Last Valentino Rossi MotoGP lap record set to fall in Argentina

The final race lap record on the current MotoGP calendar still held by Valentino Rossi is on course to be broken in Argentina this weekend.

Rossi set a 1m 30.019s on his way to victory in the 2015 event, which saw Marc Marquez fall after crossing lines with the Italian. 

It was the first of several clashes between Rossi and Marquez that season, culminating in the infamous Malaysian round.

2015 was also the last year of Bridgestone tyres, with Michelin taking over for 2016. 

While most Bridgestone lap records fell to Michelin long ago, Phillip Island, Termas de Rio Hondo and Brno proved notable exceptions.

Marc Marquez’s 2013 Phillip Island lap record, set during a pit stop race, was finally beaten by the Spaniard in Australia last October. 

Michelin beat the Brno pole record back in 2016 and will target the race lap record when the circuit returns to the calendar, after a four-year absence, later this season.

That leaves Argentina, venue for this weekend’s second round of the 2025 campaign, where both the official all-time fastest lap (1m 37.683s by Marquez in 2014) and race lap (Rossi in 2015) remain on Bridgestone tyres.

But new Ducati Lenovo rider Marquez comfortably broke his 2014 record with a 1m 37.295s during Friday practice for this year's event and, with no more rain expected, Rossi's race lap should finally fall in Sunday's grand prix.

Part of the reason the Bridgestone records have stood for so long is extra caution shown by Michelin following a tyre failure for Scott Redding at Termas de Rio Hondo in 2016, during their first year as MotoGP’s single tyre supplier.

Meanwhile, wet weather in qualifying and the grand prix limited lap times during the most recent 2023 Argentine event.

Michelin then introduced a revised rear tyre construction for 2024, which set numerous new lap records last year and is making its debut at Termas this weekend.

“This circuit is a unique place in the season, with an asphalt that is quite aggressive on tyres, yet paradoxically offers low grip due to the infrequent use of the facilities,” said Piero Taramasso, Michelin’s two-wheel motorsport manager.

“Since it has been two years since we last raced here, our partners will have to start from scratch when setting up the bikes, especially considering the significant progress made since our last visit.

“We have relied on our database to determine the most suitable tyre allocation, with compounds similar to those used in 2023 for the front.

“Regarding the rear, we have selected a Soft tyre that closely resembles last year’s compound, along with a Medium option that is slightly softer to meet our partners’ needs."

Official race lap records do not include the Saturday Sprint.