With Australians racing abroad in a range of disciplines, both on-track and off-road, Ed’s column focuses on how they’re battling it out with the best in their chosen classes. Ed updates us on Miller, Kelso, Rouldsone, Gardner, McDonald and Lawrence. Words: Ed Stratmann
On-Track Jack Miller – MotoGP
Retained by Yamaha for 2026, Jack Miller returned to the V4-powered M1 during the Valencia MotoGP Test following the season finale, as he and his fellow Yamaha riders face the seriously tough challenge of helping shape Yamaha’s V4 project.
First on track after a delayed start, Miller completed an important 51 laps and finished 20th. “It was a busy day. I did a lot of laps. I was shaking down the new bike and trying to understand it. Trying to make some headway in the development. We have got some work ahead of us, but I am not afraid of a little work,”he insisted.
One of the key learnings was the Australian ace identifying the electronics as an area needing attention. “Electronics still need a lot of work, as we still have to deal with the same problems as last year when I got on the M1 at this juncture, so the acceleration and progression,”he told GPOne.
“In terms of traction control, we are not in bad shape. It’s just the way it works. We have to find a way to get a better delivery and allow the bike to be fluid and not skate as soon as you go on the gas.”
He then resumed action on Wednesday for a private test with Fabio Quartararo, Alex Rins and Toprak Razgatlioglu, which was also crucial to log some more data and extract some further insight for future reference.
“Today was about gaining experience on the bike. We have some clear issues we need to work on. Going into tomorrow, we have some items to try to fix the issues and give us as much speed back as possible before the break. The engineers will go away and try to come up with some solutions over winter and bring us some developments come Malaysia,”commented Miller.
While there’s still plenty of work to be done, the immensely experienced Miller’s feedback will continue to be vital in the bike’s development in their quest to enjoy a strong 2026 campaign.
Joel Kelso – Moto3
While Joel Kelso’s move to the MLav Racing Team was announced back in September, it’ll be fascinating to see how he fares following another largely positive season in Moto3, which saw him grab his best finish yet of sixth in the final championship standings.
Pic: Joel Kelso Racing.
“I can’t wait to get started and to deliver strong and consistent results. It’s a new challenge on the Honda, which I believe will be a great experience. I’m pleased to have my future secured for the next two years, and I’m looking forward to working hard with the team to build this project up,”stated Kelso.
“Having Joel on board is a major step forward for us. He brings proven speed, experience and the determination of a front runner eager to keep progressing at the highest level. His arrival underlines our long-term commitment to strengthening this project,”explained the team.
Pic: Joel Kelso Racing
Clinching 16 top 10 finishes and six top fives last term, it’s been terrific to see him already make a fast start to life in new colours, for he impressively set the fastest time on day two of testing in Jerez on his very first outing with the Honda. Now entering his fourth season in the lightweight class, riding for his fourth different team, Kelso boasts the potential to be a legit title contender in 2026, which will be another massive year for the gifted maestro.
Jacob Roulstone
After Red Bull Tech Moto chose not to renew his contract for 2026, Jacob Roulstone was on the hunt for a new ride. Fortunately, he’s found one, with the talented Aussie confirming he’ll race for Team Ciatti Boscoscuro in the 2026 FIM Moto2 European Championship within the FIM Junior GP World Championship framework.
Pic: Jacob Roulstone #12.
This transition represents an intriguing step, with him going from the 250cc lightweight bikes to the larger 765cc bikes. “The opportunity to progress to a Moto2 machine is one I am definitely ready for, and doing it in partnership with an experienced and professional team like Team Ciatti is fantastic,”said Roulstone.
“To finally be in a position to confirm my plans for next season brings a real sense of a new door opening, and that fuels my motivation. My focus during the off-season is to ensure I am 100 per cent ready to tackle the demands of this new championship.”
Pic: Motocity Wollongong
With a pre-season neck injury derailing Roulstone’s 2025 campaign and a late-season broken hand ending his hopes of keeping his Red Bull KTM Tech3 seat, this is an outstanding opportunity for the youngster. All his energy will now be channelled to preparation for this new chapter in the seven-round FIM Moto2 European Championship, which visits Catalunya, Estoril, Jerez, Magny-Cours, Aragon, Misano and Valencia.
Jacob has also signed to race ASBK Superbike on the Motocity Wollongong Honda CBR1000RR-R Superbike for 2026.
Jacob Roulstone“Excited for this new challenge. Huge thanks to Motocity and Honda Australia for giving me this opportunity. Can’t wait to get on the bike very soon.”
Marcus Hamod “Really happy to announce the move to superbikes full time next year with Motocity and the support from Honda Australia. Can’t wait to get started, can’t thank everyone involved enough for the opportunity.”
Remy Gardner – World Superbike
While injury prevented Remy Gardner from participating in the Jerez test due to a shoulder ailment sustained in a training incident, the Australian pilot is now fully locked in on recovering as soon as possible to start getting ready for 2026.
Finishing the crusade 11th in the standings, having banked a memorable podium in Assen and a host of top 10s, the former Moto2 World Champion, who signed a two-year contract extension with the GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team, will be looking for more in 2026. Excited at signing his new deal a few months back, the classy Gardner knows there’s huge scope for improvement.
“I am happy to be continuing with Yamaha in WorldSBK. Our journey together so far has been good, but I still feel that we are only scratching the surface of what we can achieve. We’ve shown that when everything comes together, we can be quick and fight for the podium. My target is to do this more consistently over the remainder of the 2025 season and look towards taking a further step in 2026,”he acknowledged.
Yamaha Motor Europe Racing Sporting Manager, Nicolo Canepa, then added: “Remy has become a valuable member of our line-up over the last few years, not just through his speed and potential, but also his ability to give detailed feedback, which proves useful to our engineers as we look to continue developing the R1 in WorldSBK. We have already seen he can fight for the podium, and the target is to be more consistent in this goal towards the end of this season and then build on this for next year.”
Archie McDonald – 2026 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup
After two consecutive seasons balancing racing commitments across the ASBK Australian Superbike Championship and European competition, Joe Rascal Racing has announced Archie McDonald as its first rider signing for the 2026 Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup.
Pic: Archie McDonald Racing
McDonald, 19, arrives with an impressive resume, having already claimed five Australian Flat Track Championship titles to accompany the aforementioned. Widely regarded as one of Australia’s finest rising talents, he embarks on this exciting adventure right as the team builds toward its 2026 campaign.
Pic: Dale Schmidtchen
The squad expects McDonald’s combination of pace and racecraft to translate well to the Bagger World Cup, with confidence high that he can be a regular front-runner. The championship gets underway at the Americas Grand Prix, with the opening round scheduled for March 27-29.
Off-Track Jett Lawrence – AMA Supercross
Jett Lawrence and HRC have confirmed that the Australian suffered a fractured right ankle/foot in a practice crash last Friday at the Dog Pound in Florida. Lawrence immediately underwent surgery to repair fractures to the talus and navicular bones and is expected to be sidelined for at least three months. The devastating injury ends his AMA Supercross title ambitions before the season begins, but he’s hoping to be back in time to defend his AMA Pro Motocross and SuperMotocross crowns.
The 22-year-old phenom, who owns 10 AMA championships, will now switch his focus to his recovery and getting back out there sooner rather than later.
“Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now,”Lawrence reflected.“The team and I put in so much work during the off-season to improve. I keep reminding myself that we have overcome challenges before, and this is no different. I’ll put the same focus into my recovery that I put into being the best athlete I can be each day. My goal is to get this ankle fully healed up and return as competitive as ever and make the 2026 season as successful as we can.”
Sydney Motorsport Park Ride Days Set for Biggest Year Yet in 2026 | Sydney Motorsport Park is gearing up for its biggest motorcycle track-day program yet, following a hugely successful 2025 season that welcomed thousands of riders from Australia and around the world.
Across 2025, a total of 30 Ride Days and six Ride Nights were run at Sydney Motorsport Park, attracting 4,518 riders. Participants came from all walks of life, nationalities and backgrounds, united by a shared passion for riding one of Australia’s premier motorsport venues.
Looking ahead to 2026, the calendar expands even further. A total of 31 regular Ride Days and 11 Ride Nights are planned, alongside a limited number of weekend and public holiday events, plus several special dates yet to be announced.
One of the standout features continuing into next year is the opportunity for riders to hire premium superbikes on every Ride Day, including the Ducati Panigale V4S and BMW S 1000 RR. For those wanting the ultimate on-track experience, the Full Factory Experience will also return, offering riders access to up-spec Ducati Panigale V4S and BMW S 1000 RR M Sport machines, complete with slick tyres, tyre warmers and personalised setup.
New for 2026 are brand-specific days, including BMW Motorrad Days and Ducati Experience events, where only motorcycles from that marque take to the circuit. Exclusive Full Factory Experience Days will also be introduced, limited to just 10 riders on track, with seven dedicated sessions per day.
Further details on these new experiences will be revealed in the new year, as Sydney Motorsport Park continues to elevate its motorcycle ride-day offering for 2026.
The first Australian to win a Grand Prix World Championship on two wheels or four is celebrated in this much-awaited biography written by renowned motorcycle racing historian Don Cox. Keith Campbell, Australia’s first Grand Prix World Champion by Don Cox
Keith Campbell, Australia’s First Grand Prix World Champion is a terrifically researched 95,000-word account of Campbell’s remarkable career featuring many previously unpublished photographs.
Campbell secured the 1957 World 350 Championship in his debut season with Moto Guzzi, finishing on the podium at the Isle of Man and taking consecutive victories in The Netherlands, Belgium and Northern Ireland. He was the first Australian to win multiple Grands Prix in a calendar year.
Campbell’s world title was the culmination of an eight-year journey from Melbourne teenager welding vacuum-cleaner bodies to finance his racing and solo trips to the famed Isle of Man that launched his career as a Continental Circus rookie at 22 and then successful private entrant.
A fair-minded man, Campbell stood up for proper payment for private riders at the 1955 Dutch TT. Along with other striking riders, he was suspended from racing for six months. Undeterred, he was back racing and winning in 1956, and then piloted Guzzi 350 singles, 500 singles and the fabulous Guzzi 500 V-eight as a factory rider.
Keith Campbell on the 500cc. V8 Moto-Guzzi.
Guzzi’s withdrawal from racing in September 1957 left Campbell without a works ride. He returned to the privateer ranks for 1958 with plans to head home to Melbourne and start a business in 1959. Campbell tragically died in a race accident at Cadours, France, in July 1958.
Purchase your signed copy for $50 plus shipping by emailing your details to krcampbellbook@gmail.com
“This is a truly remarkable biography of the racer, businessman and entrepreneur who became Australia’s first motorsport grand prix world champion,”Peter Donaldson said.
