Pirelli to debut new Moto2 rear tire at final Phillip Island grand prix
The 2026 Grand Prix of Australia will be the last to be held at Phillip Island before the event moves to Adelaide’s new street circuit in 2027. Historically one of the most demanding tracks for tires, Phillip Island has been chosen by Pirelli for the debut of the F0604, a new hard-compound development rear specification for Moto2, designed to offer greater resistance to wear at the most severe circuits.
The alternative will be the medium D0922, used by every rider at the 2025 GP. Compared with the standard SC1, the D0922 features a different structure and compound. The compound is slightly softer, sitting between the soft and medium options, with the aim of improving stability and performance consistency.
To help teams and riders evaluate the new F0604 specification, the rear slick allocation for the race will increase from nine to 10 tires per rider. Riders will have the standard soft SC1 and medium SC2 options available. The same specifications, in different sizes, will also be available in Moto3.
In the entry class, riders will be able to choose between the standard medium SC2 and the development hard C1096, both of which were already included in the allocation for the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.
Giorgio Barbier, motorcycle racing director at Pirelli, said, “Some circuits present a tire manufacturer with a particularly severe challenge, whether because of their layout, the asphalt or the temperatures that can arise.
“From this perspective, Phillip Island has been an absolute benchmark for many years: an extremely demanding circuit, capable of putting tires to the test and driving us to keep improving the performance of our products. In a sense, it has been an adversary, one that commands respect and, precisely because of the scale of the challenge, pushes you beyond your limits.
“Added to all this is the unique appeal of a circuit that has retained its distinctive identity over the years. That is why we will be sorry not to race here anymore: Phillip Island is an ideal proving ground for tire development, and its characteristics are precisely why we chose the circuit for the debut of the new F0604 rear tire for Moto2.
“This solution has been developed to provide greater resistance to wear, going beyond the level already achieved by the D0922 and further broadening the range of options available to us for tackling the circuits that place the greatest demands on tires.”
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