Francesco Bagnaia completed a near-perfect weekend on home turf with a masterclass in the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo and Ducati got a famous home -2 with teammate Enea Bastianini coming home in second on the other DucatiCorreInAzzurro livery machine. Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP
After an intense Practice at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was at the top, stamping some authority on the field at the end of Friday to set a magnificent 1:44.938. However, he was also then given a three-place grid penalty for the Grand Prix race on Sunday for an incident with Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™), as he was deemed to have been slow on line and disturbed the #73. Meanwhile, the chasing pack was led by Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP™ Team) in second as Yamaha continued to make a statement of intent to fight further forward this weekend. Rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) made a brilliant recovery after a crash at Turn 13 to complete the top three.

Check out our previous MotoGP reports here…

Further back in fourth after a brilliant end to Friday’s proceedings was Miguel Oliveira (Trackhouse Racing), who improved late in the session to make it four different bikes in the top four as he repped for Aprilia. Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) set a new lap record on Saturday to deny Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) pole position, with the two split by just 0.043 at the top. Bagnaia had a three-place grid penalty for Sunday, but not Saturday, so he lined up second for the Tissot Sprint. Completing the front row on Aprilia Racing’s home turf was Maverick Viñales, with Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) forced to settle for fourth after a crash at Scarperia on what could have been a pole-threatening lap.

Moto2
Somkiat Chantra (IDEMITSU Honda Team Asia) ended Friday with a 1:50.841, but it was tight at the top, with Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) a mere 0.011s behind and MB Conveyors SpeedUp duo Fermin Aldeguer and Alonso Lopez still within a tenth. After a dramatic qualifying at the Gran, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) claimed pole position on Sunday after a late heater to claim a new lap record. The #16 continues to battle for the World Championship against Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), who started from second on the grid. MB Conveyors SpeedUp’s Alonso Lopez rounded out the front row in third.

Moto3
CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team’s David Alonso set the benchmark to beat once again on Friday at the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo, over half a second clear of Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP). Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) was third quickest as his quietly impressive 2024 continued, and the Japanese rider was the final competitor within seven tenths of the top. A brilliant Moto3™ qualifying concluded with David Alonso (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) storming to pole position after an incredible performance all weekend. The #80 secured top spot on his final lap after a frantic session, heading Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) as the Spaniard got closest. Rounding off the front row at Mugello was Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda, who took his sixth front row of the season. Veijer headed the second row of the grid after a late crash at Scarperia while the #95 was on a fast lap. Alongside the Dutchman was Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) in fifth.

Check out the full Practice and Qualifying results here…

Saturday
Tissot Sprint
Bagnaia got an almighty launch from second to take the holeshot, heading down into San Donato with metres to spare. Teammate Bastianini also launched it like a rocket to take the inside line and move into P2, denying polesitter Martin. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) shot up from P13 on the grid to challenge in the top five, with Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) losing out to the South African and Marc Marquez.

Binder vs. Marquez was the first big move, with the #93 attacking the KTM next time round down the main straight. He just found room on the right, tight as anything, and just kept it into Turn 1. The Gresini then set off after the top three – but drama was already brewing up ahead. Bagnaia held the lead as Martin barreled back past Bastianini, but the Beast went for a move at Turn 1, heading slightly deep. Martin took the cutback and there was contact, with Bastianini sliding out of his home Sprint.

With four to go, there was yet more drama, though, and at the front. This time alone, but once again for Martin. The #89 had passed Marquez and been passed back, and he was holding a fairly secure third just ahead of Acosta. But around San Donato, the front said no more, and the Championship leader was off.

That left a familiar chess match at the front: Bagnaia vs. Marquez. Next time around, the #93 took a huge chunk out of the lead, and it was down to seven tenths with two to go. But the reigning Champion found a response in the third sector of the penultimate lap, and with that, the deal was done. One more lap to right the wrong of the Barcelona Sprint – and with a second in hand. It was 1.469 as he crossed the line, and Marquez had put down his own burst of speed to leave Acosta a further two and a half seconds back.

Taking his first Saturday victory since the 2023 Austrian Grand Prix was a big statement as Bagnaia cut the gap to 27 points at the top of the Championship. He also once again escaped Marc Marquez, but the #93 banked some solid points, stayed consistent and this time starts Sunday ahead of the reigning Champion too. For Acosta, a podium was a nice way to mark a day that also saw him confirmed as a Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider for 2025. Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) equalled his best result of the season so far, taking his second P4 in a Sprint after doing the same in Jerez, with Viñales completing the top five after getting past Binder.

“I’m very happy, we were close in the last one in Barcelona. We managed everything in a perfect way. The last two laps were quite difficult to manage to remain at a constant pace, but I’m very happy,” Bagnaia reflected.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
2. Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+1.469s)
3. Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (+4.147s)
4. Franco Morbidelli Pramac Ducati (+5.421s)
5. Maverick Viñales Aprilia Racing (+7.693s)

Sunday
MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) completed a near-perfect weekend on home turf with a masterclass victory in the Gran Premio d’Italia Brembo. As the lights went out, Bagnaia went full Bagnaia. Second around San Donato as he threaded the needle from the second row, he immediately then lined up and pickpocketed Martin to go into the lead. From there, the hammer was down as Martin dug in to hold on, with Bastianini third ahead of Marc Marquez and Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing).

