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WorldSBK 2025 Round 10 Report | Bulega answers back at Aragon

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WorldSBK Round 10 | Bulega answers back at Aragon | Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11) made it two from two after outfoxing Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) at round 10 of the WorldSBK championship at Aragon Report: WorldSBK/Ed Stratmann

Friday practice
WorldSBK

Friday honours were split between Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team #1) and Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) on Friday at MotorLand Aragon as the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship descended on Spain. ‘El Turco’ set the pace in the morning FP1 session for the Tissot Aragon Round, before ‘Bulegas’ responded in FP2, with Razgatlioglu’s opening effort from Free Practice 1 the fastest time of the day.

Read our previous WorldSBK reports here…

WorldSSP

The FIM Supersport World Championship field attacked their Tissot Superpole session on Friday as they led the paddock into the weekend’s action. Mattia Casadei (Motozoo ME Air Racing #40) topped the timesheets at MotorLand Aragon to open the weekend, followed on the front row by Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse #53) and Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team #52).

Saturday
WorldSBK

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) stormed to a first MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship pole position since Misano as he obliterated the lap record at MotorLand Aragon. The #11 had waited 104 days since his last pole as he put in an unbelievable performance as the grid was set for the Tissot Aragon Round, with Championship leader Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) going from second and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team #22) completing the front row.

WorldSBK Race 1

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured his 13th consecutive win after a thrilling 18-lap battle with Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) at MotorLand Aragon. This marked Razgatlioglu’s first victory at the Spanish circuit and extended his record streak. At the start, Razgatlioglu aggressively took the lead from Bulega, who was briefly pushed to third behind Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team). Bulega quickly regained positions, passing Lowes at Turn 7 and Razgatlioglu at Turn 16 to lead on lap one. The lead swapped repeatedly over the opening laps, with Razgatlioglu and Bulega trading places multiple times through key corners like Turn 1, Turn 7 and Turn 15.

By lap five, Bulega took the lead again at Turn 1, closely followed by Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #14). Razgatlioglu pushed back at Turn 15, keeping the intense battle alive. The two riders continued swapping the lead several times between laps seven and eight, with Bulega’s bold moves challenged by Razgatlioglu’s strong defences. Despite Bulega’s persistent attacks, Razgatlioglu pulled away slightly on lap ten, but the race remained tightly contested. On the final lap, Bulega attempted a last-ditch pass at Turn 1, but Razgatlioglu held firm, crossing the line with a 0.338 second gap. Notably, Bulega set the fastest lap of the race during this final push.

Razgatlioglu’s win marked his 19th of the year – the most in a single season – and matched his own record of 13 consecutive victories. Bulega earned his 48th career podium, while Sam Lowes completed the podium in third, witnessing the intense duel from a close vantage point. Further back, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team #9) defended his position against Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19) until Bautista crashed at Turn 15. This promoted Alex Lowes to fifth, while Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven #29) overtook Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha #55) late to finish sixth.

“I’m very happy because finally I’ve won at Aragon. It was a difficult race for me. We fought a lot in the beginning. I was just focused on winning, but this was difficult for me because Bulega was very strong in the final corner,” Razgatlioglu said.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

  1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 1’49.049s
  2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.030s
  3. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +0.977s
  4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 4.114s
  5. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +6.485s

WorldSSP Race 1

The Frenchman Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) finally broke through in Spain, securing his first career win in his 88th WorldSSP race at the Tissot Aragon Round. The victory at MotorLand Aragon was a milestone for Debise, who fought off stiff competition to claim the top step. Joining him on the podium were Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team #61) in second, earning his 13th podium of the season, and Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing #62), who added his 56th career podium by finishing third. Oncu and Manzi’s Yamaha machines helped boost the manufacturer’s all-time WorldSSP podium tally to 440.

Debise launched aggressively from P2 on the grid to take the holeshot, closely followed by Oncu and Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team). Meanwhile, polesitter Mattia Casadei dropped back to P8 early on. By Lap 2, Debise and Oncu had pulled nearly seven-tenths of a second clear of the chasing pack. By Lap 4, Championship leader Manzi had positioned himself just behind the front two and began cutting the gap to less than half a second. The front duo traded intense overtakes repeatedly at Turn 16 and Turn 1 throughout the race. Oncu led across the line on Lap 16, but Debise used his Ducati Panigale V2’s superior straight-line speed to regain the lead multiple times.