“Talent, bravery, speed, smarts and persistence. Australia’s first road-racing World Champion Keith Campbell used all of that to reach the pinnacle of success,”Jamie McIlwraith said. “The man behind the legendary Circus Life history of 1950s’ Aussie international motorcycle racers tells the inspiring yet tragic story of Campbell’s extraordinary career”.
Keith Campbell on a Manx Norton in 1958.
Keith Campbell, Australia’s first Grand Prix World Champion draws on interviews with Keith Campbell’s family, friends, rivals, team mates, helpers and travelling mates, reporters and spectators from the day.
The list of those whom helped contribute to the book includes Jack Ahearn, Keith Bryen, Rod Coleman, Geoff Duke, Keith’s brother George Campbell, key helpers Ron Day and Bob Edmonds, Eric Hinton, Bob Mitchell, Maurie Quincey, John Surtees and Vic Willoughby. Keith Campbell.
Aussies Racing Abroad | October 2025. With many Australians showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines both on-track and off-road, Ed Stratmann’s column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes…
On-Track Jack Miller – MotoGP
Jack Miller endured a frustrating start to November in Portugal, salvaging just 14th in the Sprint after what had promised to be a competitive weekend. The Prima Pramac Yamaha ace had shown genuine pace in qualifying, progressing through Q1 with the second-fastest time to lock down eighth on the grid. But any hopes of a points finish evaporated almost immediately, as Miller haemorrhaged five positions on the opening lap and never recovered, ultimately bringing it home 14th.
Sunday’s Grand Prix offered little respite. Despite starting with renewed optimism, Miller found himself wrestling with severe grip issues throughout the race, eventually crossing the line a distant P12.
“Sunday went a little better than yesterday. I had a decent start and tried to challenge the guys ahead of me, but there were some areas where I was really struggling – especially on the exit of turns 14 and 15, and also through turn six. When the tyre started to drop, it just got harder and harder; the bike was pumping like hell, and I was just trying to do the best I could. So, not happy with the day,”Miller lamented.
Onto the finale, and after topping FP1 and running sixth in practice before qualifying P8, Miller’s weekend was looking promising. A rapid launch in the Sprint then put him in a tight battle with Fermín Aldeguer for eighth, but contact between the two on lap three derailed his charge. Miller was handed a three-position penalty which went unserved, leading to a long-lap penalty that dropped him to 12th.
In the main dance, Miller claimed a credible ninth. After spending much of the race in sixth and seventh with an attacking yet controlled ride, a late tyre drop forced him onto the defensive, which consequently cost him two positions to Luca Marini and Brad Binder.
“Over the season we‘ve been up and down – some good highlights and some decent lowlights too – but in the last couple of races, since Australia, we‘ve managed to understand the front end a bit more. Maybe we lost a little in terms of outright performance, but we gained good feedback in stability and in managing the tyre. Now I understand this bike more and more. Next year’s bike will be different, but the DNA is the same,”reflected the popular veteran.
Senna Agius – Moto2
Senna Agius began the weekend in fine form at Portimao by posting third in FP1 before backing it up with fifth in Friday afternoon’s practice session. While qualifying 13th represented a slight dip in fortunes, he remained optimistic about his race prospects.
Come Sunday, Agius demonstrated the pace that had served him well in practice, but a sluggish getaway off the line proved damaging. Although he recovered to bag ninth at the chequered flag, a result he was satisfied with given the circumstances, the young maestro knew a stronger launch could have yielded a considerably better finish.
“It wasn’t a bad race, even though I didn’t get off to the best start and the first lap didn’t go perfectly. That’s why I fell back a few positions. I also had a little trouble finding my speed at the start of the race, which is why I ended up losing a few positions. I think if I had been able to attack at the beginning, I would have made some really good progress, because I had good pace at the end of the race. In the last three laps, I overtook some good riders and made it into the top ten. So, let’s take the positives, because we have a strong race pace,”Agius explained.
Agius brought his campaign to a solid close with seventh in the season finale at Valencia. Having qualified an impressive third on the grid, the Australian ran inside the leading group for much of the distance. However, fading grip in the closing stages saw him slip back to eighth at the flag.
A post-race time penalty for Filip Salac ultimately promoted Agius to seventh, which was a solid way to draw the curtain on his campaign.
“Once again, a big thank you to Jürgen, Stefan and Wolfgang for giving me the opportunity to be here, because without them I wouldn’t have gotten this far. I really felt their support this year, and they believed in me during difficult moments. On the other hand, the good moments motivate us for the future. Now we’re going home and set for next year. I have a lot to do in the winter. Fortunately, that keeps me busy so I can come back in good shape in 2026. Finally, I would also like to thank everyone involved in this project for their work and help this year,”commented the gifted talent.
Joel Kelso – Moto3
Joel Kelso produced a masterclass in qualifying at Portimao, securing pole position with a composed and confident display that saw him top the timesheets with aplomb.
Starting from the prime grid slot on race day, he fought valiantly but found himself on the back foot as the laps ticked by. Mounting tyre wear in the latter stages hampered his charge, thus leaving him to settle for seventh.
“Took a gamble in yesterday’s race and tried my hardest to break away. Unfortunately the soft front just faded towards the end. Overall it was a super positive weekend, and we will leave it all on the line in Valencia next week,”posted Kelso.
Joel Kelso saw his crusade come to a premature and annoying end at Valencia, with him crashing out after qualifying 12th. It was far from the conclusion he’d hoped for. However, despite his disappointment, Kelso looked back with satisfaction on what had been his strongest season at this level to date, stating: “Not the way I wanted to end our final race of the year. A crash brought my progress to a halt quite early, but this year I’ve had my best season yet and was lucky to share it with the Level Up MTA team. We created some great memories together, and I wish them all the best for the future. Now we turn our eyes to 2026.”
Jacob Roulstone – Moto3
Jacob Roulstone was forced to sit out the penultimate round in Portugal after undergoing surgery on a fractured left hand sustained in Malaysia. The Australian’s focus quickly shifted to returning for the last stop on the calendar. And that he did, despite carrying that injury into his final outing with Tech3, as Roulstone put in a gutsy performance at Valencia. Starting 23rd on the grid, he wasted no time carving through the field, reaching 16th by lap three and climbing as high as 13th at the race’s midpoint.
The compromised hand inevitably took its toll as the laps wore on, and Roulstone gradually dropped back down the order. Nevertheless, he held on to cross the line 16th.
“Sunday’s race had to be the hardest of the season. Finishing P16, it was the only race this season where when finishing a race I wasn’t able to score points. I took some painkillers and held on for as long as I could. I managed to work my way up to P13 from P23 and battled till the end. But once they wore off, I struggled to keep going with only three fingers working the left bar and holding on.
Considering I still had pins in my hand on Wednesday, I didn’t think I’d be able to say that. It wasn’t the way I wanted to wrap up the season, but I’m proud I was able to put the helmet on and do the last race of the season. The team and I worked very hard these past days to get a comfortable and competitive feeling on the bike. Which I’m proud we were able to do. And I really want to thank the boys for those efforts,”insisted Roulstone.
Off-Track Jett Lawrence – Paris Supercross
Jett Lawrence certainly endured an eventful time of it at the 2025 Paris Supercross. Night one was nothing short of a catastrophe, for he was taken out by Tom Vialle and then crashed in both Superpole and the third final to cap off a disastrous opening day. To his credit, the phenom responded emphatically on Sunday, as the #18 dominated proceedings with victories in two of the three races and a third in the other, ensuring he left the French capital on a decidedly high note.
Hunter Lawrence – Paris Supercross
Hunter Lawrence also had a wild ride at Paris Supercross, mixing the ups with the downs in dramatic fashion. Beginning with first place in Saturday’s Superpole before going 4-2 in the opening two motos, things were looking promising for the #96. But a nasty spill in the whoops derailed his evening and threatened to rule him out for the rest of the event. Thankfully, the banged-up star was able to compete on Sunday, where he bravely fought through the pain to go 4-5-4, which was a gutsy showing given the circumstances.
“I’m happy I could ride today as well. I wasn’t sure how I’d be. Thankful to keep Eric [Peronnard] happy. Rule number one at these races, keep the promoters happy. Yeah, we were just, I mean, you’ve seen it, compared to yesterday,”he told RacerX.
“I could do enough, you know, get out there and still get some good practice laps in, and no, it was good. I take the riding from yesterday, Superpole, even the motos and how I was riding up until the crash. The crash was just one of those things. The whoops were abnormally large this year, and, just going into them, had a bit of a bad run out of the corner – the rut kind of caved in – and then trying to drive through the first three, and I think on like the fourth one, my front wheel just missed the tip of it. And as I’ve gone to extend, like, commit to putting it on the next one, as you do, the rear wheel spun as I’ve pretty much pushed all my chips in on that one to get traction. So, yeah, it was pretty scary.”
Luke Clout – Paris Supercross
Luke Clout delivered a brilliant performance at the 2025 Paris Supercross to clinch second in SX2 after a weekend in which he came so close to reigning supreme.
The Australian was nothing short of excellent across the two nights, reeling off an impressive string of 2-1-1-1 finishes in the opening four motos to establish himself as the man to beat. His speed and consistency had him firmly in control of the overall classification heading into the final day.
Read our October Aussies Racing Abroad column here…
Heartbreak struck in the penultimate moto, though, when Clout was caught up in a first-turn incident beyond his control, thus seeing him limp home 13th to watch his title hopes slip through his fingers. The experienced Aussie bounced back strikingly to win the final race, but the damage had been done. Even though he missed out on the overall triumph by a narrow margin, Clout could hold his head high after a tremendous display.
Waters’ path of least resistance to winning an unprecedented fifth SW-Motech Superbike title was always going to come in the battle for grid positions, and the script went perfectly to plan for the McMartin Racing Ducati star.
Waters qualified in fifth, but with arch-rival Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) unable to secure pole position Waters now takes a 50p lead into Sunday’s two 11-lap races. Even if Jones wins both battles and Waters doesn’t score any points – extremely unlikely for such a well-drilled champion – Waters would still win the championship on a countback.
With the numbers falling his way, it was a super Saturday for Waters, who won his first Superbike title in 2009 followed by further successes in 2012, 2017 and 2024. After three decades of Aussie Superbike brilliance, Waters still can’t fully comprehend what he has achieved.
“When I started road racing I used to stand outside Shawn Giles’ garage and think ‘Will I ever be like that’?,said Waters, referencing the former three-time Superbike champion (2000-2002).
“Now to win five titles against such a high level of competition means so much. This year has been really special. I’ve got such a great team and crew around me, and everyone at home is such a big support: my wife, my family, my training partners. It just means so much.”
Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati) will start from pole in the SW-Motech Superbike races, and will be joined on the front row by Jones and Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Honda).
MotoGP Round 22 | Marco Bezzecchi reigns supreme while 2025’s bronze medallist and Trackhouse’s Fernandez handed Aprilia a historic end to the campaign as Diggia battled past Acosta for P3. It was action aplenty for the final round of the year and it was a cracker! Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP
Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying MotoGP
The rider to beat on MotoGP’s final Friday of the season? Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37). The KTM star set a 1:29.240 to beat Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) by just 0.053s at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, as Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21) earned P3 in what was a very competitive opening day of action at the Motul Grand Prix of the Valencian Community.
Less than a tenth split the top five in qualifying? Go on then! That’s exactly what we were served in the final pole position battle of the season, and it was a fight that was won by Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) as the fastest quintet all set times that were under the previous lap record. The Italian’s 1:28.809 was 0.026s quicker than Alex Marquez’s (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) effort and 0.044s better than Fabio Di Giannantonio’s (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) personal best.
Moto2
There was an early slice of drama in the Moto2 title-deciding weekend. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) was forced to battle it out in Q1 on Saturday afternoon at the Grand Prix of Valencia after finishing Friday’s Practice session in P19, while title rival Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) sailed into Q2 with a P10 result on Day 1. Meanwhile, despite a late tumble, Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #27) led the way with a 1:32.408, with Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) and Daniel Muñoz (Red Bull KTM Ajo #17) completing the top three.
A fourth pole of the season for Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) made it another record-breaking Moto2 qualifying session in Valencia. World Championship leader Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) qualified in P9 for the finale, with title rival Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) starting from P5 as he gunned for victory on Sunday.
Moto3
Under sunny skies at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia, David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) was lightning quick on Friday to secure top spot and a pathway to Q2. He set fastest lap after fastest lap to shave almost a second off the old lap record. The Spaniard sported a margin of over three tenths of a second and went into Saturday as the rider to beat, as teammate Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73) completed the top three.
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) clinched pole position for the Moto3™ Grand Prix of Valencia on Saturday afternoon with a mega lap of 1 ‘36.990s, enough to finish ahead of the opposition. Behind, teammate David Almansa (Leopard Racing) made it a Honda 1-2, whilst Maximo Quiles’ (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team #28) went from P3.
Saturday Tissot Sprint
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) capped the final Tissot Sprint of 2025 with a commanding victory, making it back-to-back Sprint wins and his third of the season. The #73 controlled the race from the start, finishing ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who charged forward from the second row, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) secured third after a late fight with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #25).
Launching perfectly from P2, Marquez grabbed the holeshot ahead of polesitter Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). Acosta made a lightning start of his own, jumping from fifth to second by Turn 2. Bezzecchi, however, endured a nightmare opening lap, slipping to sixth behind Fernandez, Di Giannantonio and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20).
Early drama struck Honda on Lap 2 when Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) crashed at Turn 2, collecting teammate Luca Marini and ending both riders’ Sprints. Mir was handed a Long Lap penalty for the GP. A lap later in the same corner, Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43) and Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54) made contact, forcing Aldeguer wide. Miller was ordered to drop three positions but did not serve the penalty, leading to a Long Lap Penalty that derailed his points push.
Bezzecchi eventually cleared Quartararo for fifth, though the gap to Fernandez and Di Giannantonio ahead exceeded a second. At the front, Marquez stretched his lead to 1.4s by mid-distance, managing the pace calmly as Acosta searched for his first MotoGP win while also defending from those behind. Further back, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) passed Quartararo as the Yamaha rider faded.
The fight for third intensified late as Di Giannantonio and Fernandez traded positions from Turn 4 to Turn 6 on the penultimate lap. Their battling allowed Bezzecchi to close in, but he ran out of time to join the podium fight.
Marquez sealed the win ahead of Acosta, who claimed his fourth consecutive Sprint podium. The result, coupled with Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) P14, moved Acosta into fourth in the standings. Di Giannantonio completed the podium ahead of Fernandez, while Bezzecchi settled for fifth ahead of Sunday’s GP.
“Super happy to win today. During the weekend we suffered a bit more than normal, but today in the Sprint I say, ‘We need to win, we need to be there’. I attacked from the start. And I saw that I could put my rhythm and save a little bit of tyre in the beginning and then push at the end. We did it, and I controlled the gap in a very good way,”Marquez said.
Tissot Sprint Race Results
Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati
Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+1.149s)
Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+2.637s)
Raul Fernandez Trackhouse Aprilia (+3.519s)
Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+3.727s)
Sunday MotoGP
Aprilia closed 2025 in style as Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) delivered a lights-to-flag victory in Valencia, securing back-to-back wins for the first time and leading teammate Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) for the manufacturer’s first 1-2 since 2023. Fernandez pushed hard to the line, finishing just 0.6s adrift, while Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) snatched third from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) to extend Ducati’s run of 88 consecutive podiums into 2026.
Before lights out, drama struck as Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) collided with Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team #41) while forming up on the grid, ending Morbidelli’s season with a fractured left hand. Once the race began, Bezzecchi launched cleanly and held the lead over Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), but chaos erupted at Turn 4 when Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR #5) lost control and forced Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) into the gravel. Bagnaia tipped off, ending his race and season, while Zarco was handed a Long Lap Penalty.
Fernandez quickly carved forward, passing Di Giannantonio and closing down Bezzecchi and Marquez with successive fastest laps. By Lap 11, he swept past Marquez for second, while Acosta and Di Giannantonio closed in behind as Marquez struggled for pace. The leading trio built a gap of more than two seconds, but Fernandez steadily chipped away at Bezzecchi’s advantage.
With 11 laps remaining, Acosta began pressuring Marquez and finally forced his way into third at Turn 4 on Lap 20. Di Giannantonio followed suit with an identical move a lap later, dropping Marquez to fifth. Up front, Bezzecchi’s lead hovered around half a second as Fernandez continued to push, bringing the gap down to 0.4s with three laps to go.
The final laps produced two fierce duels: Bezzecchi vs Fernandez for the win and Acosta vs Di Giannantonio for the final podium. Di Giannantonio struck first, overtaking Acosta at Turn 4 with two laps remaining. The KTM rider fought back, but the Italian held firm.
On the last lap, Bezzecchi maintained just enough margin to keep Fernandez at bay, securing Aprilia’s 1-2. Di Giannantonio completed the podium, finishing a strong Valencia double. Acosta took P4, confirming fourth overall in the standings. Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) claimed P5 with a last-corner move on teammate Alex Marquez, who ended the day in P6.
“I was super motivated after yesterday because for different reasons, I wasn’t good enough to fight for the podium [in the Sprint], and I was a little bit angry with myself,”Bezzecchi explained. “I started in front and put my rhythm on, and I was feeling good and able to manage [the race] until the end. I was not [surprised] from Raul, I saw his pace yesterday, and I was hoping for a little bit less, but in the end, the last two laps, I was a bit afraid. I was managing through all the race, and it never got too scary. I was always in control, but then in the last two laps I started to think I was in a little bit of trouble with the rear [tyre] as Raul was coming.”
MotoGP Race Results
Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing
Raul Fernandez Trackhouse Aprilia (+0.686s)
Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.765s)
Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) is the 2025 Moto2™ World Champion, becoming Brazil’s first-ever Grand Prix world champion. A calm and calculated 10th place was all he needed, as his only remaining title rival, Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), required a win but was forced to pit with a rear-tyre issue while running in the latter half of the top ten.
At the front, Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) claimed his maiden Moto2 victory in superb style, becoming the record 11th different winner of a wildly competitive season. Daniel Holgado (CFMoto Inde Aspar Team) pushed him all the way for P2, while Ivan Ortola (QJMotor – FRINSA – MSI #4) produced a brilliant charge to secure his first Moto2 podium in third.
Guevara grabbed the holeshot ahead of Holgado, Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #75) and Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #81), while Gonzalez settled into fifth and Moreira into ninth, elbows out and riding with the title in mind. Ortiz began climbing early, passing Gonzalez for fifth on Lap 5, then attacking Arenas for fourth on Lap 7 as Guevara and Holgado tried to edge clear.
Agius and Ortola briefly closed the gap on the leaders but soon fell into their own battle, allowing the front two to rebuild breathing room. Meanwhile, Gonzalez was feeling the pressure; a pair of wide moments underlined his struggle to maintain pace, and Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95) soon swept past him. Arenas and Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #12) followed, dropping the #18 to eighth as Moreira remained a composed ninth, just behind the fading Spaniard.
With five laps to go, the championship pivoted dramatically. Gonzalez slowed, signalling a rear-end problem. Moreira slipped by him cleanly before the Spaniard dived into pit lane for a tyre change, effectively ending his title hopes despite rejoining. From that moment, the 2025 Moto2 World Championship belonged to Diogo Moreira.
Up front, the fight for victory went down to the wire. Holgado hounded Guevara throughout the final laps, but the #28 never cracked, defending perfectly in the final sector to secure his first Moto2 win. Holgado took P2 and Ortola completed a breakthrough rookie podium in P3.
Veijer finished fourth, while Salač crossed the line fifth before a tyre-pressure penalty dropped him down the order. Arenas inherited P5 in his final Moto2 race, Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) stormed to P6 and Agius faded to seventh ahead of Celestino Vietti (Sync SpeedRS Team #13). Tony Arbolino (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #14) took P9, with the new World Champion Moreira classified 10th.
Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 257
Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 232
Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 227
Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 224
Moto3
Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) finally became a Grand Prix winner at his 86th attempt, converting pole into victory in Valencia after leading much of the 20-lap finale. The Spaniard held off compatriot Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72), while sixth place secured P2 in the Championship for Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36).
Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team) grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1, but Fernandez retook the lead immediately at Turn 2. David Almansa (Leopard Racing) briefly hit the front at the end of Lap 1, only to be pushed wide by his teammate at Turn 14 a lap later, dropping to P8 and leaving him with work to do. Fernandez resumed control ahead of Quiles, while Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse #58) carved through the early chaos to join the top three.
The pace was fierce, with the lead group of eight tightly packed. Almansa worked his way back to fourth by Lap 8 but was quickly shuffled down again as Furusato, Lunetta, Carpe and Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #94) attacked. At the front, Fernandez remained calm, keeping Quiles close behind him.
Entering the second half, Fernandez tried to break the group with the fastest lap. Furusato moved into second ahead of Quiles and began chasing the leader, with Pini in fourth and Carpe fighting Lunetta a few bike lengths behind. Further back, Almansa found himself in a scrap with Piqueras and Marco Morelli (GRYD – MLav Racing #95) for seventh.
Despite several attempts to escape, Fernandez faced a five-rider battle heading into the final lap. Carpe and Quiles exchanged attacks through Turns 6–8, while Furusato shadowed Fernandez into the last corner. The #31 held firm, crossing the line first to claim a long-awaited maiden win.