The chess game was on from there on out. Three tenths, six tenths, eight tenths, five tenths; Martin wasn’t getting dropped but he wasn’t consistently able to stay close enough to attack the #1 in the lead.

Meanwhile, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) was on the march. Marquez made a move on Bastianini into San Donato and headed wide, with the #23 hitting back immediately. And that put the rookie superstar right on Marquez’s tail. The GASGAS ace shadowed him round the lap but couldn’t find a way through before heading wide at the final corner to see his rival disappear out of striking distance.

At the front, the chess match rolled on. Bagnaia led Martin and Bastianini, with Marquez then starting to harry the #23. Acosta was a few tenths further back, with Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) starting to come under pressure from Viñales with 12 to go. It was tense holding stations, with the one small ripple in the calm coming as Martin went deep into San Donato with 10 laps to go, but he gathered it back up.

By six laps to go, it wasn’t checkmate, but it was starting to heat up into a grandstand finish. Marc Marquez finally made a move on Bastianini, attacking into San Donato with a clean move that gave the #23 no right of reply. He closed the deficit to Martin, but Martin was starting to cut the gap to the front once again. By three laps to go, it had been halved from the eight or nine tenth maximum Bagnaia had had at any point. Game on. Very much so, but not for the #89.

Instead, Bagnaia threw down the gauntlet and disappeared again as Bastianini stole the spotlight. Through on Marc Marquez at Scarperia, the exact same style of move the #93 had pulled on him, the Beast was on a charge and his next target was the other half of the Sprint tangle that had sent him into the gravel.

Locked on and flying, as Bagnaia crossed the line to take his third Italian GP win in a row as part of his second Mugello double, Bastianini was homing in. Into the very final corner the Ducati Lenovo Team rider found space on the inside to complete the fairytale 1-2 for the team, and in some serious style as pandemonium erupted in the grandstands. Over the line with time in hand over Martin, Bastianini followed Bagnaia home – and Martin’s lead is now cut to just 18 points.

Still, it was another podium finish and a good haul of points, and it was ahead of fellow frontrunner Marc Marquez, who was forced to settle for fourth. Acosta ended up in a lonelier ride for fifth after he’d lost touch with the front group.

“It’s incredible. It wasn’t easy starting from P5, but I had a strategy to go from the outside and it worked perfectly,” explained Bagnaia.

MotoGP Race Results

1. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
2. Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo (+0.799s)
3. Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (+0.924s)
4. Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+2.064s)
5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (+7.501s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

1. Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati – 171
2. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 153
3. Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati – 136
4. Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo – 114
5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 – 101

Moto2
In a blockbuster Moto2™ race, Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) took victory in a nail-biting last lap decider – the American repelling the best efforts of Manuel Gonzalez (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) to take top honours for the first time since the 2022 Portuguese GP.

Off like a rocket at the start, Roberts led early on. He had close competition, though, with Lopez and Darryn Binder (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) following on eagerly. A flying start also came from Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) as well, who stormed to seventh after starting 12th.

Lopez would follow Roberts until lap four before he pounced at San Donato, but it wouldn’t be until Turn 3 before he could make the move stick. Unfortunately for the MB Conveyors Speed Up team, it was glory for one and disaster for another in that moment as Lopez’s teammate Fermin Aledguer crashed out after contact from Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team).

Still in the lead, Lopez now had Gonzalez behind as he had found his way through on Roberts. Slightly further back in the lead pack, disaster struck for Binder who skittled into the gravel at Arrabbiata 1, an early end to what had been a strong weekend.

In a six-rider battle for the lead, everything was building to a grandstand last half of the race. The action kicked off as Roberts and Lopez ran wide at Turn 1 – giving them both more work to do – and allowing Gonzalez and Canet to the lead. But it wouldn’t be long before Roberts would then return the favour and find his way through to the front with just three laps remaining.

As a dramatic finish loomed, Roberts entered the final lap in the lead. Gonzalez got a fantastic slipstream and attacked round San Donato, but the American hit back at the next available chance, diving to the inside at Turn 2. Under tremendous pressure, Roberts held firm to take his first victory since the 2022 Portuguese GP – by just 0.067s. Gonzalez’s search for a first Moto2™ win continues while Lopez picked up his third podium of the season.

Claiming fourth was Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI), whose advantage in the standings was reduced to seven points. Behind Garcia was teammate Ogura, who Garcia pipped on the last lap.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Joe Roberts OnlyFans American Racing Team
2. Manuel Gonzalez QJMOTOR Gresini (+0.067s)
3. Alonso Lopez MB Conveyors Speed Up (+0.934s)
4. Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI (+1.192s)
5. Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI (+1.253s)

Check out the full Moto2 race results here…

Moto2 Championship Points

1. Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI – 122
2. Joe Roberts OnlyFans American Racing Team – 115
3. Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI – 99
4. Alonso Lopez Beta Tools Speed Up – 79
5. Manuel Gonzalez QJMOTOR Gresini – 66

Moto3
David Alonso (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) remains the rider to beat in Moto3™, taking his fifth win of the season in style at Mugello. The Colombian led from the front for much of a shortened 11-lap dash and held off a late charge from Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) to take another 25-point haul. Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) charged up from P13 on the grid to secure third and his first ever Grand Prix podium.

