Pirelli takes over from Dunlop as exclusive Moto2, Moto3 tyre supplier

The deal means that Pirelli will add the motorcycle grand pri🍃x classes to its two-wheel activities alongside the likes of the World Superbike and Supersport championships, plus leading national 𝄹series such as BSB.
💝The initial contract is for three seasons, from 2024-2026.
After dominating the final years of the 250cc and 125cc World Championships, Dunlop was the natural choice as tyre supplier for the replacement Moto2 (2010) and Moto✅3 (2012) classes.
The Pirelli deal❀ also includes across the ‘Road to MotoGP’ classes: The Finetwork FIM JuniorGP World Championship, the Idemitsu Asia Talent Cup, the Northern Talent Cup and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup.
"We’re super happy to welcom🌠e Pirelli to the paddock as the sole tyre ⛦supplier for Moto2 and Moto3, and across the Road to MotoGP,” said Dorna Chief Sporting Officer Carlos Ezpeleta.
“These Championships are the best example in motorsport of strong feeder classes that also stand al🧜one as hig♋h-level competitions, in terms of both their sporting and commercial value. So we’re very happy to have seen such a high level of interest from Pirelli and to reach this agreement.
“Welcoming a new partner also underlines our sport’s strong connections and relationships with the industry, and we’re very much looking forward to working with Pirelli across a number of areas, including performance, road-relevance and, of course, sustainability𓆉."
Aldo Nicotera, Senior Vice-President and Head of Moto an𒉰d Cycling at 𝔍Pirelli, added:
"We are proud that Dorna has chosen us to become the new Moto2 and Moto3 supplier for the next three seasons. This is further recognition of our authority in motorsport and also a clear sign of appreciation for the work we have beenꦏ carrying out in the Superbike World Ch🍸ampionship for 20 years.
“With this new supply agreement, we will accompany the young hopefuls of motorcycling to the top competitio🔥ns, WorldSBK and MotoGP. And, faithful to the philosop♛hy that has distinguished us for years, we will do so by continuing to use standard products on sale in the market and available for purchase to all motorcyclists."
Michelin is currently the exclusive tyre supplier for the MotoGP class, with a deal in place untꦺil the end of 2026 - which is also wh🧜en Pirelli's current WorldSBK contract expires.
Iker Lecuona, who h🦩as recently raced with both Michelins in MotoGP and Pirellis in WorldSBK, said of the diff🍸erence:
"The 𒁃Pirelli is more soft. So the bike dances more on the exit and then the braking area, you can push a lot. With the Pirelli, you can brake hard until the corner.
"I remember in the [MotoGP] qualifying I made a lot of mistakes with the first tyre... I went wide because I had the Superbike 'chip' in my miౠnd. And I wanted to brake later and later and it's the opposite. I needed to anticipate, to carry the corner speed. So it's a completely different way to work with the ✅tyre."
On the issue of how the change of Moto2 tyre supplier might affect grip levels for the MotoGP class, Jack Miller, who use Pirellis in last year's Australian SBK outing, said: "Pirellis generally do leave a little bit more rubber on the track, so whether or not that'll make it worse for our [MotoGP] tyres or better, we'll🌄 find out."
Pirelli's F1 tyre deal expires a🅷t the end of 2024.

Peter has been in the paddock for 20 years and has seen Valentino Rossi com💙e and go. He is at the forefront of the Suzuki exit story and Marc Marquez’s injury issues.