guintoli, a MotoGP pundit for TNT Sports, the new tyres will be the defining factor.
“Tyres make such a huge difference. They are literally your contact point to the track,” Guintoli told Crash.net.
“Racing is basically about using the full potential of the tyres over the length of a race.
“So everything is going to be different because tyre [brands] all have very different characteristics.
“They flex in different ways, give different grip, at different angles, provide different feedback and have different levels of endurance.”
Guintoli expects Pirelli’s WorldSBK tyres to provide the ‘DNA’ for its MotoGP rubber.
“We don’t know what the final spec from Pirelli for MotoGP will be yet. We’ve heard that they’re going to be evolutions [of the SBK tyres],” he said.
“How much DNA of the current Pirellis are going to be in there? Probably quite a lot. But we don’t know exactly.
“So it’s difficult to predict, but I think we can be pretty confident that there’s going to be a lot of work to do for the manufacturers.
“And whoever is able to figure it out first is going to have a big advantage because tyres make such a massive difference.”
Sylvain Guintoli is running the 2026 London Marathon on 26 April, wearing racing leathers, in memory of his son Luca.
To support Guintoli in raising funds for children’s cancer charity PASIC, visit: https://2026tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/sylvain-guintoli
[analyse_source url=”http://crash.net/motogp/news/1092846/1/sylvain-guintoli-motogps-pirelli-switch-means-everythings-going-be-different”]