The initial start was red-flagged following a crash for Fillippo Farioli (SIC58 Squadra Corse) and Xabi Zurutuza (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with Zurutuza heading to hospital for further examination. Once back underway, the distance was reduced to 11 laps of Mugello, with one clear aim for most: keep up with Alonso.

There was drama nearly immediately as Dani Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) tagged riders at Turn 1, sending Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Stefano Nepa (LEVEL UP-MTA) crashing out, with the #96 given a double Long Lap for irresponsible riding.

Meanwhile at the front, it was a breakaway group of six making their moves: Alonso, Veijer, Yamanaka, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports). With four to go, it looked like Alonso was trying to make a break, and it took Veijer a couple of laps to take over in second and get enough breathing space to start trying to close the Colombian down. That he did. And by the start of the final lap the Dutchman was within a couple of tenths, with Ortola in third.

Ultimately, however, he couldn’t get close enough to make a move, and then there was drama in the fight for the final place on the podium too as Ortola slid out at Turn 12, ending his rostrum hopes. One of the quickest remounts of all time saw him still take sixth, but Yamanaka was up the road to take his maiden Grand Prix podium to continue his impressive consistency running near the front this season.

Fourth went to Furusato as he was the final rider within a couple of seconds of the front, with Muñoz forced to settle for fifth further down the road.

Moto3 Race Results

1. David Alonso CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team
2. Collin Veijer Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP (+0.142s)
3. Ryusei Yamanaka MT Helmets – MSI (+1.253s)
4. Taiyo Furusato Honda Team Asia (+1.700s)
5. David MunozBOE Motorsports (+5.399s)

Check out the full Moto3 race results here…

Moto3 Championship Points

1. David Alonso CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 143
2. Daniel Holgado Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 – 106
3. Collin Veijer Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP – 95
4. Ivan Ortola MT Helmets – MSI – 80
5. David Munoz BOE Motorsports – 60

MotoE report and results can be found here…

MotoGP Round Six Report | Bagnaia banishes Barcelona demons. After a Saturday to forget, it was a Sunday to remember for Francesco Bagnaia as he hit back to outpace Martin – with Marc Marquez charging up the order to make it a familiar top three. Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP
Practice at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya definitely didn’t disappoint, setting the stage up for an interesting super Saturday. 2023 Barcelona winner Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) was back on top and with a new lap record ahead of two RC16s on the chase as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and rookie Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) ended the session second and third, respectively.

Check out our previous MotoGP reports here…

The fairytale continued for Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing). After announcing he’ll bow out at the end of the season and going fastest on Friday, he followed it up with pole position. Reigning Champion Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) banked second on the grid by just 0.031s, with a P3 for Raul Fernandez confirmed just following the session after his best lap was reinstated to give both the #25 and Trackhouse Racing their maiden front row.

Moto2
Friday in Moto2™ ended in some wildcard glory, with Jorge Navarro (KLINT Forward Factory Team) taking to the top and with a new lap record. Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) was second quickest, with replacement rider Daniel Muñoz (Pertamina Mandalika GAS UP Team) taking third fresh from doing the double at the venue in the Moto2™ European Championship last weekend, where Navarro also stood on the podium.

Moto2™ World Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) confirmed he’d start from pole position after setting a brilliant 1:41.894 in the opening stages of qualifying. The #3 was 0.240s clear of Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp), who pushed hard on his final run but was unable to match the pace of Garcia. Rounding off the front row after battling through Q1 was Celestino Vietti (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – just a further 0.048s slower than Aldeguer.

Moto3
CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team’s David Alonso ended Friday at the top of the standings, fastest in the morning and afternoon. The #80 put in an impressive 12 lap run at the start of P1 and then stamped some authority back on the session on his final exit. He closed the day 0.158s clear of Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo), with Daniel Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) finding a heap of time on Friday afternoon to end P1 in third.

Pole position then went the way of Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) after a brilliant final flying lap and a stunning final sector. Ortola took his first pole by a mere 0.019s from Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP), who looked confident throughout the whole session, setting a good time early on and then leaving it late to exit pitlane on his final run. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) would start from third, setting a strong time late in the session.

Check out the full Practice and Qualifying results here…

Saturday
Tissot Sprint
Aleix Espargaro (Aprilia Racing) took victory in a dramatic Tissot Sprint at the Gran Premi Monster Energy de Catalunya, keeping it faultless to the flag as not one, not two, but three different leaders slid out. As the lights went out, Bagnaia took the holeshot from second on the grid, with Acosta slicing up to head the chase.

It didn’t take long for Acosta to attack for the lead, but it likewise didn’t take long for Bagnaia to hit back. Raul Fernandez was harrying them though, and as Acosta attacked into Turn 1 on Lap 3 and took it back, the Trackhouse machine lined up the reigning Champion at Turn 3.

