Ducati test rider Michel Pirro believes Marc Marquez is “scared” to push during the Grand Prix race rather than in the Sprints due to concerns about the Michelin 2026 tyres.
Marquez So far, the 2026 Grand Prix has been more competitive during the Sprint Races MotoGP seasonAfter finishing P2 in the Buriram Sprint and won the Goiani Sprint. He could have won the Sprint in Thailand without receiving any penalties.
Race control is mandated. Marquez in the Buriram Sprint to drop a place in the last lapHe forced his way to lead KTM rival Pedro Acosta. The podium was his target at the Thai Grand Prix, but he retired with a puncture after damaging a wheel rim on the kerb.
Track conditions cost Marquez P3 at the Brazilian Grand Prix Last week he ran wide on the loose tarmac and opened the door for Fabio Di Giannantonio’s VR46. But Marquez won the Sprint race in BrazilDi Giannantonio took his first win of the season.
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Michel Pirro thinks Marc Marquez ‘scared’ hard Michelin rear tire causes more front tire wear
Pyro Ducati believes that they were not in the fight to win the Thai GP or the Brazilian GP because they are still trying to understand the Michelin dry rear tire. Michelin offered its heat-treated carcass in Buriram and Goiania, and Piro Marquez was not happy to be pushed against him.
Read more: Everything you need to know about the 2026 United States Grand Prix, including how to watch it
While the shorter distance of the Sprint Races allowed Marquez to not focus as much on tire management, Pirro believes the 33-year-old was “scared” to attack in the Grand Prix because of the risk of wearing out his front tyre. Piro is not sure what will change for Ducati in America.
Pyro said Moto.it: “Let’s say we’re a competitor at the back with the heavy tire at the moment. But when he realizes he can push, maybe in the sprints where the race is shorter, well, he’ll be more competitive.”
“Because with the rear tire, at the end, you also put the front tire under stress, so he was scared about wearing the front tire on Sunday.
“Then the race was short, so there are a lot of factors to consider. Let’s wait and see what we can get from Austin.”
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The Circuit of the Americas is another punishing track for Michelin tires, so the brand has offered balanced soft and medium front and rear tires for the United States Grand Prix. The rear tires are reinforced on the right side to cope with the demands of the circuit.
Marquez can only hope that Michelin only offers two compounds and they won’t be hard tires. He is a COTA specialist with seven wins in Austin, Texas but will finally win the Grand Prix there in 2021.
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