.: Press Release – Motul Grand Prix of Japan 2025

Press Release

Michelin tyres delivering ultimate performance, with the same consistency as always

• Michelin tyres enabled the riders in the 2025 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship to maintain an unprecedented pace on the Motegi circuit (Japan).
• After two hard-fought races, Marc Márquez won his seventh MotoGP World Championship title, his fifth with Michelin. He joins Mick Doohan and Valentino Rossi.
• Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) set a new track record of 1:42.911 in the second phase of Qualifying.

For 21 years, the Motegi circuit, two hours from Tokyo, the capital of Japan, has hosted the MotoGP World Championship as well as a significant number of test sessions. Owned by car and motorcycle manufacturer Honda, Motegi’s 'Mobility Resort' is located in the heart of the Japanese countryside. It was in this mountainous and wooded environment that one of the most memorable motorsport events of the season took place this weekend. The fans were not mistaken: by motorbike, by car, alone or with their families, many of them turned up on Thursday, with attendance peaking on Saturday and Sunday, to witness the coronation of Spanish rider Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team).

Based on data collected during the 2024 Grand Prix, Michelin Motorsport had revamped its tyre range for the 2025 edition, introducing a front tyre with a reinforced carcass. The package provided by Michelin Motorsport proved to be the right choice, as the pace was very fast in practice from the very first day, already close to the circuit record, which was broken the following morning. In qualifying, in the Tissot Sprint as well as during the Grand Prix, the riders were able to get the most out of their performance and that of their bikes thanks to the confidence provided by the French manufacturer’s MotoGP tyre ranges.

"The battle was very intense throughout the weekend, and this was partly thanks to the consistent performance of our tyres," said Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s two-wheel competition manager. “When we studied the track layout, we knew that our partners needed a slightly stiffer front tyre, but the whole range contributed to the success, and we saw records broken throughout the weekend.

Qualifying was fast and furious, while both the Tissot Sprint and the Grand Prix were highly intense, culminating in the Drivers’ World Championship title and, in both cases, an improvement in lap times."

I would like to take this opportunity to offer my warmest congratulations to Marc Márquez, who has just won his seventh MotoGP title, his fifth with Michelin. This is an exceptional achievement, and all the teams at Michelin Motorsport are proud to have contributed to this feat by standing alongside this great champion. Marc’s consistency this season is matched only by the consistency of our tyres, which offer stable performance over time and have enabled an impressive number of records to be broken in the 17 races already contested."

For the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, Michelin’s partners had three symmetrical compounds (Soft, Medium and Hard) available for the front wheel. At the rear, they could choose between two asymmetrical compounds (Soft or Medium) with a reinforced right shoulder. This choice is explained by the configuration of the circuit, which has eight right-hand corners and six left-hand corners, with a length of 4.801 km, including a 762 m straight. It should be noted that the Motegi track is considered a 'stop and go' circuit, with numerous restarts and very heavy braking. It is one of the venues where larger brakes are chosen (as in Thailand and Austria) and where riders shift through an average of 38 gears per lap, or more than 900 gear changes during a Grand Prix.For the entire race weekend, each Michelin partner will have 30 tyres at their disposal: 12 for practice and 18 for qualifying and the race.

Motegi results and new records

Tissot Sprint

On Saturday afternoon, Francesco Bagnaia won the Tissot Sprint, ahead of his teammate Marc Márquez and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

The duration of the Tissot Sprint was reduced from 21’01.074 s to 20’59.113 s.

Grand Prix

On Sunday, the Grand Prix saw another victory for Francesco Bagnaia ahead of Marc Márquez. The third step of the podium was taken by Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol).

The fastest lap record was broken. Francesco Bagnaia clocked a time of 1’44.412 at the start of the Grand Prix.

The reference time for the Grand Prix, set last year at 42:09.790, was also slightly lowered. It now stands at 42:09.312.

Lap record

In the second phase of qualifying, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) improved the absolute reference time for the circuit from 1:43.018 to 1:42.911.

Top speed

Mr Márquez was the rider clocked at the highest speed, with 320.4 km/h. The previous record was 319.5 km/h.

The MotoGP World Championship teams, as well as the Michelin Motorsport teams, now have a few days to travel to the Mandalika circuit (Indonesia), where the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia will take place next weekend (3rd to 5th October).

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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