Then it was all change in glorious, but relatively clean havoc at the front, with Raul Fernandez emerging as the race leader after barging past Acosta. The Trackhouse machine was absolutely flying as Binder and the rookie duelled just behind him, both for the position and some extra RC16 glory. Once Acosta made it stick at Turn 1, Fernandez was already eight tenths clear. But suddenly, it then all came apart for the Trackhouse rider as he slid out at Turn 10, rider ok but head in hands.

From there, Binder vs Acosta looked like it would light up the battle for the lead, but the 33 got the upper hand and started to build a gap – leaving Bagnaia to wrestle with Acosta instead. Soon enough though the second race leader to slide out became Binder, the front end of the KTM saying goodbye at Turn 5.

That left the lead as a fight between Bagnaia and Acosta. Turn 1 was the battle ground and the rookie pulled what was fast-becoming his Barcelona signature move, but the #1 was quick to find an answer up the curb on the inside of Turn 3. From there Bagnaia started to build a gap, and Espargaro was on the march, next to test out Acosta’s defences, finding a way through to take up the chase on the reigning Champion.

That left the master and the apprentice locked in battle over third. And this time, in a beautiful reverse of that statement Turn 1 move the #31 has been revelling in, it was Acosta under attack as the #93 sailed into the corner side by side with the rookie, taking over in third.

The final drama was dealt on the last lap. Seeming like he had it in his pocket, Bagnaia then suddenly slid out at Turn 5, seeing what could have been a key haul of points disappear in the gravel trap as Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing) suffered a tougher Sprint outside podium contention. Espargaro swept through for the spoils, in just enough clear air to ensure he held on for that fairytale win.

Marquez held off Acosta round the final sector too, and what could have been a key title swing proved much less as Martin’s drama-free Sprint saw him take P4 despite not having initially had the pace for it. Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) made a solid comeback from outside the top ten on the grid to complete the top five.

“Incredible. The last two days have been amazing, like a fairytale,” Espargaro insisted. “The race was very tough; the track was super slippery and I lost the front a couple of times. Pecco [Bagnaia] was doing great as well, but he was risking it. So my goal was to push him until the last corner and it worked.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia Racing
2. Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+0.892s)
3. Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (+1.169s)
4. Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (+2.147s)
5. Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo (+2.980s)

Sunday
MotoGP
After missing an open goal win on Saturday, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) came out swinging on Sunday. The reigning Champion needed to make a statement and take some serious points, and that he did on both counts.

From the outset, it was a showdown on the brakes into T1 but Bagnaia just held on for the holeshot ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3). Martin got a good start this time round, taking over in fourth, with polesitter Espargaro the main party losing out.

Into Turn 10 on Lap 1, the first big move was executed as Martin made an absolute lunge on Binder, but he got the job done and cleanly enough.

Acosta’s first attack came at Turn 10 after a couple of laps staring at the rear of the Ducati, but Bagnaia kept it tight to immediately take it back. Acosta’s foot was even off the peg. That closed everything up again, with Martin then right on their heels and Binder not too far behind either. Turn 10 staged another one next time round, this time for Championship leader Martin on the rookie.

Meanwhile, the squabble behind was heating up. Bagnaia had some breathing space in third but Binder, Espargaro and Raul Fernandez were locked together. After stalking his prey for a while, Espargaro then was able to just nudge ahead into Turn 1, before Raul Fernandez attacked the KTM into Turn 3. Aggressive but clean, Binder was pushed back to sixth.

However, that soon became fifth as big drama hit for Acosta. After lighting it up there earlier, it all came apart for the rookie at Turn 10 as he slid off, leaving Martin just over a second clear in the lead and Bagnaia now the rider on the chase. From there, the chess match began.

Lap after lap, the gap was coming down as the #1 chipped away. And once he was there, Bagnaia wasted absolutely no time in making his attack.

With six laps to go, the reigning Champion made his move – and at exactly the place he let big spoils go begging in the Tissot Sprint: Turn 5. No drama, no contact, and nothing Martin could do, the roles were now reversed.

The relentless pace from the #1 continued, however, and the battle of the laptimes was slipping from Martin’s grasp. Unable to keep up, Martin started to fade, leaving Bagnaia with the same task as Saturday: keep it upright to the flag. This time, it was a faultless performance as the Ducati Lenovo rider cut the gap back to 39 points and Martin, this time round, had to settle for second.

Meanwhile, Marc Marquez was now on the tailpipes of Espargaro. The #93 pulled a carbon copy of the move the Aprilia rider put on Binder a few laps before and was into third – now he just had to hold onto it. After announcing his retirement at the end of 2024 just ahead of the event and taking pole and the Sprint win, the incentive was even bigger than normal for the #41 to make an attack. And he clawed his way onto the back of the Gresini by the final lap. But there was no way through that would have allowed both to finish, so it came down to the final drag to the line – with Marquez just staying ahead for that podium from P14 on the grid.

