Preview – Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia 2025 – R18

Press Release Intense heat, humidity and abrasive asphalt: Michelin adapts its tyre allocation to the extreme demands of Mandalika • Extremely high temperatures, abrasive asphalt and a layout that is as fast as it is demanding: this is the spicy cocktail awaiting MotoGP™ competitors for the 18th round of the season. • Michelin Motorsport has prepared an adapted allocation, with a front Medium tyre featuring a slightly harder compound than last year. • During the 2024 Grand Prix, all records – from the outright lap time to race duration and top speed – were shattered, proving that both bikes and tyres are constantly pushing the limits of performance. In 2024, the Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia was held before the Japanese round. This season, the calendar has been reversed: the FIM MotoGP World Championship teams have traveled to Indonesia this week after competing in the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. On the calendar since 2022, the Pertamina Mandalika International Street Circuit is a recent facility, inaugurated in 2021. Located on the island of Lombok, in the southern part of the Indonesian archipelago, it stretches over 4.3 km and features a technical layout of 17 corners – six left-handers and eleven right-handers – along with a short 507-meter straight. This demanding track strings together challenges and puts riders to the test, particularly under heavy braking in turns 1 and 10. Its relatively new asphalt, known for being abrasive, combined with the hot weather and the track's profile, represents a real challenge. "Mandalika is an extremely demanding circuit for riders, machines and tyres," says Piero Taramasso, Michelin's two-wheel motorsport manager. "For this fourth visit, we have slightly adjusted the Medium compound at the front, while the Soft and Hard remain unchanged. We considered this modification necessary in light of the data collected last year. The layout, with its many sequences of corners, will particularly highlight the consistency and versatility of our tyres. Last year, track surface temperatures nearly reached 60°C both on Saturday and Sunday. Being located by the sea, the circuit can also bring unpredictable conditions, with high humidity or sudden showers. In any case, we are confident: our tyre package is designed to meet all these scenarios." For the 2025 Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia, Michelin's partners will be able to choose between Soft, Medium and Hard compounds (all symmetrical) for the front, as well as Soft and Medium options for the rear. Notably, given the higher number of right-hand corners, the rear tyre will feature reinforced construction on that side. To cope with potential bad weather, the MICHELIN Power Rain tyres, specifically developed for wet conditions, will be available in Soft and Medium compounds, with a symmetrical construction at the front and asymmetrical at the rear, once again with the right side reinforced.   Records to beat The circuit record is 1'29.088. It was set in 2024 by Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) during the second phase of qualifying. The fastest lap in the race is held by Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team), in 1'30.539. The Italian rider was also the quickest through the speed trap, reaching 318.5 km/h — the highest speed ever recorded on this circuit in MotoGP. The benchmark time for the Tissot Sprint is 19'41.354, while the Grand Prix reference time stands at 41'04.389, both achieved in 2024. The Pertamina Grand Prix of Indonesia will get underway on Friday morning, October 3, with a first practice session (10:45 – 11:30). A second session, scheduled for the afternoon (15:00 – 16:00), will allow the 10 fastest riders to gain direct access to the second phase of qualifying (Q2). After a final free practice on Saturday morning (10:10 – 10:40), Q1 will give two more riders a chance to advance, before Q2 determines the starting grid for the weekend. The Tissot Sprint (13 laps) will start on Saturday at 15:00, while the Grand Prix (27 laps) is scheduled for Sunday, October 5, at 15:00. 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?