All attention now turns to Michelin for this weekend’s Australian GP, as the circuit at Phillip Island has been resurfaced. The last time Phillip Island was resurfaced was in 2013, which caused tyre overheating issues, leading to a shorter race and mandatory pit stops. Similar problems also forced shorter races for Moto2 and Moto3 due to Dunlop tyres.

The recent resurfacing caught Pirelli off guard during February’s WorldSBK opener, once again requiring shortened races and mandatory pit stops to ensure tyre safety.

Now Michelin will face the test on the new asphalt at the upcoming Australian Grand Prix. Like at Aragon, Michelin has no data for the new surface, prompting the French manufacturer to provide an expanded range of rear tyre options—three instead of the usual two. The medium and hard compounds will feature a heat-resistant reinforced construction.

"We are eager to learn more about the characteristics of the new Phillip Island asphalt," said Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport’s Two-Wheel Manager. "Since we didn’t have the chance to test it beforehand, we’re bringing an extended tyre selection. For the front, we’ll stick with the same compounds (Soft, Medium, and Hard) as in 2023, but for the rear, we’re offering three options instead of the typical two.

“The Soft compound will have its usual internal structure, but the Medium and Hard tyres will have reinforced construction, which we already used at the end of September in Mandalika, Indonesia. This decision was made based on the circuit layout and the demands placed on the tyres."

Like at Sachsenring and Valencia, the front and rear tyres will have an asymmetric design, with added reinforcement on the left side.

Last year’s Australian Grand Prix saw the race being moved to Saturday afternoon due to severe weather forecasts for Sunday. The storm arrived after the warm-up, leading to the cancellation of the rescheduled Sprint.

Meanwhile, Pirelli can at least rely on its WorldSBK and WSS experience for Moto2 and Moto3 this weekend.