Espargaro took fourth to complete an incredible weekend on home turf, with a late charge from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) seeing the Italian just pip Raul Fernandez to fifth.

“Honestly, I was angry about yesterday knowing I had the potential to win,” Bagnaia said. “When I saw riders struggling with the front today I started to push more.”

MotoGP Race Results

1. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
2. Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati (+1.740s)
3. Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+10.491s)
4. Aleix Espargaro Aprilia Racing (+10.543s)
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio VR46 Ducati (+15.441s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

1. Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati – 155
2. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 116
3. Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati – 114
4. Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo – 94
5. Maverick Viñales Aprilia Racing – 87

Moto2
There was a twist in the tale for Moto2™, and after showing some searing pace once at the front, Ai Ogura (MT Helmets – MSI) left Barcelona victorious for the first time since the 2022 Japanese Grand Prix. Ogura charged through the field from 10th managing to get the better of teammate Sergio Garcia in the closing laps, making it another MT Helmets – MSI one-two. Jake Dixon (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) was overcome with joy after picking up his first podium of the year in what has so far been a difficult season. And the twist? Initial leader Fermin Aldeguer (MB Conveyors SpeedUp) got a Long Lap for track limits and then crashed out as he entered the LLP loop.

Once the lights went out, it was a flying start from Garcia as he converted his pole position into the race lead at Turn 1. Teammate Ogura rocketed from 10th on the grid and somehow snuck up into the top three as they reached the end of the straight.

Back at the front, it didn’t take Aldeguer long to steal away the race lead. He dived to the inside of his fellow Boscoscuro rider Garcia at Turn 10 on Lap 3, and then set about putting the hammer down as he asked questions of the Moto2™ sophomore. Pushing hard, Aldeguer did manage to make a gap before Garcia started to close him back in, and then the LLP for track limits added the first twist for the #54.

As they crossed the line to start lap 15, Garcia was nearly in a position to pounce. But he didn’t need to. Entering the long lap penalty loop at Turn 1, Aldeguer tucked the front on the brakes as he desperately tried to lose as little time as possible but in the end he lost all chance of victory.

Garcia was promoted to the lead but then just as he could breathe a sigh of relief, a second threat quickly became very visible. Ogura had sneakily taken two seconds out of his teammate in three laps.

The pivotal moment came at Turn 1 on Lap 18 as Ogura slipstreamed past Garcia and from there rode home to a clear victory in the end by almost four seconds. Amazingly, that’s Ogura’s first win since he won in his homeland of Japan back in 2022. The final laps of held breath turned to elation at the chequered flag as the MT Helmets – MSI squad secured a brilliant Barcelona one-two. Dixon in third was delighted to be back on the podium after a torrid start to 2024.

Jeremy Alcoba (Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team) took a fine fourth as he just edged out a brilliant performance from Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) who took fifth after serving a long lap penalty on the way too.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI
2. Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI (+3.816s)
3. Jake Dixon CFMoto Inde Aspar Team (+9.186s)
4. Jeremy Alcoba Yamaha VR46 Master Camp Team (+12.241s)
5. Senna Agius Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP (+12.593s)

Check out the full Moto2 race results here…

Moto2 Championship Points

1. Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI – 109
2. Joe Roberts OnlyFans American Racing Team – 89
3. Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI – 88
4. Fermin Aldeguer Beta Tools Speed Up – 63
5. Alonso Lopez Beta Tools Speed Up – 62

Moto3
David Alonso (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) played his cards to perfection, pouncing when it counted and then upping the pace to hold off the chasing pack to the flag. The victory, his fourth of the season, also makes him the new Moto3™ World Championship leader. Just behind, Ivan Ortola (MT Helmets – MSI) converted his maiden pole into a podium in P2, with Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) back on the box in third.

After a scrappy start with many almost on the grass, Ortola emerged with a few bike lengths lead in the first half of the first lap – but Dani Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), up from P9 on the grid, was soon reeling him in. David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) did the Rossi-Razgatlioglu move on Holgado at the end of the lap to take over in second, but by the time they got into Turn 1, things were shaken up. Ortola led Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), but the Japanese rider then got the notification to serve his double Long Lap given on Saturday, and Muñoz his single LLP. The race was on to move back through.

The freight train rolled on at the front with Ortola, Veijer and Holgado leading the way, but by six or seven to go, Alonso was starting to get busy. Over the line as the final five laps began, the Colombian was trying to stretch the group out from the front – with Ortola, Veijer and Holgado just about hanging in there as a gap started to grow behind the top four.

As the laps ticked on though, the picture changed again. Holgado was fading slightly into the clutches of Rueda and Muñoz, and once Rueda was past the Championship leader, he was able to claw back onto the leading trio. As the last lap began, it was once again a quartet, this time with Rueda in the ranks. The first move came from the number 99, getting past Veijer at Turn 4. But that would prove the last, with the pace so hot and the limit so close for each that no door was left open and no sensible chance possible.

Alonso crossed the line a quarter of a second clear to take the Championship lead, with Ortola denied a home win but taking another podium as he builds some momentum after some bad luck and trouble earlier in the season. Rueda, after an even tougher start to 2024 with appendicitis and a couple of on track dramas, took a second podium of the season and his third in Grand Prix racing after an impressive late attack.

