MotoGP Round 2 Report | Aprilia secure historic 1-2 in Brazil. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) stormed to victory in Brazil as Aprilia made history and took a 1-2 as the #49 got some Sunday revenge on the reigning champion. Report: BikeReview/MotoGP Press.
Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP
Castrol Honda LCR’s Johann Zarco (#5) fronted the MotoGP pack after mixed conditions on Day 1 played out at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Brazil, in a rain-affected afternoon stint that saw Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93) and Toprak Razgatlioglu (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) round out the top three, with Thai GP winner Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) heading for Q1 after a P20 finish on Friday.
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Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) then came out on top in a dramatic Q2 in Brazil, moving through from Q1 to head the grid despite a crash on a lap that would have put him even quicker. His 1:17.410 saw him secure pole ahead of fellow Q1 graduate Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) forced to settle for third after a crash on his first run. He was far from the only one.
Moto2
Battle lines were drawn on a groundbreaking opening day at Goiânia in Moto2, with Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing #14) leading the way. Behind him, Buriram winner Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #18) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #80) completed the top three in what turned out to be a Friday that featured all four seasons. A wet but drying morning followed by wind and spots of rain but overall dry running in the afternoon, Goiania’s unpredictability was mirrored by the weather.
Delayed to Sunday, Moto2 qualifying saw Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #96) dominate both sessions and take pole with a 1:20.711s lap record. Alonso completed an Aspar 1-2, just 0.017s behind.
Moto3
David Almansa (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #22) went quickest in Friday Practice at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Brazil, but it was just 0.050 covering the top three at the end of both the day and session. Second went to New Zealand’s Cormac Buchanan (CODE Motorsports #14), just 0.003 off the top, with Indonesian rookie Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia #9) 0.047 further back in third.
A dramatic Moto3 qualifying session took us into the sunset, but it didn’t disappoint; a career-first pole was bagged by Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA #78), as he was joined by Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3 #73) and Hakim Danish (AEON Credit – MT Helmets – MSI #13), with the Malaysian taking a mighty career-first front row in Goiania.
Saturday
Tissot Sprint
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) vs Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) went to the wire in the Tissot Sprint in Brazil, the pair split by just two tenths after a tense cat‑and‑mouse duel to the flag. Completing the podium, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #89) enjoyed an emotional return as the 2024 World Champion stood on the box for the first time since the Solidarity GP, showing renewed strength as he returned to full fitness.
Diggia launched perfectly from pole to take the holeshot, while Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) made a stunning start to slot into third and immediately attack Marc Marquez for second. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) slipped to fourth, and behind them Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54) had a wild moment off the line as his machine snapped sideways before launching, though the pack avoided him and the race settled.
Up front, Diggia held half a second lead as Lap 3 began. Marc Marquez struck back on Quartararo into Turn 1, the Frenchman then running slightly wide and losing out to Bezzecchi before Martin picked him off as Lap 4 started. Diggia was already 1.2 seconds clear. Marc Marquez ran second, Bezzecchi third and Martin fourth, but the #72 went deep at Turns 10 and 11, allowing his #89 teammate through. Behind them, Quartararo fought fiercely with Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79), the #20 digging in as Marc Marquez began reeling in the leader.
By Lap 10, Ogura had passed Quartararo, and Marc Marquez was within half a second of Diggia. Further back, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) traded blows for P8 before Bagnaia chased Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73).
With three laps left, Marc Marquez struck. He powered past Diggia out of Turn 12, but the #49 clung on. The gap ebbed and flowed until the final lap, Diggia closing rapidly and searching for a move at Turn 6. Marc Marquez held firm, even surviving a twitch at the final corner, to claim his first Sprint win of the season and his 16th overall, drawing level with Martin for most Sprint victories.
Martin completed a superb comeback ride to third, his first podium with Aprilia Racing. Bezzecchi took fourth to stay second in the standings, now two points behind Acosta after the #37 finished ninth. Ogura claimed fifth, with Quartararo delivering a gritty ride just behind.
“An important victory, a super important victory. Especially because in Thailand I was suffering. Here, I feel already a step [forward], but I’m still not riding as I want. But we keep pushing, and we will try tomorrow to fight again with Fabio, who is super fast,” Marquez stated.
Tissot Sprint Race Results
- Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
- Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+0.213s)
- Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing (+3.587s)
- Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+4.061s)
- Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia (+4.994s)
Sunday
MotoGP
History made! MotoGP was back in Brazil, and Marco Bezzecchi was back on top as the Aprilia Racing rider took a stunning fourth Grand Prix win in a row in Brazil, and for the first time in Aprilia’s history. To add to the headlines for the Noale factory, teammate Jorge Martin banked second place to back up his return to the rostrum on Saturday.
Completing the podium, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) defeated Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) on their rematch after the Sprint showdown, the #49 turning the tables in style. After a poorer start on Saturday, Bezzecchi nailed it on Sunday to take the holeshot, with Di Giannantonio slotting into second from pole and Marc Marquez holding third. Martin was fourth, with one big mover off the line proving to be Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) as he went from P9 to P5. Onto Lap 2, Marc Marquez took over in second, and not long after that, Acosta found a way past Martin. At the front though, Bezzecchi had the hammer down, with the gap starting to grow as the laps ticked on.
On Lap 6, a big move came in from Di Giannantonio – a lunge with a big effect. The #49 steamed up the inside of Marc Marquez, and both went wide, with Martin needing no invitation to pick their pockets. The Aprilia swept past both into second place, around two seconds off his teammate’s lead. Diggia remained where he was but with a different bike ahead, and Marc Marquez dropped to fourth.
The fight behind was heating up too. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) passed Acosta into fifth, and by halfway Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) had joined the group.
