Preview – Motul Grand Prix of Japan 2025 – R17

Press Release A tailored Michelin tire allocation designed to perform • The 17th round of the 2025 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship will take place next weekend at the Twin Ring Motegi (Japan). • Based on data collected during the 2024 edition, Michelin Motorsport is introducing a new tire range, featuring a front tire with a reinforced casing. • As weather conditions can be unpredictable and decisive, Michelin has prepared for every scenario, whether the track is dry or soaked. The FIM MotoGP World Championship makes another stop at Twin Ring Motegi, located two hours from Tokyo. Owned by Honda, the circuit is nestled in the heart of Japan's mountainous and wooded countryside, whose exotic setting gives the venue a unique atmosphere. Since 2004, Motegi has hosted MotoGP and also serves as a key testing ground for Michelin's teams and technicians. The weather is often unpredictable: in 2024, rain disrupted the weekend on several occasions. The versatility of Michelin tires then enabled riders to handle all track conditions with confidence. These lessons have been incorporated by Michelin Motorsport engineers to define the 2025 tire package.   Piero Taramasso, Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager, Michelin Motorsport "Motegi is a special place, both a family gathering and a sanctuary for passionate fans who arrive as early as Thursday. Its varied and demanding layout places heavy demands on the tires. At the front, powerful braking puts them under significant load. To address these constraints, we have adjusted our range: last year's Hard becomes the new Medium, the Medium becomes Soft, and we are introducing a Hard with a reinforced casing, ensuring optimal stability under braking. At the rear, we are bringing back the two compounds that proved perfectly effective last year: the Soft, suited to the Tissot Sprint, and the Medium, ideal for the Grand Prix. Motegi is a typical 'stop-and-go' circuit, where acceleration zones and rhythm changes put the tires to the test. The versatility of our compounds and our expertise in thermal management will be real assets for all our partners."   Tires available for the 2025 Motul Grand Prix of Japan Front: three symmetric compounds (Soft, Medium, Hard with reinforced casing). Rear: two compounds (Soft and Medium), asymmetric with a reinforced right shoulder, due to the eight right-handers versus six left-handers on the 4.801 km circuit. Wet: MICHELIN Power Rain in Soft and Medium, also reinforced on the right side, just like the slicks.   Records to beat All-time record: Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech 3) – 1'43.018 (2024 Qualifying). Tissot Sprint: Pedro Acosta – 1'43.825 (2024). Grand Prix: Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) – 1'44.461 (fastest race lap); reference race time: 42'09.790 (2024).   Schedule – 2025 Motul Grand Prix of Japan  Friday, September 26: Free Practice 1 (10:45–11:30) and Practice (15:00–16:00), with the ten fastest riders advancing directly to Q2. Saturday, September 27: Free Practice 2 (10:10–10:40), Qualifying Q1 & Q2, followed by the Tissot Sprint (12 laps) at 15:00. Sunday, September 28: Grand Prix (27 laps) at 14:00. 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. Race preview - PDF Season preview - PDF For further information on Michelin Motorsport please visit:   www.michelinmotorsport.com     Alessandro Barlozzi - alessandro.barlozzi@michelin.com - Phone: +33 6 09 90 57 97 Copyright © 2025. All rights reserved. Unsubscribe?