Veijer was just too far back to slipstream it and claimed fourth, with Muñoz completing the top five despite that LLP. Holgado, meanwhile, faded to sixth and lost the points lead, with him now 14 points off Alonso.

Moto3 Race Results

1. David Alonso CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team
2. Ivan Ortola MT Helmets – MSI (+0.242s)
3. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo (0.513s)
4. Collin Veijer Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP (+0.560s)
5. David Munoz BOE Motorsports (+1.648s)

Check out the full Moto3 race results here…

Moto3 Championship Points

1. David Alonso CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 118
2. Daniel Holgado Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 – 104
3. Collin Veijer Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP – 75
4. Ivan Ortola MT Helmets – MSI – 70
5. David Munoz BOE Motorsports – 49

MotoE report and results can be found here…

What a wild weekend at round four of the MotoGP World Championship, the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España, at Jerez. An exciting Friday backed up by a wild Saturday and Sunday that produced some of the best Grand Prix racing in history. Report: Ed Stratham/MotoGP

Check out our other race news, including MotoGP, here…

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP
Day 1 served up the perfect aperitivo ahead of a tantalising round in Andalucia.
It was a hard battle for the top 10 in MotoGP Practice at the Gran Premio Estrella Galicia 0,0 de España as the shootout for direct entry to Q2 went down to the wire, setting the stage for a truly super Saturday. By the end of play, a top three split by only 0.143 had emerged: reigning Champion Pecco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), COTA winner Maverick Viñales (Aprilia Racing) and eight-time World Champion Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™). All three were under the previous lap record, not just Bagnaia, and that teased plenty of action on super Saturday.

Marc Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP) duly raised the roof on home turf on Saturday, taking his first pole on a Ducati and the 93rd pole of his career. It was pure vintage Marquez too, crossing the line to take provisional pole, setting the only 1:46 and, as it would turn out, the only one of the session.

No one could overhaul his lap, as the #93 led the grid ahead of Marco Bezzecchi (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Championship leader Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing).

Moto2
Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team) rocketed to the top spot at the end of Friday action in Jerez as the American continued to show immense pace on his way to setting a strong 1:40.664 to end Practice 1 ahead of pre-season favourite Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) by 0.234. Race winner at COTA and Championship leader Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) rounded out the top three after a brilliant session for the #3.

Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) stormed to pole position, producing a statement performance on Saturday in his search for that first win of the year. Joining the #54 on the front row was Albert Arenas (QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™) who snuck onto the front row after a great final lap – ending the session 0.438s adrift. CFMOTO Aspar Team’s Jake Dixon secured third, claiming a first front-row start of the season.

Moto3
David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) dominated Day 1 by posting an incredible 1:43.710 to destroy a lap record which had just been set by the Colombian on Friday morning. Alonso was almost a second clear of rookie Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3), with Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) only a further 0.083 adrift on a very impressive Friday for the Dutchman.

David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) has been the fastest rider in Moto3 since Sunday at the Portuguese GP, and in Jerez even more so. The Colombian has been untouchably quick in most sessions so far and was so in qualifying, typically a second clear of the field until a late attack from David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) to cut the gap to just over two tenths. After duelling Alonso on the timesheets earlier in the session, Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP) completed the front row.

Row 2 was Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports), Rysuei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and, Q1’s fastest rider, rookie Angel Piqueras (Leopard Racing).

Check out the full Practice and Qualifying results here…

Saturday
Tissot Sprint
For Jorge Martin (Prima Pramac Racing), it was a smooth Tissot Sprint. But behind the #89, who extended his Championship lead, chaos reigned in Spain. 15 riders crashed, all ok. Most remounted. As the lights went out, Marc Marquez bolted left to cover Bezzecchi and Martin, but Binder nailed it from P4 and nabbed the holeshot instead.

Marc Marquez was next to strike, seeing the Prima Pramac machine starting to pull the pin and shoving Binder aside to give chase. But it wasn’t job done quite yet, with Binder replying at the final corner, pushing the #93 wide and then having his own moment on the exit.

The drama then started really heating up. Three into one doesn’t go, and as Bezzecchi divebombed Bagnaia at Turn 1, in fairness getting it stopped pretty well, the reigning Champion was pushed a little wide. So Binder went for the gap, but Bezzecchi had gathered it up, leaving Bagnaia sandwiched as the #1 got punted out of action, rider ok but left on the sidelines. It seemed like the big drama of the day at the time, but it was only the half of it. Next was Binder, Alex Marquez and Bastianini as they all slid out, leaving Acosta in third after he’d caught the group following his own misadventures in the early stages.

Up front the gap from #89 to #93 had been coming down, and fast. Marc Marquez was on a charge and one small error from Martin had seen him lose the momentum with six laps to go, giving the Gresini a chance to strike. And it didn’t go begging, with the eight-time World Champion taking over in front. Martin would try to respond, but not long after that, he needed to no longer as the number 93  suddenly slid off, leaving Martin in free air in the lead on home turf. Acosta was at a distance, and now the race was on for the #89 to hold on. For Marc Marquez, the race was on to recover as many positions as possible.

