The FIM MotoGP™ World Championship travelled to Hungary for the very first time this weekend, for the Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary 2025 held at the brand-new Balaton Park. Located 85 km southwest of Budapest, this modern circuit inaugurated in 2023 successfully hosted the 14th round of the season in ideal summer conditions. For Michelin, official partner and exclusive tyre supplier to MotoGP, this event represented a brand-new challenge, prepared in advance through simulation tools and tests carried out by manufacturers' development riders.
From the very first laps, Michelin's specific allocation proved its relevance in tackling the circuit's demanding features: heavy braking, sharp acceleration, tight sequences, and track temperatures close to 50°C. The MICHELIN Power Slick Medium front tyre became the reference choice of the weekend. In the 13-lap Tissot Sprint, all riders paired it with the Soft rear for maximum grip. In Sunday's Grand Prix, however, strategies diverged: some chose the extra grip of the Soft, betting on its consistency over distance, while others favoured the Medium for its stable performance over the 27 laps.
Friday: first successful validations
Friday, August 22, marked the official discovery of Balaton Park for all MotoGP riders. Although the track was not yet fully rubbered in, the first sessions quickly confirmed that Michelin's allocation met expectations.
In the morning, most of the field ran with Soft front and Medium rear, benefiting from excellent grip and traction. In the afternoon, with track temperatures reaching 55°C, teams switched to Medium front/Soft rear, which improved braking stability without compromising acceleration.
End-of-day analysis revealed perfectly controlled wear on the Soft rear, paving the way for its use in both the Sprint and possibly the full race.
Meanwhile, the electric Ducatis of the FIM MotoE™ World Championship ran Michelin tyres containing 57% renewable and recycled materials. From free practice through qualifying, riders praised the grip and overall feel of this new generation of tyres, confirming Michelin's sustainable and technological commitment.
Saturday: first Hungarian Tissot Sprint with Medium/Soft tyres
On Saturday, August 23, under clear skies and stable weather, riders were able to significantly improve lap times. Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) dominated qualifying with a lap of 1'36.518, setting the new all-time record at Balaton Park. He then confirmed his supremacy by winning the 13-lap Tissot Sprint in 21'13.465, ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).
All riders used the same tyre combination: Medium front and Soft rear. This package delivered consistent grip from start to finish, along with excellent cornering precision and flawless traction out of Balaton Park's numerous acceleration zones.
In MotoE, Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) excelled by winning both Saturday races. With this double victory, the Italian strengthened his lead in the championship, now with 116 points, 14 clear of Lorenzo Baldassari (Dynavolt Intact GP) and 15 ahead of Andrea Mantovani (KLINT Forward Factory Team).
Sunday: varied strategies for the MICHELIN Grand Prix of Hungary 2025
The first-ever MotoGP race in Hungary took place on Sunday, August 24, under blue skies and ideal conditions: 22°C ambient and 47°C track temperature.
As validated during the Tissot Sprint, all riders started with a Medium front. At the rear, part of the grid chose the Soft for maximum grip, while others opted for the Medium for its durability, creating varied tyre strategies.
Marc Márquez lived up to his favourite status with a masterful performance. After 27 laps, he took victory in 42'37.681, also setting the fastest lap of the race (1'37.864), showcasing both the competitiveness of his package and the consistency of Michelin's tyres. Behind him, young Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) secured a strong second place, while Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) completed the podium.
Both Medium/Soft and Medium/Medium configurations delivered high-level performance from start to chequered flag, despite the demanding hot conditions.
MotoE™: sustainability and performance hand in hand
Beyond MotoGP, the Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary also hosted the fourth round of the MotoE season. The electric Ducatis equipped with Michelin tyres containing 57% renewable and recycled materials impressed with their consistency and grip. Double winner Mattia Casadei praised the stability and precision of these tyres, which combine performance and sustainability. This reflects Michelin's "All-Sustainable" strategy, which aims to reach 100% sustainable materials across all tyres by 2050.
Statement from Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager
"This first Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary will remain a historic milestone for MotoGP and for Michelin. Discovering a new circuit is always a challenge, as we must anticipate its behaviour without any reference data. Our simulations and the tests carried out with development riders gave us valuable indications, and I am pleased to see everything confirmed perfectly this weekend.
"From Friday, riders appreciated the versatility of our allocation, able to adapt to track temperatures sometimes exceeding 50°C. The Soft rear, which could have been considered more vulnerable over long distance, showed remarkable consistency while delivering secure and constant grip. Its ability to be used both in the Tissot Sprint and in the main race, on a hot track and in intense rider battles, is a great satisfaction.
"What also stands out is the unanimous choice of the front tyre. This demonstrates that our solutions matched the teams' needs perfectly. Riders could push with full confidence, and the lap times speak for themselves: Marc Márquez took pole position, the Tissot Sprint win, and the Grand Prix victory, setting all new benchmark lap times for the circuit.
"Finally, I would like to highlight the performance of the new-generation MotoE tyres. With over 57% renewable and recycled content, they deliver equal or even superior performance compared to previous ranges. For us, this is a source of pride and concrete proof that sustainable innovation can go hand in hand with spectacle and top-level competition.
"In summary, this first Hungarian round has been a sporting and technical success. Michelin is proud to have contributed to writing a new page in MotoGP history, and we look forward to returning to Balaton Park next year."
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