Furusato finished second on the road but was penalised for exceeding track limits on the final lap, dropping him to third. Carpe inherited P2, matching his best result of the season, while a late double move from Carpe and Pini pushed Quiles down to P5 at the flag – enough to secure third in the final standings.
Guido Pini Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+0.674s)
Maximo Quiles CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team (+0.725s)
Moto3 Championship Points
Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 365
Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 281
Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 274
Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 215
David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 197
How Did the Aussies Do?
Having gone fastest in FP1 and sixth in practice before qualifying P8, Jack Miller’s weekend was shaping up nicely. After a strong launch in the Sprint, he ended up in a scrap with Fermín Aldeguer for eighth, with the pair making contact at Turn 2 on Lap 3 to scupper his bout. Miller received a three-position penalty but didn’t serve it and was instead given a long-lap sanction that dropped him to 12th.
In the GP, Miller brought it home in ninth. After running much of the race in sixth and seventh with an attacking but controlled ride, a late tyre drop forced him onto the defensive, costing him two positions to Luca Marini and Brad Binder. Senna Agius finished the season strong with P7 in the final race. After qualifying third, he battled near the top three but lost grip late in the race, crossing the line eighth before being promoted to seventh following a time penalty for Filip Salac.
Having qualified P12 for the finale, Joel Kelso (#66) frustratingly crashed out, ending his season on a sour note. While not the finish he wanted, he reflected positively on what was his best season yet at this level. Starting 23rd in his final race with Tech3, Jacob Roulstone (#12) quickly moved up, reaching 16th by Lap 3 and climbing as high as 13th mid-race. Battling an injured hand, he gradually fell back but finished strongly in 16th to end the season 16th in the standings.
Josh Waters started celebrations early at the final round of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul at The Bend (SA), wrapping up the Superbike title in Saturday qualifying. Report” Ed Stratmann/ASBK Media Photos: RbMotoLens
Waters’ path of least resistance to winning an unprecedented fifth SW-Motech Superbike title was always going to come in the battle for grid positions, and the script went perfectly to plan for the McMartin Racing Ducati star.
Waters qualified in fifth, but with arch-rival Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team #46) unable to secure pole position, Waters took a 50p lead into Sunday’s two 11-lap races.
Even if Jones won both battles and Waters didn’t score any points – extremely unlikely for such a well-drilled champion – Waters would still win the championship on a countback. With the numbers falling his way, it was a super Saturday for Waters, who won his first Superbike title in 2009, followed by further successes in 2012, 2017 and 2024.
After three decades of Aussie Superbike brilliance, Waters still can’t fully comprehend what he has achieved. “When I started road racing, I used to stand outside Shawn Giles’ garage and think, ‘Will I ever be like that’?,” said Waters, referencing the former three-time Superbike champion (2000-2002).
“I used to stand outside Shawn Giles’ garage and think, ‘Will I ever be like that’?,” said Waters
“Now to win five titles against such a high level of competition means so much. This year has been really special. I’ve got such a great team and crew around me, and everyone at home is such a big support: my wife, my family, my training partners. It just means so much.”
Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati #65) started from pole in the SW-Motech Superbike races and was joined on the front row by Jones and Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Honda #20). There was plenty of action across the other ASBK classes on the Saturday, including Kawasaki Supersport, where Archie McDonald (#69) earned pole with two-time British Superbike champion and Stop and Seal Yamaha teammate Kyle Ryde (#666) alongside him.
Races also began in the Race and Road Supersport 300, ShopYamaha R3 Cup, BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup and Superbike Masters classes on Saturday, with a dominant Beau Beaton (#86) crowned early in the latter after a faultless campaign.
SW-MOTECH SUPERBIKE
The equation was simple for the SW-Motech Superbike battle to move into a live Sunday rubber: Jones had to secure his fourth pole position at The Bend. He was seemingly on track for exactly just that until the last three minutes of qualifying when Halliday produced a searing 1:50.028 – under the current lap record and only just adrift of the best-ever lap – to become the ultimate spoiler.
Jones didn’t have time to muster a counter-offensive, much to the delight of a jubilant Waters. It was Halliday’s fourth pole in Superbike, and his first since 2023, as he got to grips with his new Ducati after a mid-year switch from Yamaha. “It’s taken a little bit to get used to the Ducati after being on a Yamaha for years,” said Halliday. “It’s been about changing habits and riding the Ducati a whole different way, but it’s finally paid off at a very good time.”
Meanwhile, Nahlous was a revelation in only his second ASBK meeting on the Honda, with the Sydneysider returning to a happy hunting ground after winning the Supersport title at The Bend in 2024. Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati #11), Waters and Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha #3) lined up on row two, followed by Troy Herfoss (Yamaha Racing Team #17), Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha #13) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha #27).
KAWASAKI SUPERSPORT AND SUPERSPORT NEXT GEN
McDonald’s sixth pole position in Kawasaki Supersport came without too much fuss, which included a new Supersport best lap of 1:54.271. Ryde was next, followed by BCperformance Kawasaki duo Olly Simpson (#5) and Hayden Nelson (#279), Will Nassif (Omega Yamaha #65), Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha #49) and Tom Edwards (TeamBWR Yamaha #71).
Championship leader Jack Mahaffy (Stop and Seal Yamaha #37) put himself in the danger zone, starting from the third row of the grid as he defended a 23pt buffer over the in-form McDonald. Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati #7) was the fastest Supersport Next Gen rider – and, in fact, the fastest on track by a wafer-thin 0.001 seconds over McDonald.
RACE AND ROAD SUPERSPORT 300
Races got underway in both Race and Road Supersport 300 and the ShopYamaha R3 Cup, with Nikolas Lazos (Yamaha #11) and Hudson Thompson (Yamaha #41) the respective victors. In Supersport 300, Lazos’ path to a maiden victory opened up after Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki #42) crashed out while holding a healthy lead. Lazos grasped the golden opportunity and won by 3.5 seconds ahead of polesitter and 2025 champion Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki #1), followed by Thompson, Tyler King (Kawasaki #128), Matthew Ritter (Yamaha #23) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha #33).
While Nicholson has an insurmountable lead, the battle for second in the championship was still a tight battle between Jordy Simpson, Tara Morrison (Kawasaki #95), King and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha #66) with two races remaining. Jake Paige (Kawasaki) remained in second but was swallowed up by the pack as he wasn’t competing at The Bend. Thompson prevailed in a signature tight and tough R3 Cup scrum from Mitch Simpson, Lazos, Phoenix O’Brien (385 #85) and Jordy Simpson.
BLU CRU OCEANIA JUNIOR CUP
It was a nine-bike rolling scrum in the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup race one, with the riders separated by less than a second after the five-lapper.
Xavier Curmi (#82) scored maximum points from Ghage Plowman (#27), Connor Lewis (#77), Hunter Charlett (#73), Rossi McAdam (#61), Chaz Williams (#18), Thomas Cameron (#23), Krue Knight (#46) and Charlie Nichols (#22).
Lewis now led Williams by 6pts, while McAdam, Curmi and Charlett would likewise battle it out until the very end for third place in the official Australian Junior Road Race Championship.\
SUPERBIKE MASTERS
The same trifecta in both Superbike Masters races on Saturday, as Beau Beaton (Ducati), Ben Burke (Honda #60) and Michael Berti Mendez (Ducati #17) dominated. Beaton was on another level, setting a new lap record and wrapping up the series with one race to spare.
Sunday
Superstars Josh Waters and Mike Jones again rose to the occasion as the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) concluded at The Bend (SA) on Sunday, November 9.
After absorbing intense pressure from rookie revelation Jonathan Nahlous, newly minted SW-Motech Superbike champion Waters was victorious in race one on his McMartin Racing Ducati before Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) won the turf war in the season-ending battle.
The pair finished the day equal on points, but Jones was awarded the overall after his higher placing in race two. Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Honda) was third overall after his 2-2 scorecard. “The race two victory definitely put a smile on my face,” said Jones. “It’s been a tough weekend, but a special thanks to the Yamaha Racing Team for all its efforts not only at The Bend but all year long. I’m excited to be back with Yamaha in 2026 as we chase another ASBK championship.”
Between them, Waters and Jones won 15 of the 17 Superbike races in 2025, with Waters finishing the Superbike title on 381pts ahead of Jones on 331pts. Anthony West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) was third in the championship on 303pts, which included the veteran’s first Superbike race win at Phillip Island.
SW-Motech Superbike Race One
With the pressure meter dialled down and the passion meter dialled up, newly minted SW-Motech Superbike champion Waters powered to a start-to-finish victory. It was Waters’ 10th win of the season and his 43rd in Superbike. Waters’ only hiccup was a slight mistake on lap six, which allowed Nahlous and Jones to close back up on him, but the veteran was soon back into a steely rhythm to win by nearly half a second.
Nahlous was a brilliant second – his best rookie result – ahead of Jones, who ran wide at turn one on the last lap, which scuppered his chances of putting extra pressure on his rival. West was fourth from Cameron Dunker (MotoGO Yamaha), Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Ducati #14), Troy Herfoss (Yamaha Racing Team) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha). Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) and Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati) both went down, the latter shortly after setting a new lap record of 1:50.035.
Race One Results
Josh Waters
Jonathan Nahlous (+0.476)
Mike Jones (+1.093)
Anthony West (7.936)
Cameron Dunker (+12.532)
SW-Motech Superbike race two
It was Jones at his metronomic best, moving into the lead on lap three and then controlling proceedings from the front to win his fifth race of the season. Including his two podiums today, Jones now has eight top-three finishes in the last 12 Superbike races at The Bend. The race was held over a shortened nine laps after the first attempt was red-flagged due to an oil spill at turn 17, and in the restart, Nahlous got the jump while Waters was well back after his worst start of the year.
Waters slowly began to move forward, but his advance would end at third place. West, Pearson and Dunker completed the top six from a fast-starting Stauffer and Allerton, while a bitterly disappointed Halliday didn’t make the restart after a mechanical issue.
Dunker finished fourth in the championship on 246pts from Allerton (241pts) and rookie of the year Nahlous (239pts).
The five-round 2026 ASBK Championship commences at Phillip Island from February 20-22, before transitioning into a summer calendar in 2027.
Race Two Results
Mike Jones
Jonathan Nahlous (+1.008)
Josh Waters (+1.640)
Anthony West (7.446)
Broc Pearson (+8.380)
Championship Points
Josh Waters – 381 Points
Mike Jones – 331 Points
Anthony West – 303 Points
Cameron Dunker – 246 Points
Glenn Allerton – 241 Points
Kawasaki Supersport
Victorian Jack Mahaffy is the 2025 Kawasaki Australian Supersport champion, keeping his powder dry in the final round at The Bend (SA) on November 9 to complete a magical season for the Stop and Seal Yamaha rider. Mahaffy curbed his normal competitive instincts with a 5-8 scorecard at the high-stakes grand finale, but it was more than enough to hold off teammate Archie McDonald (2-2) in the final championship standings.
