The BWIN Grand Prix of Austria 2025 took place this weekend on the spectacular Red Bull Ring, underlining extreme challenges for the tires: limited mechanical grip, track temperatures peaking at over 53°C on Friday and Saturday, and a layout demanding intense braking and long acceleration phases. In this context, the special allocation provided by Michelin – with a specific rear construction and a new Hard front tire – proved highly relevant.
Tires tested by heat and low grip
From Friday onwards, riders experienced the consistent performance of the MICHELIN Power Slick tires. With the track at 53°C, the Soft rear tire delivered an immediate grip advantage but less resistance to thermal stress. The Medium proved more robust and consistent, a fact confirmed during longer runs.
At the front, Medium and Hard were the riders' preferred choices: the Soft was deemed too weak for the Red Bull Ring's heavy braking zones. The new 2025 Hard, featuring a reinforced casing but a softer compound, was praised for its braking stability. However, apart from Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who chose it for Sunday's race, no other rider selected it.
Saturday: a demanding Tissot Sprint
The 14-lap Tissot Sprint took place on an extremely hot track (49°C at the start), amplifying the lack of mechanical grip already noted. Most riders opted for a Medium front / Soft rear combination, while Johann Zarco selected two Mediums.
Riders reported significant rear-wheel spinning, reflecting the overall low grip. Nevertheless, the race confirmed the consistency of Michelin's allocation: the Sprint's total race time was reduced by 2.7 seconds compared to 2024 (20'56.071 vs 20'59.768), clear evidence of performance gains despite the extreme conditions.
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) triumphed ahead of his brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).
Sunday: a Grand Prix managed thanks to Michelin tire consistency
The 28-lap Grand Prix was held in slightly milder (but still demanding) conditions with a 42°C track temperature. With the exception of Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), who chose the new Hard front tire, the entire field selected the Medium / Medium combination.
It was the right choice: tire consistency allowed riders to maintain a fast pace without significant performance drop-off. The race time was 42'11.006, 0.167 seconds faster than the record set in 2024.
At the checkered flag, Marc Marquez once again took victory, ahead of Firmin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), who completed the podium after leading for twenty laps.
MotoE™: performance meets sustainability
Races 5 and 6 of the FIM MotoE™ World Championship took place on Saturday. They confirmed the progress of the new 2025 MICHELIN Power MotoE range, made with 56% sustainable materials at the front and 58% at the rear.
Despite a hot, slippery track, lap times were better than in 2024, proving a simultaneous improvement in performance and consistency. Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE) won both races at the Red Bull Ring.
Statement from Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager
"The Red Bull Ring is one of the most demanding circuits of the season, and this 2025 edition once again proved it. We faced extreme conditions, with track temperatures exceeding 53°C at times and very low mechanical grip. This type of configuration causes a lot of wheel spin and generates tremendous heat in the rear tires.
"Our special allocation, featuring a reinforced rear construction and a new Hard front tire, enabled us to meet this double challenge. We saw that the Soft rear offered excellent instant grip, but the Medium remained the most consistent option for race distance, as confirmed by the riders' Sunday choices. At the front, the new Hard gave satisfaction, although the riders mostly preferred the Medium for both the Tissot Sprint and the Grand Prix.
"We are particularly pleased to note that despite these extreme conditions, race times improved in both the Tissot Sprint and the Grand Prix. This validates our technical choices and confirms our ability to provide teams with reliable, high-performing tires adapted to all situations.
"In MotoE, I am proud to highlight that we have reached another milestone: 57% sustainable materials in our tires, combined with a measurable increase in performance. This shows that sustainability and competitiveness can go hand in hand, which is excellent news for the future of motorcycle racing."
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