Viñales then fell, adding another key contender to the list, before the spotlight went back to Marquez as his charge saw him start elbowing riders out of the way, including a nudge of former Repsol Honda teammate Joan Mir, for which the #93 was consequently given a drop position penalty. Meanwhile Quartararo was on his own march, gaining 14 positions in the first two laps on his push for the podium as he kept the hammer down, but he had close company from Pedrosa. As Martin crossed the line up ahead, Acosta followed him home around three seconds back in a Spanish 1-2 on home soil. And it was a first for both – Jerez win for Martin, and Sprint podium for Acosta.

But behind, the battle for third went to the wire as Pedrosa homed in on Quartararo, after Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) proved another faller, forced to forfeit that battle. The #26 shadowed the Yamaha ahead round the final lap but couldn’t find a gap, forced to settle for fourth before that post-race penalty for Quartararo. Then, it was that historic P3 as the Frenchman’s 8s penalty demoted him to fifth. Amongst the chaos, Franco Morbidelli (Prima Pramac Racing) kept it together to take his equal best Sprint result in P4, ahead of Quartararo’s ultimate position.

“It was a difficult race, the track conditions were super hard,” Martin insisted. “I made a good start, but then I saw Marquez was coming. Marc overtook me. Then I tried to follow him, to push him, and he made a mistake.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati
2. Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 (+2.970s)
3. Daniel Pedrosa Red Bull KTM (+7.102s)
4. Franco Morbidelli Pramac Ducati (+8.481s)
5. Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (+15.052s)

Check out the full Tissot Sprint results here…

Sunday
MotoGP
As the lights went out, Marquez took the holeshot – just – as Martin got incredibly close to the rear of the #93. But the Championship leader was forced to settle for second as Bezzecchi and Bagnaia slotted into third and fourth in the aftermath. Fourth wasn’t enough for the #1 though, even in the early stages, as Bagnaia went for an incredible 2-for-1 move at the end of the back straight… round the outside.

By the final corner on the same lap, Marquez was just wide enough on the exit to open the door. Bagnaia sliced through to lead, but by Turn 1 the #93 was heading back up the inside, both were slightly wide, and Martin was trying to pick their pocket. Bagnaia shot back into the lead, though, now with the #89 on his tail and Marquez relegated to third.

By the final corner next time round it was all change again, with Bagnaia getting passed by Martin and Marquez but the latter only temporarily as the #1 hit back at Turn 1. The next key move came from Bezzecchi at the final corner as he got through on Marquez, and then came the big title drama.

With Bagnaia right on his tail but a potential huge points lead up for grabs, Martin then suddenly slid out from the front as the Championship took an instant twist. Rider ok, but leaving key rival Bagnaia to lead Bezzecchi and Marquez in the chase for 25 more points, and letting that home GP win go begging.

Up ahead, the race pounded on. Bagnaia led the way as the tension rose on his tail, with the #93 inching closer to Bezzecchi ahead before scorching past the VR46 machine.

Marquez tagged onto the rear tyre of the Ducati Lenovo machine with five to go, and he didn’t stalk his prey for long. Marquez went for it at Turn 9, but Bagnaia responded immediately into 10, slicing straight back alongside the #93 as the two bashed into each other and jostled over the racing line. The #93 was ahead but as Bagnaia sliced through into the next apex, Marquez had no choice but to concede.

A lap later, the stadium section got another show. This time Marquez divebombed it instead, and the door for the cutback was left a little more open. Bagnaia needed no second invitation to surge back into the lead, slicing straight through. As you were. Three to go.  The #93 was forced to regroup, but over the line to start the next lap, Bagnaia had found even more – setting a new best race lap as the #1 put the pedal to the medal.

Both on the absolute limit, the crowd on their feet. Two laps, four tenths, two riders, one win. The #1 pounded on. The #93 cut back into the gap, centimetre by centimetre. But the tarmac left to race at the Circuito de Jerez-Angel Nieto was disappearing in metres and kilometers, not centimetres, and Bagnaia was holding strong. The final chance for Marquez to create his fairytale was the final corner but he just wasn’t close enough. So Bagnaia completed his.

0.372 is a small margin to be part of such a big statement, but it was a mammoth race win for the reigning Champion after a tough run – and it brings him to just 17 points off Martin in the Championship.

“It was simply fantastic. We needed such a win, not only for myself but also for the team and everybody working with me,” an overjoyed Bagnaia explained.

Marquez took his first dry weather podium since 2022, but that win will likely be on his mind as the paddock arrives at Mugello. Bezzecchi, meanwhile, was back on the rostrum for the first time since his incredible Indian GP win in 2023. Behind, Alex Marquez (Gresini Racing MotoGP™) took fourth to just deny Enea Bastianini (Ducati Lenovo Team) by the flag.