Both races at The Bend were won by reigning two-time British Superbike champion Kyle Ryde, with the 28-year-old displaying his class on yet another Stop and Seal Yamaha. Mahaffy finished the seven-round season on 294pts, ahead of McDonald (282), Olly Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki, 270), Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki, 206) and Tom Bramich (Yamaha, 194 #44).
As with most championship successes, the bedrock of Mahaffy’s campaign was extraordinary consistency, with the 24-year-old finishing on the podium in 12 of the 13 races before The Bend and with no DNFs – which then gave him the luxury of not having to push the envelope on the run home.“I’ve been thinking about the championship non-stop since the last round at One Raceway,” said Mahaffy. “I don’t think I’ve been pushed so hard in my life as I was this year, both on and off the track, so hats off to Archie and Olly. When Stop and Seal took me in two years ago, I was a very different rider and person. We’ve had our ups and downs, but we got the job done, and what they’ve (Stop and Seal bosses Claire and Robbie) done for the sport is incredible. Of course, if the championship wasn’t on the line today, I would have wanted my piece of the fun at the front. But I’m a true believer you ride to your circumstances, and if the championship was really on the line, then it would have been me and Archie battling.”
The first Supersport race at The Bend was a short and sharp five-lap affair after the first attempt was red-flagged following a crash at turn 17.
In the restart, Simpson, Ryde and Tom Toparis (riding in the Supersport Next Gen class on a Stop and Seal Ducati) all took turns at the front before Ryde reasserted his authority on the final lap – one where McDonald set a new record of 1:54.270 as he made a late charge. Toparis was second across the line from McDonald, Simpson, Nelson and Mahaffy.
Race two was over the full nine-lap distance, and it was a cracker, with the lap record lowered on multiple occasions (now owned by McDonald with 1:53.724) and the major combatants pushing hard for the final time in 2025. Ryde led most of the second half before McDonald passed the BSB star under brakes on the final lap. However, McDonald went in a little too hot, which allowed Ryde to regain the ascendancy.
The pair broke from the pack with their late speed, while Toparis was third from Simpson, Nelson, Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha), Will Nassif (Omega Racing Yamaha), race one faller Tom Edwards (TeamBWR Yamaha) and Mahaffy.
“The first couple of laps with Archie in the final race was a bit like racing against Tommy (Bridewell in BSB) in 2024 when we both had to win to take the championship,” said Ryde, who will now continue his trip Down Under on a golf pilgrimage. “A few of the moves were probably not acceptable, but it was more fun than anything! Race two had everything: a dogfight at the start, there were lap records broken and everyone got back safe. I’ve had a great weekend, and the track is fun to ride. I also love the R6: I ride one all the time to keep fit and to practice on, so I know it inside out. But that was my complete maximum: I couldn’t go faster than that!”
Round Results
Kyle Ryde – 50 Points
Archie McDonald – 41 Points
Olly Simpson – 36 Points
Hayden Nelson – 34 Points
Jake Farnsworth – 31 Points
Championship Points
Jack Mahaffy – 294 Points
Archie McDonald – 282 Points
Olly Simpson – 270 Points
Hayden Nelson – 206 Points
Tom Bramich – 194 Points
ShopYamaha R3 Cup
A second ASBK title was decided in South Australia, with Mitch Simpson winning the 2025 ShopYamaha R3 Cup.
Hudson Thompson, Valentino Knezovic (#48) and – fittingly – Simpson won the three races at The Bend, with the finale an almighty scrap as riders let it all hang out in the final battle of the season.
Simpson completed the four-round, 12-race season on 203pts from his younger brother Jordy Simpson (186), Thompson (171), Phoenix O’Brien (161), John Pelgrave (161 #43) and Nikolas Lazos (157) – the latter in title contention until he was injured in a Supersport 300 crash on Sunday morning.
Championship Points
Mitch Simpson – 203 Points
Jordy Simpson – 186 Points
Hudson Thompson – 175 Points
Phoenix O’Brien -161 Points
John Pelgrave – 157 Points
Race and Road Supersport 300
In Race and Road Supersport 300 – which had already been wrapped up by Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki) at the previous round – it was a smaller program after Sunday’s race two was abandoned due to time constraints after a multi-bike crash on lap three. Nicholson (2-4) was the overall winner from Riley Nauta (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki, 10-1) and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha, 6-2).
Nauta clearly had the most impressive pace all weekend, checking out in race one before a crash on lap six – with Lazos (Yamaha) taking full advantage to win his first Supersport 300 race in front of Nicholson and Thompson. In the shortened race three, Nauta was in a class of his own, while Mitch Simpson was second from Tyler King (Kawasaki).
Nicholson’s final championship margin was a resounding 103pts (378 to 275) over Jordy Simpson (Yamaha), and then King (263), Mitch Simpson (261), Jake Paige (Champions Ride Days Kawasaki, 260) and Tara Morrison (Kawasaki, 256).
Championship Points
Scott Nicholson – 378 Points
Jordy Simpson – 275 Points
Tyler King – 263 Points
Mitch Simpson – 261 Points
Jake Paige – 260 Points
BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup
As far as edge-of-the-seat thrillers go, it doesn’t get any better! The 2025 BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) concluded in dramatic circumstances at The Bend (SA) on Sunday, November 9, with the championship fight coming down to the final lap of the season between Connor Lewis and Chaz Williams. Both riders were in the leading pack a few corners from home in race three before Williams’ challenge evaporated when he was cannoned into by another machine which had gone down.
Lewis then finished third to turn around a 1pt deficit into a 17pt championship victory over Williams after one of the most thrilling seasons in the seven-year history of the OJC. Lewis finished on 324pts after six rounds, from Williams (307), Rossi McAdam (293), Xavier Curmi (277) and Hunter Charlett (274).
The final OJC round was held alongside the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul, with the expansive layout of The Bend delivering myriad slipstreaming opportunities for the YZF-R15 riders.
A strong wind on the weekend provided some challenges, though, but the racing was still typically tight and uncompromising, with a combined winning margin of 0.193 seconds over the three races. McAdam (5-2-1) was the overall winner from Curmi (1-5-4) and Lewis (3-3-3), with Ghage Plowman (second in race one) and polesitter Williams (victory in race two) also amongst it.
Lewis now joins an illustrious list of OJC winners, starting with Carter Thompson in 2019, followed by Marianos Nikolis (2020), Cameron Swain (2021), Harrison Watts (2022), Archie Schmidt (2023) and Hunter Corney (2024).
Championship Points
Connor Lewis – 324 Points
Chaz Williams – 307 Points
Rossi McAdam – 293 Points
Xavi Curmi – 277 Points
Hunter Charlett – 274 Points
Superbike Masters
Beau Beaton (Ducati 851) stormed to another clean sweep to remain undefeated throughout the season. His final tally was a perfect 250pts from Michael Berti Mendez (Ducati TT2 992, 173) and Phil Allen (Ducati 851, 153 #35).
At The Bend, Beaton, Ben Burke (Honda VRF750R) and Berti Mendez claimed the trifecta in all four five-lap races, with Beaton setting a new lap record of 1:58.457 to put the icing on the cake. Beaton also took home the P6 Formula 1300cc class honours, and the other class winners were Allen (P6 Formula 750cc), Berti Mendez (P5 F1) and Patrick Povolny (Suzuki GSX1100, P5 Unlimited #4).
Championship Points
Beau Beaton – 250 Points
Michael Berti Mendez – 173 Points
Phil Allen Ducati – 153 Points
Phillip Burke Honda – 143 Points
Ben Burke – 136 Points
All detailed ASBK Championship class results are here.
MotoGP Round 21 | Aprilia Racing’s Marco Bezzecchi reigns supreme in Portimao Portugal. Not a wheel wrong or out of place, the #72 really was ‘Simply the Bez’ as the #73 and #37 earned Sunday podiums. A fantastic weekend of racing on a brilliant track Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP
Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying MotoGP
0.088s covered the top three at the end of Day 1 in Portimao. We’ll have some of that. It was Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) who led the field thanks to a 1:37.974, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) hunted the #73 very closely on what turned out to be another brilliant Friday afternoon in MotoGP.
Well, that wasn’t a bad qualifying session, was it? Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) grabbed pole for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Portugal with a 1:37.556 in a relentless MotoGP Q2 that saw Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) earn a first front row start of the season in P2. Third place went the way of Q1 graduate Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20), who once again pulled a rabbit out of the hat in qualifying trim.
Moto2
With a late rain shower during Moto2™ Practice, the standings were decided before the chequered flag as Aron Canet (Fantic Racing #44) topped the order. Getting out early, the Spaniard was able to sport a 0.192s lead ahead of the opposition and lead the charge into Saturday.
The Moto2™ title was on the line this weekend, and Championship leader Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) put himself in a prime position for that first match point. He took pole in Portugal ahead of Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) and rookie Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95).
Moto3
David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) was the Moto3™ pacesetter heading into Saturday’s action in Portugal after his 1:47.056 was good enough to see the Malaysian GP podium finisher beat the Malaysian GP winner, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72), by 0.135s. A flurry of personal best lap times before the rain fell saw Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) complete the top three.
Australian Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA #66) claimed a ninth front row of 2025 and a second pole in the last three Grands Prix with a stunner in Portugal. He denied Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power #19), who put in a late charge to start second, with Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) rounding out the front row. It was a closely fought session, with 16 riders covered by less than a second.
Saturday Tissot Sprint
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) vs Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). It was the sky blue of Marquez that edged the blazing orange of Acosta in a barnstorming Saturday showdown that will live long in the memory. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) had the perfect view – and a big say – as the polesitter finished just 0.5s from victory in a spectacular Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Portugal Tissot Sprint.
Bezzecchi launched perfectly from pole to grab the holeshot, with Acosta holding P2 ahead of a lightning-fast start from Marquez, who jumped two places as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #1) slipped to fourth and fifth.
By Lap 2, Bezzecchi had Acosta glued to his rear wheel, and the rookie sensation made his move into Turn 1 to hit the front. Marquez was next to strike, copying Acosta’s move on Lap 3 to take second, as the leading trio broke 1.5s clear of Quartararo, Bagnaia and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49).
Lap 4 claimed Nicolo Bulega (Ducati Lenovo Team #11) at Turn 13, while Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) was forced to retire soon after. Up front, Marquez attacked again, and the duel that followed was breathtaking. Acosta briefly reclaimed the lead at Turn 5, only for Marquez to counter with a clean run out of the final corner to retake P1 into Turn 1.
