.: Press Release – Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands 2025

Press Release

A MICHELIN Power Slick tyre allocation put to the test by a weekend of many faces at Assen

• The cool track and cold wind limited tyre choices to Softs on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday's track temperature (>30°C) opened the door to more varied tyre strategies.
• On a cold track swept by constant winds, riders faced a double challenge: keeping the tyres in the right temperature window while preserving their allocation for the Tissot Sprint and Sunday's race.
• Starting in 2026, Michelin will offer two specifications at the front (as at the rear) to optimise allocations and provide teams with more tyres of each type.

The Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands, the tenth round of the 2025 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, provided the Assen crowd with a scenario full of twists and turns, where weather played a central role.

Friday and Saturday were dominated by cool conditions, punctuated by gusts of cold wind that made it difficult to bring the tyres up to temperature, reminiscent of challenges usually seen at Silverstone, Phillip Island or Le Mans. Friday morning's rain, which washed the track before the first MotoE™ session, added to the difficulties by keeping surface temperatures very low. Even in the afternoon, the asphalt did not exceed 24°C.

In these tricky conditions, the MICHELIN Power Slick Soft tyres, front and rear, showcased their full potential. Riders nevertheless had to carefully manage their allocation to save fresh tyres for later in the weekend. "On a cold track swept by constant winds, riders faced a double challenge: keeping the tyres in the right temperature window while preserving their allocation for the Tissot Sprint and Sunday's race," explains Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport's two-wheel competition manager.

Very deliberate tyre management

During Saturday's sessions, the weather situation hardly changed, forcing all riders to use Soft compounds front and rear, both in FP2 free practice, during qualifying and in the Tissot Sprint.

Six riders, having already consumed more Soft tyres the previous day, even had to start the Sprint with a scrubbed front tyre in order to save a fresh set for Sunday's Grand Prix.

This highlighted the strategic importance of careful allocation management on a circuit like Assen, dominated by fast corners and lacking heavy braking zones, which makes it harder to quickly generate heat.

For teams as well as for Michelin, this context was a reminder of how tyre choices need to be planned throughout the weekend, particularly based on weather forecasts. Especially since from 2026, Michelin will adjust its offering by providing two specifications for the front (Soft and Medium, for example), just as already done at the rear, allowing riders to have more tyres of each type to optimise their strategy.

A sunny Sunday, favouring tyre strategies

On Sunday, temperatures climbed thanks to a shy sun that at times managed to pierce through the cloud cover, allowing the track to exceed 30°C. This renewed warmth, combined with the absence of wind, gave riders the chance to fully exploit the MICHELIN Power Slick range. Some opted for Soft rears to maximise grip and agility, while most of the field selected Mediums. At the front, the Hard tyre was widely chosen for more stability in rapid direction changes, with only Somkiat Chantra (LCR Honda) running a Medium.

Like Saturday's Tissot Sprint, the Grand Prix ended with a victory for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), who got the better of Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) in a breathtaking duel. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed the podium in third place after a strategic race where tyre management once again proved decisive.

"We have just wrapped up a great weekend where the weather affected the action and, in particular, tyre choices," says Piero Taramasso. "On Friday and Saturday, riders had to contend with the cold and wind to keep the tyres in their optimal window, while the lack of heavy braking didn't help. Our MICHELIN Power Slick Softs rose perfectly to this challenge. On Sunday, milder weather allowed for more varied strategies. Most of the field thus opted for Hard fronts and Medium rears. Tyre consistency was exemplary, with the four protagonists engaging in a beautiful battle, stringing together fast laps in the second half of the race."

MotoE: performance and sustainable commitment

After a seven-week break, the FIM MotoE™ World Championship returned this weekend at Assen for the third and fourth rounds of the calendar, with two races held on Saturday.

Andrea Mantovani (Klint Forward Team) took the chequered flag in the morning race, while Alessandro Zaccone (Aruba Cloud MotoE™ Team) claimed victory in the afternoon event.

Michelin, exclusive supplier to this innovative category, once again demonstrated its technological progress in sustainability, with tyres containing a record rate of renewable and recycled materials: 58% for the front tyre and 56% for the rear. These advancements, developed for competition, are gradually being integrated into the manufacturer's consumer ranges.

About Michelin

Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of life-changing composites and experiences.

Pioneering engineered materials for more than 130 years, Michelin is uniquely positioned to make decisive contributions to human progress and to a more sustainable world.

Drawing on its deep know-how in polymer composites, Michelin is constantly innovating to manufacture high-quality tires and components for critical applications in demanding fields as varied as mobility, construction, aeronautics, low-carbon energies, and healthcare.

The care placed in its products and deep customer knowledge inspire Michelin to offer the finest experiences. This spans from providing data- and AI-based connected solutions for professional fleets to recommending outstanding restaurants and hotels curated by the MICHELIN Guide.

Headquartered in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Michelin is present in 175 countries and employs 129,800 people.

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