Preview – Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia 2025 – R20

Press Release Michelin's expertise serving a revised tyre allocation • The Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, the 20ᵗʰ round of the 2025 FIM MotoGP™ World Championship, takes place this weekend at the Petronas Sepang International Circuit, a key reference track for the Michelin Motorsport teams. • Heat, humidity and surface abrasion will once again be decisive factors for performance. Michelin has prepared a comprehensive and updated tyre package, the result of extensive data gathered during official and private testing throughout the year. • This edition introduces new evolutions for both front and rear tyres, with revised specifications designed to meet the technical demands of the 2025 bikes and the extreme Malaysian conditions. A demanding circuit well known to Michelin At 5.543 km in length, the Sepang layout combines fifteen corners (ten of them right-handers) and two long straights, one exceeding 900 metres, where the bikes reach speeds close to 340 km/h. The surface, made of an abrasive yet high-grip asphalt, places considerable stress on the tyres. Air temperatures regularly approach 35°C, with track temperatures reaching up to 60°C, while the typical tropical humidity adds to the thermal and mechanical challenges. Thanks to Michelin's regular presence at the Malaysian venue—for winter testing, official sessions, and private outings—the company possesses an extensive data base, allowing it to fine-tune its tyre selection with precision according to the evolution of the machines and track conditions.   A revised tyre allocation for 2025 For this Grand Prix, Michelin will supply three symmetric front slick options (Soft, Medium, and Hard) and two asymmetric rear tyres (Medium and Hard), the latter featuring a harder right-hand shoulder to cope with the higher number of right-hand corners. Front: Michelin has retained the Soft and Hard specifications from 2024, with the previous Hard now becoming the Medium for 2025. As on other Asian circuits, a new reinforced Hard specification has been added to better handle high temperatures and provide improved stability and braking support, especially under the heavy decelerations typical of Sepang. This evolution ensures enhanced stability and consistent performance throughout the race distance. Rear: The 2025 allocation is built around two standard carcass tyres, whereas in 2024 one option featured a reinforced construction. Michelin confirms the 2024 Soft, while introducing a new Medium with a standard carcass but stiffer compounds, developed to deliver greater heat resistance and consistent grip over long runs. In the event of rain, riders will have access to the MICHELIN Power Rain tyres in Soft and Medium compounds for both front and rear, with the rear also featuring an asymmetric tread pattern reinforced on the right-hand side.   Piero Taramasso, Michelin Motorsport Two-Wheel Manager "Sepang is a circuit we know very well, as we come here every year for both official and private testing. It's a demanding and complete track that combines fast corners, heavy braking zones and two long straights. Tyres are constantly under stress—both front and rear—and the high temperatures make thermal management crucial. Grip levels are generally good, both in dry and wet conditions, but the asphalt is abrasive and tyre wear can be significant over race distance. That's why we have refined our allocation for 2025: at the front, we've kept the tyres that performed very well last year while adding a new reinforced Hard specification that brings more stability under braking and extra support for the most powerful bikes. At the rear, we return to two standard carcasses, introducing a new Medium with stiffer compounds that performs particularly well in high temperatures. Our goal remains unchanged: to ensure consistent performance over race distance, full versatility between dry and wet conditions, and to allow our partners to make the most of their machines whatever the track configuration."   Weekend Schedule (Local Time, Malaysia) Friday, October 24: Free Practice 1 (10:45 – 11:30) and Practice (15:00 – 16:00) Saturday, October 25: Free Practice 2 (10:10 – 10:40), Qualifying 1 (10:50 – 11:05), Qualifying 2 (11:15 – 11:30), Tissot Sprint (10 laps) at 15:00 Sunday, October 26: Grand Prix (20 laps) 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?