The pair traded blows again as Bezzecchi hovered menacingly behind, ready to pounce. But with three laps to go, Marquez found an extra gear, stretching a slender 0.4s gap heading onto the final lap. Acosta dug deep, closing right up, but the Gresini man held firm to win by just 0.120s, with Bezzecchi third, half a second adrift.
Quartararo secured P4 to round off a strong showing for Yamaha, with Di Giannantonio completing the top five – a thrilling Sprint that showed MotoGP at its absolute best.
“I was feeling really good, and at the last corner, our acceleration was really good so I was able to attack at that point. It’s true that I used too much tyre in that point to overtake, but that was my plan. The plan was perfect,”Marquez stated.
Tissot Sprint Race Results
Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati)
Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+0.120s)
Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+0.637s)
Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (+5.276s)
Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+6.088s)
Sunday MotoGP
It was perfection from start to finish for Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72), who led every one of the 25 laps at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Portugal. The victory moves him comfortably clear in the battle for third overall in the Championship, with only a handful of points needed to secure it next week in Valencia. Behind him, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) held off a late surge from Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37), reshuffling the podium from Saturday’s Sprint.
Acosta had a lightning start but couldn’t overcome Bezzecchi, who grabbed the holeshot from pole. Marquez mirrored his Sprint start to climb into third, while drama unfolded further back. Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21) was caught in a bundle at Turn 5 but escaped unscathed. On Lap 2, Marquez moved past Acosta into second and began chasing the leader, while Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) retired with another technical issue.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #1) ran fourth until crashing at Turn 10 on Lap 11, handing the position to rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54), who had earlier made a bold Turn 5 pass on Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #33). Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) battled hard in fifth but ultimately ceded positions to Aldeguer and Binder.
At the front, Bezzecchi steadily extended his advantage, reaching 2.2s over Marquez by Lap 15. Acosta was 2.4s further back, holding a comfortable margin over Aldeguer and Binder. In the closing stages, Acosta found a late burst, reducing Marquez’s lead to just one second with two laps remaining, but couldn’t mount a final challenge.
Further back, Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79) passed Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR #5) for seventh, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) taking eighth.
Bezzecchi’s commanding ride from lights to flag secured a majestic victory, becoming the sixth different winner in as many Grands Prix and giving Aprilia a historic third win of 2025 – the first time the manufacturer has claimed three wins in a single season. Marquez and Acosta completed the podium, with Aldeguer fourth ahead of Binder and Quartararo.
“Very happy, it was a fantastic race for me. This morning I felt better, and yesterday evening we worked a lot in the box to try to find that last step that was missed. I was super afraid of Pedro and Alex because yesterday they were super quick, but I was also very motivated to try to get a win. It’s super important to be back on the top of the podium,”Bezzecchi said.
A champion’s performance from Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #21) saw the Brazilian move decisively towards the Moto2 World Championship with a superb victory at Portimão. The points gap heading to Valencia is now 24 in Moreira’s favour after Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) finished sixth, leaving the odds firmly stacked for the Brazilian. Completing the podium were two rising stars: Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #49) claimed his first Moto2 rostrum in P2, with David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #80) taking his third straight podium in P3.
From pole, Moreira needed a win or second to strengthen his title bid and executed a perfect start to grab the holeshot ahead of Veijer. Gonzalez was sixth on the opening lap, while Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) dropped to third. Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing #7), third in the standings, lost several positions after sitting up at Turn 1, falling to P11.
By Lap 3, the top six – Moreira, Gonzalez, Veijer, Dixon, Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team #13) and Alonso – were tightly bunched. Veijer led briefly into Turn 1 on Lap 4, but Moreira regained control, putting pressure on the rookie, while Gonzalez struggled following a dramatic moment at Turn 5 on Lap 5 and dropped to P7. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing #44) moved past Gonzalez and Dixon to push into podium contention.
With five laps to go, Moreira was closing in on Veijer, Alonso 0.8s behind and Canet in fourth. Turn 11, with two and a half laps remaining, saw Moreira make a decisive move up the inside of Veijer to reclaim P1, opening a 24-point advantage in the championship fight.
The last lap saw Dixon crash out from P7, leaving Moreira unchallenged. Veijer took second, Alonso third, Canet fourth and Baltus fifth. With the Fantic duo and Dixon now out of title contention, the championship will come down to Moreira vs Gonzalez in Valencia. Fantic can celebrate the Moto2 Teams’ title, thanks to strong rides from Baltus and Canet.
Moreira’s flawless win under pressure sets him up in ideal fashion for next weekend’s showdown, while Gonzalez will hope for a miracle to close the gap at the season finale.
Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 257
Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 232
Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 226
Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 215
Moto3
The penultimate Moto3™ showdown of the season saw a superstar performance from Max Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team) as he escaped the group to cross the line over a second clear. Angel Piqueras (QJMotor – FRINSA – MSI) put up a huge fight for second and secured it, limiting the damage as he fights for second overall in the Championship. Malaysian GP winner Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) completed the podium, taking back-to-back rostrum finishes for the first time in his career.
Off the line it was a dream start for Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA) as he led Quiles early on, but the group remained close. On Lap 3, Joel Esteban (Red Bull KTM Ajo #78) was able to attack into second before having a twitch at the final corner, with the resulting reaction seeing Quiles then drop down to sixth as the slipstream effect down the straight made it all change again behind Kelso.
The Australian led the way for the first half of the race, keeping some tenths in hand, but on Lap 10 he was wide at Turn 5, and the door was open for Quiles and Piqueras. Kelso slotted into third, but the battle was hotting up, and it was soon several riders wide as they jostled for position. As the dust started to settle again, Quiles led Furusato as Piqueras was left scrambling for position in the group. But the #36 hung on to move back into third and then second by Turn 1 on the penultimate lap.
Onto the final lap, Quiles had time in hand over Piqueras, who likewise had just enough over Furusato. They crossed the line in that order as the fight behind took its final shuffle, with Esteban next up as he managed to just stay ahead of rookie teammate Alvaro Carpe.
Moto3 Race Results
Maximo Quiles CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team
Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+1.663s)
Taiyo Furusato Honda Team Asia (+2.886s)
Joel Esteban Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+3.243s)
Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo (+3.537s)
Moto3 Championship Points
Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 365
Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 271
Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 263
David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 197
Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 195
MotoE
It was title-decider day in the final ever MotoE season – and it did not disappoint! Fans were treated to two thrilling races at the Portuguese GP, where Alessandro Zaccone (Aruba Cloud MotoE Team) ultimately clinched the electric class crown in Portimão.
Arriving as the Championship leader, the Italian could hardly have asked for a better start, converting pole position into a hard-fought Race 1 victory ahead of Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) and Jacopo Hosciuc (MSI Racing Team). That triumph gave him a commanding 17-point advantage heading into the second lights-out of the day.
With the title within reach, the mission was simple: finish P7 or better. In the end, a composed ride to P4 was enough for Zaccone to seal the deal and secure the crown. Up front, Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team) pushed hard to keep his title hopes alive, but Oscar Gutierrez (MSI Racing Team) snatched victory by just 0.098s, with Nicholas Spinelli (Rivacold Snipers Team MotoE) completing the podium. It proved an emotional and electric final day of the MotoE season.
Nicholas Spinelli Rivacold Snipers Team MotoE (+1.281s)
Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team (+2.105s)
Hector Garzo Dynavolt Intact GP (+4.521s)
MotoE Championship Points
Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team – 198
Mattia Casadei LCR E-Team – 188
Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE – 168
Eric Granado LCR E-Team – 162
Nicholas Spinelli Rivacold Snipers Team MotoE – 159
How Did the Aussies Do?
Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP ace Jack Miller (#43) finished the Sprint race in 14th place after advancing through Q1. He then followed that up with a 12th in the main race, in a bout where he struggled severely with grip.
Senna Agius (#81) made a strong start to the weekend, finishing third in FP1 and fifth in Friday afternoon’s practice. The Australian then qualified 13th and remained hopeful of a solid result. In the race, Agius ultimately claimed P9 – a result he was content with despite showing rapid pace, as a poor start ultimately cost him a better finish.
Joel Kelso produced a superb performance to secure pole position at Portimão, topping the timesheets with a composed and confident display. After starting from pole, Kelso brought his machine home in seventh at Portimão, as he fought hard but struggled with tyre wear in the latter stages.
Jacob Roulstone (#12) was forced to miss the Portuguese GP after undergoing successful surgery on his fractured left hand that occurred in Malaysia. The Australian will now focus on his recovery, with the goal of returning to action for the season finale in Valencia.
MotoGP Round 20 | Alex Marquez clinches Sepang victory. The #73 reigned supreme in Malaysia, Acosta impressed with P2 and a late bike issue for the #63 handed Mir a place on the Sunday podium. Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP
Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying MotoGP
How about that for a MotoGP Practice outing? Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) delivered the goods on Friday to set the pace with a 1:57.559 as the #37 beat Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR #5) by 0.019s, while Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #43) rounded out the top three in an unpredictable session. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) squeezed into Q2 despite a second crash of the day, but our last three Grand Prix winners – Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63), Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #25) – would face Q1. Oh, and so did Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing).
Casting his Indonesia and Australia woes to one side, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) did it the hard way to grab pole at the Petronas Grand Prix of Malaysia, coming through Q1 to the top of the pile. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) missed out on pole by 0.016s, whilst Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21) made it a Ducati front-row lockout just one week on from the factory’s 98-race front-row streak coming to an end. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72), meanwhile, failed to make it out of Q1 and started P14.
Moto2
With the sun coming out for Moto2™ Practice, it was Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) who ended Friday on top. Moving up to P1 with less than five minutes to go, ‘Manugas’ was hoping it would be the start of a strong weekend, where he aimed to extend his Championship lead after it’d been whittled down in recent rounds by Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10); the Brazilian joined his title rival in Q2 directly, finishing in P10, with Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #75) completing the top three.
Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team #27) started the Moto2 Malaysian GP from pole position after setting a late, scintillating new lap record to head the field by over half a second. The rookie’s sublime 2:02.858 was by far the best lap of a mouthwatering Q2 that saw the tension between title contenders Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) ramp up as they diced on track.
Moto3
World Champion Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) headed into the weekend as the rider to beat in Moto3 after the #99 topped a delayed Practice on Friday afternoon. Rueda’s 2:11.152 was top but only 0.035s quicker than his rookie teammate and second-fastest rider Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83), with him enjoying a perfect start to the Malaysian GP.
Rocketing to a second pole of 2025, David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) left it until his final flying lap to deliver the goods at Sepang on Saturday. Still chasing his first podium, he’d have Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72) right next to him for the first time in over a year, whilst Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) lined up third.
