Pirelli to Debut Hard-Compound Tyre at Australian GP
Moto2 riders will trial the new F0604 rear tyre as the series prepares for its final race at the Phillip Island circuit.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Motorsports
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Pirelli will introduce the new F0604 hard-compound rear tyre during the 2026 Australian Grand Prix to improve durability at the demanding Phillip Island circuit. This debut marks the final time the Moto2 series will compete at the venue before transitioning to the Adelaide street circuit in 2027.
Why it matters
The Phillip Island circuit is known for characteristics that place extreme stress on equipment, necessitating a tyre developed specifically to resist wear. This technical adjustment aims to maintain performance standards during the final year at the track.
Pirelli has increased the Moto2 rear slick tyre allocation to 10 units per rider for the event, up from the usual 9. The new F0604 compound replaces the D0922 medium-compound tyre used by the field in 2025.
The players
Pirelli
Pirelli is an Italian multinational tyre manufacturing company that serves as the official tyre supplier for major motorcycle racing series.
Diogo Moreira
Diogo Moreira is a professional motorcycle racer who established the current track record at Phillip Island.
The details
The F0604 tyre is engineered to provide greater resistance to wear than the D0922, which was previously used in the 2025 Australian Grand Prix and the last two German Grand Prix editions. In the Moto3 category, riders will have the choice between the medium SC2 and the development hard C1096 rear tyres.
Timeline
The D0922 tyre was utilised in the 2025 Australian Grand Prix.
The 2026 Australian Grand Prix will be the final race held at Phillip Island.
The series will move to the Adelaide street circuit in 2027.
Season Trajectory
This transition marks the final chapter for Moto2 at Phillip Island, shifting the historical focus away from the circuit as the series prepares for its 2027 debut in Adelaide. The move concludes a long era of competition at this iconic track.
Riders will have access to an extra rear slick tyre compared to previous allocations, providing more strategic flexibility during practice and qualifying sessions. The switch to the harder F0604 compound will likely influence team setups as they manage tyre degradation over the race distance.
The takeaway
The introduction of the F0604 tyre highlights the specific engineering challenges posed by the Phillip Island track surface. Teams and riders must adapt to this new compound as they complete their final season at the iconic Australian venue.
Further reading
For more context on the current season, visit the Motorsports section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by GPone.
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