Up front, Bezzecchi held firm while Martin reduced the gap slightly before settling into second. The fight for third reignited – a Sprint re-run.
With five to go, Marc Marquez passed Diggia at Turn 6 to take third, but the #49 struck back a lap later when the #93 ran deep, retaking the place for good.
Bezzecchi crossed the line to win a fourth Grand Prix in a row and take the Championship lead – a first for both him and Aprilia, who also lead the constructors. Martin secured second, making it a 1-2 for Aprilia. Di Giannantonio held on for third, with Marc Marquez fourth, Ogura fifth, Alex Marquez sixth and Acosta seventh.
“Today I made a step, so very happy with the pace and the performance. It was a big surprise, I expected to have a similar race to yesterday. It shows the guys are working super hard, and their effort is amazing. They’re giving their heart always. Seeing them like this, I cannot do anything more than giving my all as well,” Bezzecchi explained.
MotoGP Race Results
- Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing
- Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing (+3.231s)
- Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.780s)
- Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo (+4.089s)
- Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia (+8.403s)
Check out the full MotoGP race results here…
MotoGP Championship Points
- Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 56
- Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing – 45
- Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 42
- Fabio di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 37
- Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo -34
Moto2
Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) secured a hard-earned victory at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Brazil as a two-way battle unfolded between the new title race leader and Daniel Muñoz (Italtrans Racing Team #17). Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) rounded out the rostrum after passing Alex Escrig (KLINT Factory Team #11) on the final lap in Goiania.
Having earned a debut front row earlier, Escrig grabbed the holeshot, with Muñoz flying from P11 to P2 on Lap 1. Polesitter Holgado was third, while David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) dropped to P7 from second on the grid.
On Lap 2, Muñoz took the lead with a move on Escrig at Turn 6, and by Lap 3, Holgado climbed to P2 before passing Muñoz to lead for the first time. By Lap 6, the top five, Holgado, Muñoz, Escrig, Alonso and Gonzalez, were over a second clear. On Lap 10, Gonzalez repassed Alonso for P4, but both remained over a second behind Escrig, leaving work to do.
Alonso then dropped back into a battle with Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) and Tony Arbolino (REDS Fantic Racing), falling to P7. Up front, Holgado continued to lead Muñoz and Escrig, with Gonzalez still over two seconds adrift.
With five laps to go, it became a Holgado vs Muñoz fight, just 0.3s apart, while Gonzalez closed in on Escrig for P3. Muñoz made his move with two and a half laps remaining, but Holgado responded immediately, retaking the lead on the long straight and edging clear. On the final lap, Holgado held a 0.7s gap, while Gonzalez passed Escrig at Turn 4 to snatch P3. Holgado clinched his first Moto2 win of the season, with Muñoz second and Gonzalez third. Escrig took a career-best P4, while Alonso held off Guevara and Arbolino for P5.
Moto2 Race Results
- Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team
- Daniel Munoz Italtrans Racing Team (+1.226s)
- Manuel Gonzalez LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP (+3.916s)
- Alex Escrig KLINT Racing Team (+4.497s)
- David Alonso CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team (+8.652s)
Moto2 Championship Points
- Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team – 33
- Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 28.5
- Daniel Muñoz Italtrans Racing Team – 24
- Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 – 20
- Alex Escrig KLINT Racing Team – 15
Moto3
A sensational fightback from Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) saw the 18-year-old take victory in Goiania after an early red flag stoppage turned the race into a five-lap dash. He was pushed hard by teammate Marco Morelli (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #97), who secured a first Moto3 podium in second, while history was made in P3 as Veda Pratama (Honda Team Asia) claimed his first podium – Indonesia’s first in any Grand Prix class. Championship leader David Almansa (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) crashed out from the lead before the red flag and couldn’t restart.
At the first start, polesitter Joel Esteban (LEVELUP-MTA) took the holeshot, but by mid-Lap 1 it was an Argentine 1-2 with Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Morelli leading. Quiles climbed to P2, while Almansa surged into the top five from 14th. Lap 7 saw Esteban crash from the lead group, and on Lap 13 Almansa fell from P1. Soon after, Scott Ogden (CIP – Green Power #19) crashed, bringing out the red flag. Almansa was unhurt but ruled out of the restart.
In the five-lap sprint, Quiles grabbed the holeshot again, with Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) and Guido Pini (Dynavolt Intact GP #94) battling behind. Positions changed frequently, but Quiles remained in control.
On the final lap, Morelli closed in, but nothing could deny Quiles, who took victory and the Championship lead. Morelli completed an Aspar 1-2, while Pratama secured a historic third, holding off Carpe and Pini, with rookie Rico Salmela (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #27) finishing sixth.
Moto3 Race Results
- Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team
- Marco Morelli CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (+0.143s)
- Veda Pratama Honda Team Asia (+1.650s)
- Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo (+1.741s)
- Guido Pini Leopard Racing (+1.786s)
Moto3 Championship Points
- Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 45
- Marco Morelli CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 28
- Veda Pratama Honda Team Asia – 27
- Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 26
- David Almansa Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 25
How Did the Aussies Do?
Jack Miller’s (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43) 200th MotoGP race was over almost as soon as it began, as a crash on Lap 2 ended what initially had looked like a promising weekend, which saw him bag 12th earlier in qualifying. Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #81) endured a tough weekend at the office. Still feeling the impact of losing his mechanic and struggling with the difficult track conditions, the 20‑year‑old never found his rhythm but valiantly pushed through to salvage 19th.
Joel Kelso (GRYD – MLav Racing #66) started solidly from the third row, as he was running steadily in 11th when the race was red-flagged. In the five-lap restart, things didn’t go to plan, for he dropped back early but fought back admirably through the field to finish 12th.
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