Rescheduled as the 7th round of the championship (previously the 10th in 2024, held in early August), the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom raised questions regarding track conditions. Measuring 5.9 km with 18 turns, Silverstone is the longest and one of the flattest circuits on the calendar.
From Friday onwards, MotoGP riders maintained a strong pace, benefiting from a range of Michelin tires well-suited to the circuit’s demands and the specific characteristics of the motorcycles. Rainfall on Friday night and Sunday morning over the counties of Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire (the circuit spans both regions) did not disrupt the races, which were both held on dry track conditions.
On Saturday morning, Fabio Quartararo secured his third consecutive pole position, following successes at Jerez (Spain) and Le Mans (France). The Monster Energy Yamaha rider became the 7th different pole-setter in seven editions of the Grand Prix at Silverstone, all contested on Michelin tyres.
"Regardless of the weather or timing, our tyres deliver!" said Piero Taramasso, Michelin Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager. "Track conditions were mixed and understandably cooler than last August, but performance was on point. The key to such a weekend, with uncertainties due to calendar shifts, lies in meticulous tire package preparation. Our teams made informed decisions when selecting rubber compounds, also considering the evolving performance of the 2025 motorcycles. Here, wear levels were relatively high, with grip varying based on temperature and humidity. The rear Soft tire provided a performance edge on Saturday, while conditions on Sunday led most riders to opt for the Medium compound. At the front, the Soft compound was well suited for both races, but on Sunday, the Medium also performed well, as shown by Marc Marquez and Franco Morbidelli finishing third and fourth. The performance observed and the newly established track record this weekend reflect the efficiency of our team's efforts and the robustness of our technical collaboration with partners."
For the Tissot Grand Prix of the United Kingdom, Michelin provided three front tire compounds (Soft, Medium, Hard) with symmetrical tread patterns, and rear tires in Soft and Medium compounds with asymmetrical designs. Given the higher number of right-hand turns (10 compared to 8 left-handers), the rear tires featured reinforced right-side tread.
On Saturday afternoon, the Sprint race was won by Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing) taking full advantage of his Soft tires both front and rear. He was followed by his brother Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), both employing the same tire combination.
Sunday’s 19-lap Grand Prix (reduced from 20 laps due to a red flag) saw Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) take victory ahead of Johann Zarco (LCR Honda). Both riders opted for Soft front and Medium rear tires. Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the podium in third place, having chosen Medium compounds for both front and rear.
Marco Bezzecchi became the 11th different rider to win at Silverstone in as many editions.
Silverstone 2025 weekend highlights
The practice sessions commenced at a high pace, clearly showcasing the potential of race bikes equipped with Michelin tires. During the Practice session on Friday afternoon, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing) broke Aleix Espargaro’s (Aprilia Racing) 2024 lap record by completing the 5.9 km circuit in 1’57.295. Then, on Saturday morning, French rider Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha) further improved the record to 1’57.233.
The next round of the 2025 FIM MotoGP World Championship—the 8th of the season—will take place from 6 to 8 June at the Aragon circuit in Spain, known as the GoPro Grand Prix of Aragon.
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