MotoGP Round 18 2025 Report | Agius Wins, Kelso Podiums, Fernandez Triumphs!

With over 90,000 spectators attending, Phillip Island put on good weather, not to mention the best racing we have seen at The Island since the Casey Stoner era. Miller, Agius, Kelso on the front row, two on the podium! Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP Photos: Brett Butler/MotoGP/AGP Corp

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Talk about smashing the previous lap record! Marco Bezzecchi’s (Aprilia Racing) unbelievably rapid 1:26.492 saw the Italian comfortably lead the MotoGP pack heading into Saturday at the Liqui Moly Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, and it was another Aprilia rider acting as the #72’s closest challenger. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) improved late on to make it an RS-GP 1-2 in Practice at Phillip Island, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) rounding out the top three as fellow Ducati star Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54), the latest winner, missed the Q2 cut.

Read our previous MotoGP reports here…

Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20), take a bow! A new all-time lap record around Phillip Island is what it took to beat Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) to pole position in Australia, and that’s exactly what the Frenchman threw down.

That 1:26.465 from El Diablo was 0.031s quicker than the Italian’s best effort, and joining the duo on the front row was home hero Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43). The Australian dug deep to come through Q1 and delight the home faithful, setting us up good and proper for the Tissot Sprint and Grand Prix.

Moto2

Diogo Moreira’s (Italtrans Racing Team #10) title hopes are more than real, as the Brazilian topped the opening day of action in Moto2 at Phillip Island. A deficit of just nine points meant it was very much game on, and after two crashes for Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #18) on the first day, Moreira most definitely had the momentum into Saturday.

Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) started the Moto2 Australian Grand Prix from pole position on Sunday after a dramatic, tantalising Q2 played out at Phillip Island. Home hero Senna Agius (#81) would line up in the middle of the front row, with his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP teammate Manuel Gonzalez completing a top three that was split by a slender 0.076s.

Moto3

A 1:34.726 from David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) handed the Spaniard a lap record-breaking top spot on Friday at the Liqui Moly Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, as teammate Adrian Fernandez (#31) and Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Alvaro Carpe (#83) rounded out the top three.

A first pole of the season, and what a place to do it; Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA #66) was unstoppable, becoming the first Australian to take pole in Moto3 at Phillip Island. Behind him, newly crowned World Champion Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) and Mandalika podium finisher Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse #58) completed the front row.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) made it two Tissot Sprint victories in a row, overcoming early drama at Phillip Island to pass Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) with three laps to go and take the win. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) rounded out the podium after a tight scrap for third that went down to the wire, with P3 to P5 covered by just a tenth of a second.

Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) grabbed the holeshot, but Fernandez moved into the lead by Turn 2 and headed the opening lap. Bezzecchi slotted into second, racing with extra aero parts on his Aprilia after an unexpected seagull strike on the Warm Up Lap. Polesitter Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) dropped to sixth, behind Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Acosta. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #33) crashed out at Turn 2 on the opening lap.

Up front, Fernandez and Bezzecchi pulled away in an Aprilia 1-2, while the battle for third intensified. Marquez came under fire from Miller, Acosta and Quartararo, with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #44) solid in seventh. Miller and Marquez swapped places on Laps 5 and 6, while Acosta made a double pass at Turn 1 on Lap 7 to move into podium contention.

By Lap 9, Bezzecchi was back on Fernandez’s rear wheel and made his move at Turn 2 on Lap 10. One lap later, Indonesian GP winner Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashed out at Turn 6 but was unhurt.

Bezzecchi sealed the win with a controlled final lap, while Fernandez secured his second consecutive Sprint podium, marking the first-ever Aprilia 1-2 in a Tissot Sprint. Acosta held off last-lap pressure from Miller and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) to claim third – making it the first Sprint without a Ducati on the podium.