Saturday Tissot Sprint
There was simply no stopping Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) on Saturday at the PETRONAS Grand Prix of Malaysia. The reigning double World Champion was untouchable as he converted pole position into a commanding Tissot Sprint victory, finishing 2.2 seconds clear of Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The result sealed second place in the championship for the #73, securing a historic Marquez brothers 1-2 overall. It was also a day of celebration for the BK8 Gresini Racing team, as Fermin Aldeguer claimed Rookie of the Year honours for 2025 thanks to a strong P3 finish – even though a post-race tyre pressure penalty later cost him the podium spot on paper.
From pole, Bagnaia nailed his launch to lead into Turn 1. As ever, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rocketed off the line to grab an early third, while Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) fought back from a sluggish getaway to end the opening lap in fourth after a fierce scrap with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20). Further back, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) and Aldeguer provided early fireworks, the 2020 World Champion eventually taking fourth by the end of Lap 1. But at the front, Bagnaia was already stretching clear. By Lap 3, his lead was a second over Marquez and growing rapidly as he lapped half a second faster than the chasing trio.
Mir’s hopes of a podium ended abruptly with a crash at Turn 9, promoting Aldeguer to fourth and into podium contention. The rookie showed blistering pace, reeling in Acosta by more than half a second a lap. With three laps remaining, Aldeguer made a clean pass at Turn 9 to grab third and secure his Rookie of the Year title. Honda’s afternoon took another hit when Luca Marini crashed at Turn 14 after contact with Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #44).
Up front, Bagnaia remained flawless to take a lights-to-flag win ahead of Marquez, with Aldeguer crossing the line in third before his penalty promoted Acosta to the final podium spot. Morbidelli finished a solid P5 behind Quartararo, rounding out a strong top five at Sepang.
“I’m happy, the team is deserving of these results because I think I’m in trouble, but they are in trouble too to understand the situation. It’s not clear, it’s not easy – one week ago we were struggling, yesterday I was struggling a bit, and today I was competitive,”Bagnaia insisted.
After sealing second place in the MotoGP World Championship on Saturday, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) capped off a stellar weekend with a commanding victory at the Malaysian Grand Prix. The Spaniard produced a flawless ride to beat Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) by 2.6 seconds, while a late issue for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) handed Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) a welcome P3 at Sepang.
Just like in the Sprint, Bagnaia launched perfectly to grab the holeshot, with Acosta slotting into second. But Marquez wasted no time – first dispatching Acosta at Turn 4, then overtaking Bagnaia a lap later with a decisive inside move. For the first time all weekend, the #63 Ducati wasn’t leading.
Acosta and Bagnaia exchanged blows in a thrilling early duel, their battle allowing Marquez to stretch his lead to nearly a second. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) ran fourth, closely followed by Mir, while Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) trailed just behind.
On Lap 10, Mir finally found a way past Quartararo to move into P4, setting his sights on the podium battle 2.7s up the road. Tyre management was becoming critical as the race entered its second half. Drama struck on Lap 12 when Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) and Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP #88) both crashed out. Up front, Marquez continued to pull clear, half a second per lap faster than his rivals. Acosta finally made a move stick on Bagnaia at Turn 11, while the Italian began to struggle on his medium front tyre.
Marquez was relentless, clocking a 2:00.546 on Lap 14 to extend his advantage beyond two seconds. Mir’s charge continued in fourth, while Morbidelli’s late pace hinted he wasn’t done yet either. The closing laps brought heartbreak for Ducati. Fermin Aldeguer crashed at the final corner, and moments later, Bagnaia suffered a technical issue, slowing dramatically and eventually retiring – a cruel end to an otherwise strong weekend.
Marquez cruised home 2.8s ahead of Acosta to claim his first win outside Spain. Acosta delivered another outstanding podium for KTM, finishing comfortably ahead of Mir, who secured Honda HRC Castrol’s second Sunday podium of the season. Morbidelli showed strong late-race pace to finish P4, while Quartararo completed the top five after a close Turn 15 battle with the VR46 rider.
“We started suffering a lot with two crashes on Friday, and later on the feeling was not really perfect, but today the strategy was clever,”Marquez explained.
“The strategy was the winning one, I was really clever at the point to make the move [on Bagnaia] and to be aggressive in that moment of the race, because I knew it was tricky. I lost one race here two years ago [by] waiting too much, so I just tried to go for it. It’s a really important win for us to celebrate second [in the championship].”
A dramatic Moto2™ Malaysian Grand Prix ended with victory for Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), who mastered the restarted race at Sepang to take his third win of the season. The Brit hit the front on Lap 3 of the restart and never looked back, finishing ahead of David Alonso (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team #80) and Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing #7). The result also reshaped the title fight as Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) crashed out from a top-five position, allowing Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) to claim fifth and move nine points clear in the standings.
The original race began with a perfect launch from Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO RCB Aspar Team), but chaos unfolded when Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team #16) crashed at Turn 5, bringing out the red flag. Roberts walked away unhurt, but the race was shortened to an 11-lap sprint.
Holgado repeated his lightning start in the restart, with Dixon locked in an intense early fight with Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2). By Turn 14, the #96 had powered through to second, and a lap later at Turn 4, Dixon dived past Holgado to take control. From there, the Brit set a relentless pace, stretching his lead as Gonzalez and Baltus fought hard behind.
Further back, Moreira was climbing the order after contact with Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) while battling for ninth. With four laps to go, he had moved to sixth and was closing fast on Arenas. But disaster struck for Gonzalez with three laps remaining – the Spaniard crashed at Turn 15, surrendering his championship lead and giving Moreira a clear path to fifth.
At the flag, Dixon took his seventh career Moto2™ win, with Alonso claiming a fourth podium of the year and Baltus third, keeping both riders mathematically in title contention. Holgado finished fourth, reinforcing his Rookie of the Year credentials, while Moreira’s fifth was enough to hand him the championship lead heading into the final two rounds.
Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 247
Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 221
Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 215
Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 213
Moto3
The Moto3™ Malaysian Grand Prix was delayed following a serious incident on the sighting lap involving Noah Dettwiler (CIP Green Power #55) and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Both riders were airlifted to hospital in Kuala Lumpur, prompting the start to be postponed until the medical helicopter returned.
Rueda was later confirmed to be awake and alert, suffering several contusions and a suspected hand fracture. Dettwiler’s team released a statement confirming the Swiss rider had sustained serious injuries requiring multiple surgeries, adding: “He is in good hands, and we kindly ask you to respect his privacy. We will not be sharing further details at this time. Noah is a true fighter, and the entire CIP Green Power team is right behind him. We will keep you updated as soon as possible.”
When racing finally got underway, Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) claimed a stunning first career victory, leading from start to finish in the shortened 10-lap contest. Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) completed the podium in a thrilling scrap behind the dominant Japanese rider.
From the start, Furusato seized the holeshot, with polesitter David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team #28) in close pursuit. Almansa briefly reclaimed the lead on Lap 3, but Furusato quickly struck back, establishing a one-second cushion by mid-race distance.
Behind him, Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), Quiles and Fernandez traded positions in a fierce battle for the remaining podium spots. Fernandez carved through the pack to second, while Pini’s later fall at Turn 15 ended his hopes of a rostrum finish. Almansa also ran wide at the final corner on Lap 8, slipping down to sixth.
As Furusato pulled clear, Piqueras capitalised on a late mistake from Fernandez at Turn 9 to secure second place. The Honda rider crossed the line 1.2 seconds behind Furusato, with Fernandez completing the rostrum. Almansa recovered to fourth, making it three Hondas in the top four, while Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #6) finished fifth ahead of Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo).
Caught in some early chaos, Jack Miller dropped to 15th on the opening lap of the Sprint. After battling through the early laps, he settled into a groove and finished 14th. Miller then backed this up with a solid 14th in the main dance as well aboard his Prima Pramac Yamaha on a weekend where he dealt with grip issues throughout.
Senna Agius (#81) endured a disappointing weekend at the office, for he was forced to retire on lap six with engine failure after starting 23rd. It was a tough blow following his brilliant win at the Australian Grand Prix, but he’ll have a chance to bounce back in two weeks.
Following a 10th-place qualifying result, Kelso (#66) could manage only 12th in the race after admitting he had to run a tyre that didn’t favour him for the 10-lap sprint. The Malaysian GP weekend didn’t go to plan at all for Jacob Roulstone (#12). After a practice crash, checks revealed a left-hand fracture, which is a cruel blow for the talented youngster.
WorldSBK Round 12 | Razgatligolu secures WorldSBK title | The final day of the WorldSBK season saw the World Championship decided in Toprak Razgatlioglu’s favour. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team made it back-to-back titles. here is our season finale report: Ed Stratmann/WorldSBK
Friday practice WorldSBK
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11) topped the timesheets on Friday at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia, as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship’s final round of the year kicked off in Spain. Bulega didn’t have Friday all his own way after hitting technical trouble in Free Practice 2, as he claimed top spot ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) at the Pirelli Spanish Round.
With the Riders’ Championship wrapped up, the FIM Supersport World Championship’s riders returned to Spain for the final round of their season at the beloved Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia. The Pirelli Spanish Round looked like it would host a thrilling final chapter as Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing #40) took pole in the Tissot Superpole session. The Italian was joined on the front row by Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team #61) and Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura #51), the latter making his return to the front row for the first time in five rounds.
Saturday WorldSBK
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) set a lap time that left jaws dropped in Tissot Superpole for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship as he claimed pole at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia. He was the only rider in the 1’36s bracket, as he obliterated his own lap record from last year on the way to beating Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) to P1 on the timesheets.
WorldSBK Race 1
The 2025 MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship title race will go down to the wire after Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) dominated Race 1 at Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia, beating Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) by nearly four seconds. Bulega converted his pole into victory, remaining unbeaten on Saturday, while Razgatlioglu finished second but couldn’t clinch the championship early.
Razgatlioglu got a strong start and took the lead at Turn 1, but Bulega quickly responded and seized control by the opening sector. Razgatlioglu dropped down the order but fought back to P2 after passing Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven #29) at Turn 6. However, Bulega had already opened a two-second gap, lapping consistently in the 1’38s while Razgatlioglu stayed in the 1’39s. Bulega cruised to his 18th WorldSBK career win, while Razgatlioglu’s second place marked his 25th consecutive podium, tying Colin Edwards’ all-time record. Razgatlioglu now needs just three points in Sunday’s races to secure the title.
The battle for third was intense, with Iannone leading early but under pressure from Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team #22) and Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC #97). Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19) was working his way up the field. Lowes often challenged Iannone through Turns 12 and 13, but Iannone held firm. By Lap 11, Bautista made a bold move at Turn 13, passing Vierge and Lowes to reach P4. Bautista’s attack on Iannone at Turn 13 on Lap 13 saw him briefly take third, though a mistake at Turn 2 dropped him back behind Iannone and Vierge.
