The Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, the 20th round of the 2025 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, offered a weekend as challenging as it was spectacular at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit. In extreme heat, the MICHELIN Power Soft tyres demonstrated both consistency and heat resistance, allowing Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) to claim a masterful victory ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol).
Changing conditions and evolving grip
Friday's practice sessions set the tone for a particularly complex weekend.
After overnight rain, riders had to deal with a constantly evolving track surface — alternating between dry, damp and drying sections. Grip levels varied widely across the circuit, particularly up to Turn 7, where the asphalt showed the first signs of wear.
During Free Practice 2, held on a 28°C track, the MICHELIN Power Soft specification proved more effective than the Medium, both front and rear. The afternoon Practice session (40°C track temperature) confirmed this trend, steering teams toward a Soft/Soft setup for Saturday.
Saturday: rising temperatures and exemplary tyre consistency
Under clear skies and with track temperatures climbing to 50°C, Saturday saw progressive performance gains as the surface became increasingly rubbered in after a full day of activity.
All riders opted for the MICHELIN Power Soft front and rear for qualifying and the Tissot Sprint, benefiting from very consistent performance. The tyres maintained exceptional stability throughout the 10-lap Tissot Sprint, with no sudden drop in performance.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took pole position and went on to win the Tissot Sprint, followed by Alex Márquez and Pedro Acosta. The data gathered during the short race confirmed the potential of the Soft compound within a still-manageable temperature window, reinforcing many teams' strategies for Sunday's Grand Prix.
Sunday: extreme heat and a flawless ride for Alex Márquez
Sunday's Grand Prix took place under clear skies and scorching sunshine, with air temperatures reaching 35°C and a blistering 57°C on track — conditions that pushed the Soft tyres to the upper limit of their operating range.
All riders chose the MICHELIN Power Soft rear tyre to maximize grip at the start and during acceleration phases. Front tyre choices reflected different strategic approaches: 12 riders went for Soft, 10 for Medium, and Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha) was the sole rider opting for Hard.
At lights out, Francesco Bagnaia held onto his pole advantage, but Alex Márquez, confident and incisive on his MICHELIN Power Soft tyres, found an opening on lap two to take the lead — setting a new race lap record of 1'58.873.
Lap after lap, Márquez maintained a fast, steady rhythm, gradually extending his gap. Behind him, Bagnaia and Acosta fought intensely for second place but were unable to close the distance.
At mid-race, the leading trio already had more than a two-second cushion over the chasing group. The consistent behaviour of the MICHELIN Power Soft rear tyre proved decisive: despite the extreme heat, it maintained progressive performance, enabling riders to sustain a high pace.
On lap 13, Pedro Acosta overtook Bagnaia and began his pursuit of Márquez. But the Spaniard managed his lead perfectly. With three laps to go, Bagnaia was forced to retire due to a puncture, allowing Joan Mir to complete the podium.
Alex Márquez crossed the line alone after a perfectly controlled race, delivering a prestigious victory for BK8 Gresini Racing — the result of optimal tyre management under extreme conditions.
Technical analysis: maximum consistency and trust
On this demanding 5.543 km circuit, with track temperatures nearing 60°C, the MICHELIN Power Soft tyres demonstrated exceptional thermal robustness. After an initial phase of peak grip, performance stabilized quickly, ensuring consistent traction all the way to the chequered flag.
Post-race analysis confirmed that the 2025 compounds, despite being subjected to extreme stress, provided riders with the confidence they needed — even during the most intense stages of the race.
Piero Taramasso, Two-Wheel Motorsport Manager – Michelin Motorsport
"This weekend at Sepang brought together every possible challenge for a tyre manufacturer: variable humidity on Friday, extreme heat on Sunday, and abrasive asphalt that punishes the smallest mistake.
Despite all that, our MICHELIN Power tyres — especially the rear Soft — performed flawlessly. On Friday, we observed excellent warm-up behaviour on a relatively cool track. On Saturday, riders confirmed the grip quality and consistency of the compound, resulting in steady lap times during the Tissot Sprint.
On Sunday, conditions went well beyond the ideal range for the Soft, with 57°C on the track surface. Yet performance remained stable, allowing Alex Márquez to maintain a strong pace without excessive degradation. His fastest lap in race conditions highlights the tyre's potential when managed skillfully — even at the thermal limit."
Next round: Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Portugal (7–9 November 2025)
The MotoGP™ paddock now heads to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for the penultimate round of the season. The weekend will also mark the finale of the FIM MotoE™ World Championship, with the 2025 champions to be crowned in Portugal.
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