“It has been nice. Super tough, because I never thought, honestly, about the victory. Only the journalists thought about it. But I didn’t even expect a podium,” Bezzecchi stated.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing
2. Raul Fernandez Trackhouse Aprilia (+3.149s)
3. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+5.310s)
4. Jack Miller Pramac Yamaha (5.376s)
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+5.416s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) delivered a flawless ride at Phillip Island to claim his maiden MotoGP victory – and the team’s first ever in the premier class. With his win, every team on the grid has now celebrated a MotoGP Grand Prix victory.

Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) carved through from P10 to take second, just 1.4s off Fernandez, while Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) stormed to third after serving a double Long Lap penalty, making a late move on Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP).

Bezzecchi took the holeshot from the front row, with Fernandez quickly into second and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) in third. That trio built an early gap over a chasing pack led by Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP).

Notified of his penalty on Lap 2, Bezzecchi delayed serving it to build a buffer. On Lap 5, he finally took the first Long Lap, dropping behind Fernandez and Acosta. The second came shortly after, putting him behind Di Giannantonio in P5. Meanwhile, crashes for Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR #5) and Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) brought heartbreak for Aussie fans. Out front, Fernandez hit the front and never looked back, pulling 1.1s clear of Acosta by Lap 6.

Di Giannantonio passed Quartararo for fourth on Lap 8, with Bezzecchi following through soon after. By Lap 13, Fernandez’s lead was 1.4s over Acosta, who was under pressure from Marquez. On Lap 16, Marquez made his move into P2, but Fernandez was already three seconds up the road. With eight laps to go, Di Giannantonio took third from Acosta, and Bezzecchi followed suit to grab fourth. Di Giannantonio then passed Marquez for second in a bold move at Turn 10, but the gap to Fernandez remained steady at around 2.6s.

Bezzecchi wasn’t done yet. On the penultimate lap, he lunged past Marquez to seal third, ending just 2.4s behind the winner despite his penalties. Fernandez crossed the line for a breakthrough MotoGP win, capping off a dream day for Trackhouse.

Di Giannantonio’s late charge secured second, while Bezzecchi’s gritty ride earned him a crucial podium – and P3 in the World Championship – after Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) crashed out.

Marquez finished fourth, delaying his shot at the 2025 silver medal. Acosta held off Luca Marini (Castrol Honda HRC #10) by just 0.040s for fifth.

“I cannot believe it, I’m sorry because I am not believing,” Fernandez said. “After a long time, we found something – all the team always believed in me, they never stopped supporting me. It is a consequence of hard work, so thanks to them. The last five laps were super long for me.”

MotoGP Race Results

1. Raul Fernandez Trackhouse Aprilia
2. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+1.418s)
3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+2.410s)
4. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+3.715s)
5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+7.930s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

1. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 545
2. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 379
3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 282
4. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 274
5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 233

Moto2

Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) became the first Australian in Moto2™ history to win his home Grand Prix, delivering a dominant ride at Phillip Island just 12 months after his first World Championship podium. The crowd had even more to cheer as the battle for second raged between David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team #80) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), with the Brazilian taking crucial points from title leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP).

Agius made a perfect start, storming into the lead at Turn 1 ahead of polesitter Moreira and Gonzalez. Alonso settled into fourth with Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP #71) close behind. On Lap 3, Agius ran deep into Turn 1 but held the lead as Moreira dropped to fourth behind Gonzalez and Alonso. Sasaki challenged next but couldn’t get past Moreira at Miller Corner. By Lap 8, Alonso moved into second ahead of Gonzalez, but Moreira quickly retook both at Turn 4 to reclaim P2. On Lap 10, Alonso ran wide at Turn 10, allowing Moreira and Gonzalez back through. With Agius already over two seconds ahead, the podium fight intensified.

Gonzalez briefly retook second at the halfway mark, but Moreira struck back on Lap 13. Just behind, Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) launched an aggressive charge, tangling with Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #75) in a fierce battle. Alonso got past Moreira for P2 with six laps to go and then pulled off a repeat move at Turn 1 to solidify the position.