Bautista reclaimed third at Turn 6 on Lap 15, strengthening his championship standing with a record sixth consecutive P3 finish. Meanwhile, Vierge pressured Iannone for fourth, eventually passing him at Turn 13 on Lap 18, though Iannone fought back on Lap 19 after Vierge ran wide. Iannone held on to fourth by the finish.
“On Saturday we made a step with the bike. In the morning, we had an incredible lap in the Superpole, and in Race 1 we did very well. I’m happy with my Saturday, and we’ll see about Sunday,” Bulega said.
WorldSBK Race 1 Results
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +3.766s
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +9.569s
Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +11.221s
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +12.272s
WorldSSP Race 1
The FIM Supersport World Championship’s penultimate race at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto saw Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing #62) continue his dominant season with his 19th podium, claiming victory. He was joined by rookie Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team #52), who scored his second career podium in P2, and Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team), who tied Nicolo Bulega for ninth on the all-time WorldSSP podium list with 30 finishes.
At the start, Oncu took the holeshot ahead of Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing). On Lap 2, Oncu forced Casadei wide at Turn 6, pushing him back to P8; this move was deemed irresponsible riding by the FIM Stewards, resulting in a penalty that dropped Oncu two positions after he eased off on the back straight. Masia and Manzi then passed him, with Manzi capitalising on Oncu’s penalty to move into the lead.
Manzi later set his sights on Alcoba, making a decisive late-race pass to take the win. Alcoba pushed hard in the second half and led into the final lap but ran wide at Turn 13, allowing Manzi to reclaim the lead. Oncu, despite a strong start, struggled with pace in the closing stages, finishing fourth. However, a track limits penalty dropped Masia from the podium to P4, promoting Oncu to third.
Masia had looked strong early, challenging Manzi and Oncu for the lead, but his final corner mistake cost him a podium finish. Alberto Surra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team #76) impressed by moving from P10 to finish fifth, while Casadei, after being forced wide by Oncu early on, was unable to recover and settled for sixth.
WorldSSP Race 1 Results
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +0.051s
Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.329
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) (Orelac Racing Verdnatura) +0.400s
Alberto Surra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +1.625s
Sunday Superpole Race
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed victory despite a collision with Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) in the Tissot Superpole Race for the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship. The pair came together at Turn 5 on the opening lap, with the title fight going to Race 2 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia, with Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) completing the podium at the Pirelli Spanish Round.
The title race took a HUGE twist when Bulega and Razgatlioglu collided at Turn 5, with ‘El Turco’ sliding into the gravel and out of the race. The incident was placed under investigation by the FIM WorldSBK Stewards, with the #11 given a Long Lap Penalty for irresponsible riding. Bulega went on to take victory and take 12 points out of Razgatlioglu’s Championship lead even after his penalty, while Razgatlioglu would start Race 2 from the fourth row in tenth place. The reigning Champion held a 22-point lead over Bulega heading into Race 2, meaning Bulega had to win with a non-score for Razgatlioglu to claim the title: ‘El Turco’ needed to lose 22 points or fewer to win the title, with countback going in his favour. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) battled his way up to second, ahead of Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) who completed the podium.
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) once again fought for a podium, finishing in fourth place behind ‘The Maniac’ as he closed the gap on Iannone throughout the final few laps. However, he also had to resist a challenge from Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) to hold on to P4, with the #22 finishing fifth.
Superpole Race Results
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +4.055s
Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven) +5.236s
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +6.484s
Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +6.900s
WorldSBK Race 2
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured his third MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship title with a podium finish in Race 2 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, as Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed victory to complete a Pirelli Spanish Round hat-trick. Starting tenth, Razgatlioglu finished third, clinching the championship in the final race of the season.
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) led early at Turn 1 ahead of Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC), while Bulega dropped from P1 to P3 but quickly passed Vierge and Bautista to take the lead by Lap 2. Razgatlioglu steadily climbed from tenth to sixth by Lap 2, knowing he needed just three points to secure the title. He moved into fifth on Lap 4, then into fourth on Lap 6, and claimed third from Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha #55) on Lap 9, closing in on the podium as Bulega pulled away.
Bulega maintained a gap of over 3.5 seconds, but Bautista reduced it to 1.8 seconds by the finish. Bulega’s win secured Ducati the Manufacturers’ Championship and marked his 20th WorldSBK victory. Bautista rounded out the season with his 21st podium and 128th WorldSBK career podium. Razgatlioglu leaves WorldSBK as a three-time World Champion and joins an elite group moving to MotoGP alongside Carl Fogarty, Troy Bayliss and Jonathan Rea.
Behind the leaders, a fierce battle for fourth unfolded. Vierge briefly took fourth on Lap 10, with Locatelli responding. Both ran wide at Turn 13, allowing Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) to slip through, but he later ran wide at Turn 1, dropping to sixth. Locatelli ultimately edged Vierge by 0.098 seconds to claim fourth in a tight contest among future Yamaha teammates.
“The feeling is amazing. This weekend was a bit stressful because everything was going very well, especially on Saturday. Today I came to the track more relaxed, just needing a P7 in the Tissot Superpole Race, but we crashed in Turn 5. After that, I stayed calm and just focused on Race 2 because I just needed a strong performance there. In the end, we won the title,” Razgatlioglu reflected.
WorldSBK Race 2 Results
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +1.793s
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +6.339s
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +8.833s
Xavi Vierge (Honda HRC) +8.931s
Championship Points
Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 616 points
Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 603
Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 337
Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) 310
Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 284
WorldSSP Race 2
In what was the final event of the FIM Supersport World Championship’s 2025 campaign, and while Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) had already locked up the Riders’ Championship, the field didn’t pull any punches. Race 2 of the Pirelli Spanish Round at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia, saw Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) top the final podium of the season for his second WorldSSP win. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing #69) closed his campaign strong in P2 with his ninth podium of the season, ahead of P3 finisher Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing), who capped off his time in WorldSSP with his 20th rostrum result this crusade, one podium shy of Nicolo Bulega’s 2023 record. With the #51’s win, he overcame Booth-Amos’s two-point Championship lead to usurp the bronze medal from the fourth-year British rider.
At lights out, the front row maintained their positions on T1. In the run across the line to start Lap 2, Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) took the race lead from Oncu, kicking off a scrap at the front over the first third of the contest between Masia, Oncu, Manzi, Roberto Garcia (GMT94-YAMAHA #37) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing). With seven laps to go, Masia emerged at the front of the pack with more than a second of margin between him and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) behind him. Masia’s pace was very impressive, sticking lap after lap within the low 1’43’s. Booth-Amos looked as good as he had all season, battling with Manzi as the remaining laps ticked down. After a very tight final lap, Booth-Amos beat out the incumbent Champion in a mad dash to the line, shuffling the #62 to P3 while the #69 took P2. Unfortunately for the Englishman, however, with Masia’s win, he outscored the Brit by five points, enough to topple his two-point lead and boot Booth-Amos down to a P4 finish in the Riders’ Championship.
Can Oncu’s (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) pace fell off from Masia and the lead group as the race progressed; however, he did enough to claim P4. Oettl came out the faster of his protracted duel with Garcia, but in their battle, they let Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing) past for P5.
WorldSSP Race 2 Results
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura)
Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +3.255s
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +3.262s
Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +6.089s
Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing) +6.999s
Championship Points
Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 466
Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) 372
Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 265
Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 262
Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) 200
WorldSSP300 WorldSSP300 Race 1
The penultimate FIM Supersport 300 World Championship race in the category’s history was a spectacle to behold with plenty of drama as the field took to the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia, in their final Pirelli Spanish Round.
After a red flag stoppage, Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300 #91) again led the field across the line for his third win in four races. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI #38) followed him across the line as he took home critical Riders’ Championship points and was tailed by Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing #88) in P3. A better ending to the WorldSSP300 Championship couldn’t be written, as the stage was set for a winner-takes-all three-way Race 2 on Sunday.
WorldSSP300 Race 1 Results
Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300)
David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) +0.019s
Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) +0.248s
Antonio Torres (Team ProDina XCI) +0.438s
Pepe Osuna (ZAPPAS-DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team) +0.513
WorldSSP300 Race 2
The final FIM Supersport 300 World Championship season was sent out with a bang as the title-deciding Race 2 came down to the final sector to proclaim Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove #7) the race winner and 2025 World Champion. After a litany of penalties, Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) took home his fourth podium of the season in second and Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki #71) closed his 2025 with a fourth WorldSSP300 podium.
Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) 191
Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) 168
WorldWCR WorldWCR Race 1
The FIM Women’s World Circuit Racing World Championship took to the track for their penultimate race of the competition’s second season at the Pirelli Spanish Round.
And it was Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team #6) who benefitted from a dramatic final lap to top the podium for the sixth time this season. Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport #15) followed her home in P2 for her fifth second-place result of the season and Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha #36) was leading the race into the final lap, then finished in P4, but a penalty sent her back up onto the podium in P3.
With these results, Herrera headed into the final race on Sunday with a 15-point lead over Neila, and Jones increased her lead for P3 ahead of Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team #96) by a further three points.
WorldWCR Race 1 Results
Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team)
Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) +0.291s
Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) +1.114s
Paola Ramos (YVS Sabadell) +2.686s
Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) +5.503s
WorldWCR Race 2
The FIM Women’s World Circuit Racing World Championship came all the way down to the wire as the deciding Race 2 at the Circuito de Jerez – Angel Nieto, Andalucia, crowned Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) as the 2025 World Champion!
18-year-old wildcard Paola Ramos (YVS Sabadell #58) capped off her debut weekend by winning the final race of the season. Joining her on the final podium of the Pirelli Spanish Round was Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha), who took her 12th podium of the season, placing both second in the race and the Championship.
Claiming her second podium of the season, Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA #17) finished in third place to see off the 2025 WorldWCR campaign.
WorldWCR Race 2 Results
Paola Ramos (YVS Sabadell)
Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) +9.578s
Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) +9.678s
Pakita Ruiz (PR46+1 Racing Team) +9.803s
Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) +10.032s
Championship Points
Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) 245 points
Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) 240
Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) 164
Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) 156
Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) 126
How did the Aussies Do?
Remy Gardner (#87) impressed in Superpole with a strong sixth (later promoted to fifth) on the grid and overcame a rear brake issue in Race 1 to finish a determined eighth after fighting in the podium group early on. Then, on Sunday, Gardner showed resilience after an early crash in the Superpole Race, battling through shoulder pain to finish 11th in Race 2 with a determined and steady performance.
PTR Triumph’s Oli Bayliss (#32) suffered bad luck again, retiring on lap 10 due to a technical issue while running P20 in the opening race. Starting from the same grid spot for the second bout, he frustratingly struggled to find his rhythm and finished just outside the points in 17th.