MotoGP Race Results

1. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
2. Marc Marquez Gresini Ducati (+0.372s)
3. Marco Bezzecchi VR46 Ducati (+3.903s)
4. Alex Marquez Gresini Ducati (+7.205s)
5. Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo (+7.253s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points After Round Four

1. Jorge Martin Pramac Ducati – 92 points
2. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 75 points
3. Enea Bastianini Ducati Lenovo – 70 points
4. Pedro Acosta Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 – 69 points
5. Maverick Viñales Aprilia Racing – 63 points

Moto2
Fermin Aldeguer (Beta Tools SpeedUp) was the pre-season favourite for many after his brilliant end to the 2023 season, and came into the year with a 2025 Ducati contract in his pocket to boot. But the first three Grands Prix were a mixture of bad luck and trouble, a run he put to an end at Jerez on home turf, and in some style.

Behind, a charge from Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing) saw the American slice up the order to duel Gonzalez over the final laps, coming out on top and those 20 points for second put him in the Championship lead.

It’s the first time an American has led a World Championship since Nicky Hayden in 2006, the first time an American has taken three podiums in a row since the very same campaign and Roberts’ score at the top of the table is 69 points. Once the lights went out, Gonzalez pounced to steal the lead, setting the fastest lap early on and holding off Aldeguer on the opening lap. Americas GP winner Sergio Garcia (MT Helmets – MSI) also had a strong start, looking like he’d defend or extend his Championship lead coming into the race.

Roberts was the rider with the pace in the middle stage of the race, stealing the fastest lap after setting a 1:41.020 on lap 10. The American had worked his way up and pulled off an unbelievable move to steal third from Garcia, who had no response. By the final lap of the race, Aldeguer even had time in hand to celebrate with the crowd throughout the last lap. Roberts, having arrived at Gonzalez, attacked, and held on for a memorable second.

Further down the order, Garcia claimed fourth – losing time in the latter stages of the race but staying ahead of Albert Arenas, who capped off a great weekend for the QJMOTOR Gresini Moto2™ squad in the top five.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Fermin Aldeguer Beta Tools Speed Up
2. Joe Roberts OnlyFans American Racing Team (+1.287s)
3. Manuel Gonzalez QJMOTOR Gresini (+1.568s)
4. Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI (+6.226s)
5. Albert Arenas QJMOTOR Gresini (+8.059s)

Check out the full Moto2 race results here…

Moto2 Championship Points After Round Four

1. Joe Roberts OnlyFans American Racing Team – 49 points
2. Sergio Garcia MT Helmets – MSI – 64 points
3. Fermin Aldeguer Beta Tools Speed Up – 54 points
4. Manuel Gonzalez QJMOTOR Gresini – 46 points
5. Ai Ogura MT Helmets – MSI- 43 points

Moto3
Collin Veijer (Liqui Moly Huqsvarna Intact GP) was back on the top step! The Dutchman put in a perfect final lap to hold off David Muñoz (BOE Motorsports) to clinch his second Grand Prix win in style. Muñoz got the start and then banged bars with Alonso, pushing the number 80 down to second. But the Colombian hit back later on Lap 1 before he and Muñoz started to make a small gap, but the dream was over by the end of the very first. The number 80 slid off at the final corner, rider ok and able to rejoin but the freight train of riders disappeared into the distance.

That left Muñoz in the lead, but Veijer soon attacked and made his way through. Veijer, Muñoz, Ortola, Joel Esteban (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team), Ryusei Yamanaka (MT Helmets – MSI) and Joel Kelso (BOE Motorsports) were the leading group of six in the early stages as Dani Holgado (Red Bull GASGAS Tech3) tried to move his way through the second group on his fight back from P18 on the grid. On Alonso watch, the fight back was also on. The Colombian was on the move and by eight laps to go was homing in on the points. By five to go, he was well within reach in P12, trying to make up the gap to the next group.

Meanwhile, the fight at the front was now a four-rider group. Veijer led Muñoz, Ortola and Yamanaka, before another few laps later it became a trio as Yamanaka started to lose ground. Three riders, three places on the podium, and one win. It was going down to the wire.

On to the final lap, and the fight for victory was between Veijer and Muñoz. The Dutchman held strong, though, and his unbelievable pace through the fast final right handers was enough to avoid getting attacked into the final corner, as Veijer did enough to take his second Grand Prix win by just 0.045.

Ortola was forced to settle for third while Yamanaka banked fourth place to equal his best GP result so far. Kelso came out in fifth, as the Australian stayed strong to come out ahead of the chasing pack behind him.

Moto3 Race Results

1. Collin Veijer Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP
2. David Munoz BOE Motorsports (+0.045s)
3. Ivan Ortola MT Helmets – MSI (+0.871s)
4. Ryusei Yamanaka MT Helmets – MSI +4.849s)
5. Joel Kelso BOE Motorsports (+10.178s)

Check out the full Moto3 race results here…

Moto3 Championship Points After Round Four

1. Daniel Holgado Red Bull GASGAS Tech3 – 74 points
2. David Alonso CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team – 68 points
3. Collin Veijer Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP – 46 points
4. Ivan Ortola MT Helmets – MSI -39 points
5. Joel Kelso BOE Motorsports – 39 points