Pirelli takes on the Mandalika heat with a new Moto2™ soft tyre

· Soft tyre comparison. Following the Japanese GP, the FIM Grand Prix World Championship heads to the Pertamina Mandalika International Circuit in Lombok for the Grand Prix of Indonesia. The Indonesian circuit features an aggressively textured surface that provides good mechanical grip. However, this is significantly affected by high temperatures, which can exceed 60°C and make the surface slippery, subjecting the tyres to severe thermal stress. These characteristics make Mandalika an ideal proving ground for developing new solutions. For Moto2™, Pirelli will therefore offer two soft-compound rear tyres: the standard SC0, successfully used by almost the entire field in 2025 as development specification E0125, and the new F0515. The latter uses the same compound as the SC0 but combines it with a newly developed structure designed to deliver greater stability and more consistent performance. To support its evaluation over the weekend, the maximum number of rear tyres available to each rider will be increased from eight to nine.
 
· Front tyre options. For the front, riders will be able to choose between the standard soft SC1 and medium SC2. Over the past two years, every rider has opted for the soft tyre in the race because it delivers higher grip levels in high temperatures.
 
· SC1 and SC2 for Moto3™. In the World Championship’s entry-level class, riders will be able to choose between the soft SC1 and medium SC2 for both the front and rear, two solutions that have both proved competitive over the course of the season. Last year’s results at Mandalika provide further confirmation: Honda rider Adrian Fernandez took pole position on the SC1 front and rear, while KTM rider José Antonio Rueda won both the race and the title on a pair of SC2 tyres. 

Head-to-head comparison between two soft rear tyres at Mandalika
 
“As at several rounds this year, also in Indonesia we will continue our Moto2™ development work. After focusing on front tyre specifications at the most recent Grands Prix, we will introduce a new soft rear solution at Mandalika. With its highly macro-rough asphalt and temperatures that can exceed 60°C, the circuit places the tyres under severe thermal stress, making it a particularly valuable proving ground for testing new solutions.
The F0515 development specification, which will make its debut this weekend, uses the same compound as the standard SC0 but pairs it with a newly developed structure designed to deliver greater stability and more consistent performance.
Completing the rear allocation will be the standard SC0, successfully used by almost the entire field in 2025, when it was introduced as development specification E0125. Having both solutions available will allow a direct comparison over the course of the weekend and enable us to gather valuable data to support the next stages of development.”