Further back, Gonzalez struggled to hold on. Dixon and Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team #27) both passed him, with Holgado diving into fourth on Lap 20. Gonzalez then dropped another spot to Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing #7), losing more vital points in the title fight.

Up front, Agius cruised to a historic victory, essentially unchallenged in the final laps. Alonso secured second, while Moreira’s third cut his deficit to Gonzalez in the standings to just two points. Holgado impressed in fourth, Dixon finished fifth, and Baltus took sixth – crucially stealing a point from Gonzalez, who crossed the line seventh.

Agius’ emotional win on home soil marked a milestone moment for Australian motorsport, and with the title fight tightening behind him, the championship heads into its final stretch wide open.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Senna Agius Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP
2. David Alonso CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team (+3.684s)
3. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team (+3.721s)
4. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team (+4.440s)
5. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing (+4.451s)

Moto2 Championship Points

1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 247
2. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team – 245
3. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 212
4. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 205
5. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 190

Moto3

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) claimed his 10th win of the 2025 season with a masterful ride at Phillip Island, fending off home hero Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) in a two-man showdown. The pair finished a dominant 12 seconds ahead of the rest, with Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) winning the fight for third – securing the Teams’ Championship for Red Bull KTM Ajo.

Kelso didn’t lead into Turn 1 from pole but immediately struck back at Turn 2 to take control. Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) quickly moved into third as Kelso and Rueda built an early gap. By the end of Lap 2, they were already a second clear of the chasing pack.

Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #12) made it two Aussies in the top four and set the fastest lap, but his home race ended in heartbreak with a crash at Turn 6 on Lap 4. At the front, Rueda and Kelso extended their lead to 2.4s, while Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) suffered a near-crash at the final corner and dropped to 24th after a run through the gravel.

Rueda hit the front on Lap 7, and by Lap 11 the lead duo were over seven seconds clear, with Kelso glued to the rear wheel of the World Champion. Despite a late push from the Aussie, Rueda maintained composure and crossed the line just ahead after a flawless final lap, denying Kelso a dream home win.

Behind them, a fierce battle for third raged between Quiles, Carpe, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72), Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), Joel Esteban (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #78), Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA #18).

In the end, it was Carpe who held his nerve to secure the final podium place, with Esteban taking a career-best fourth while standing in for Dennis Foggia. Quiles finished fifth, narrowly missing the podium and delaying his Rookie of the Year celebrations.

While Rueda again proved his World Champion status, Kelso’s runner-up ride thrilled the home fans – and Carpe’s podium helped Red Bull KTM Ajo seal the Teams’ title in style.

Moto3 Race Results

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo
2. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA (+0.829s)
3. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo (+12.638s)
4. Joel Esteban CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (12.696s)
5. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (+12.773s)

Moto3 Championship Points

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 365
2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 231
3. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 228
4. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 197
5. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA – 179

How Did the Aussies Do?

Jack Miller thrilled the home crowd at the Australian GP with his best Sprint result of the season, as, after qualifying second in Q1 and third in Q2, he battled to a hard-fought fourth place in the Sprint at Phillip Island. Sadly, his Sunday race didn’t go to plan, for he crashed out on Lap 5 in what was his 250th Grand Prix appearance.

Agius delivered another strong performance on home soil, qualifying second, just 0.011 seconds off polesitter Diogo Moreira, to set himself up for a promising Sunday. And he delivered, as the Aussie rising star put on a scintillating display to reign supreme in the race, making history as the first rider from his country to win the Australian Grand Prix in the Moto2 class.

Joel Kelso kicked off his home GP weekend by storming to pole in Moto3. He then backed that up with a masterful second in the main dance to cap off a superb weekend at the office.

Earning 13th in qualifying on home turf, Jacob Roulstone was looking for more in the race. But it wasn’t to be, for, despite roaring off the line and starting the race wonderfully, a crash frustratingly ended his day while running third on Lap 4. Wildcard Harrison Voight showed maturity and speed, filling in at MSI Racing, finishing 26th on debut.

Check out our three huge Liqui Moly Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix galleries here…