MotoGP qualifying can leave a rider more exhausted than a race, Marco Melandri says. The former racer made the point during an episode of the Galfer Podcast at Galfer’s EICMA 2026 stand. The conversation also revisited his path from the early stages of his racing career to the 250 World Championship, MotoGP and Superbike.

Melandri recalled the change from watching races as a spectator to lining up against riders he had once admired. He identified his first MotoGP win, in 2005, as one of the most significant moments of his career. It came after difficult seasons and, in his own account, carried the meaning of personal redemption.

Discussing the current MotoGP format, Melandri focused less on the number of races than on the structure of the race weekends. Qualifying, he explained, places an especially heavy physical and mental demand on riders, to the point that it can be more draining than a race.

What brake development now prioritises

Melandri’s collaboration with Galfer has now lasted six years. During that time, he has contributed to the development of the company’s products, including the G1310 brake pads. He described brake-system development as a shift away from weight reduction alone. Higher power, greater modulation and consistent braking performance have become important parts of the target.

For Melandri, the feedback reaching the rider remains essential because it is the basis for building confidence in the motorcycle. He also stressed the value of cooperation between riders and technicians in research and development, with track experience helping shape future products. Seeing racing products whose evolution he personally helped support is, he added, a particularly satisfying part of that work.