On the final lap, Oncu attempted a last-ditch move, but Debise’s power on the back straight proved decisive, holding off the Turkish star for a historic first win. Manzi finished over three seconds behind, securing a strategic P3 that keeps him on course to clinch his first WorldSSP title. Further back, Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team #65) and Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse #77) battled for fourth. Oettl edged out Farioli, who was the top MV Agusta finisher in fifth. Spanish rider Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura #51) climbed late to sixth after being locked out of the top eight for much of the race.

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

  1. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) 1’53.213s
  2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.197s
  3. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +3.236s
  4. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) +5.842s
  5. Filippo Farioli (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) +8.685s

Sunday
Superpole Race

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11) returned to the top step at MotorLand Aragon after a thrilling last-corner pass on Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team #1) in the 10-lap Tissot Superpole Race. This marked Bulega’s first win since May, again secured with a decisive final-corner overtake on Razgatlioglu. Bulega grabbed the holeshot, but Razgatlioglu quickly took the lead at Turn 15 on lap one. The #1 defended at Turn 16 but ran wide at Turn 17, allowing Bulega back ahead. The pair swapped positions multiple times – on lap two, Razgatlioglu passed, only to be outbraked by Bulega at Turn 1, though ‘El Turco’ held the outside line at Turn 2.

Lap three saw them side-by-side through several corners, with Razgatlioglu leading out of Turn 17. On lap four, Bulega made a move at Turn 16, pulling a small gap before Razgatlioglu forced his way through at Turn 15. Bulega responded immediately, regaining the lead through Turn 16. This back-and-forth continued lap after lap, with multiple position swaps at Turns 7, 12, 15 and 16. On the final lap, Bulega took the lead at Turn 16 but ran wide at Turn 7, allowing Razgatlioglu to slip ahead at Turn 8. However, ‘El Turco’ then ran wide at Turn 16, giving Bulega the opportunity to reclaim the lead on the back straight and secure a hard-fought victory. Lap eight was the only lap without a position change between the two.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) finished third, returning to the podium and ending Razgatlioglu’s 13-race winning streak, which matched his own record. This also marked BMW’s 100th podium in WorldSBK. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven #29) claimed P4, less than a second behind Bautista, fending off Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #14), who finished fifth after running in podium positions.

Superpole Race Results

  1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati)
  2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +0.105s
  3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +0.703s
  4. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +1.593s
  5. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) +1.810s

WorldSBK Race 2

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11) made it two wins from two races on Sunday at MotorLand Aragon in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, edging out Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team #1) in another fierce battle at the Tissot Aragon Round. The Ducati star claimed his 10th win of the season, matching Max Biaggi’s record for Italian riders, while scoring his 50th career podium.

The race opened with Razgatlioglu making a move at Turn 15, only for Bulega to respond at Turn 16. Lap 2 saw ‘El Turco’ take the lead at Turn 14, but Bulega fought back at Turn 16. The pair exchanged positions repeatedly over key corners, including Turn 1 and Turn 16, battling fiercely throughout the race. On Lap 7, Razgatlioglu led at his favourite Turn 15, but Bulega re-passed at Turn 16. This duelling continued through laps 8 and 9, with position swaps at Turns 7, 12, 15 and 16. On Lap 11, Bulega took the lead at Turn 16, and despite Razgatlioglu’s efforts, a wide line at Turn 7 on Lap 12 allowed Bulega to pull ahead by about a second.

Bulega held the lead on the back straight and defended successfully, securing the victory and extending Razgatlioglu’s podium streak to 21 races, a personal best. The fight for the final podium spot heated up early as Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19) had a poor start but quickly climbed back. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha #65) moved into the top five and challenged Bautista but settled into P4 as Bautista pulled away to finish third.

Andrea Iannone (Team Pata GoEleven #29) passed Rea on Lap 14 to take fourth. Rea then battled Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #14), who fell at Turn 14 on the penultimate lap, leaving Rea to finish fifth – matching his best result of the season.

“I’m really happy because I needed these two wins this Sunday. It was very difficult because Toprak was very strong and aggressive throughout the whole weekend. I just tried to stay with him and respond to his overtakes, and it was a great pair of battles. I enjoyed it a lot,” Bulega insisted.

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

  1. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 1’48.459s
  2. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +3.248s
  3. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +4.973s
  4. Andrea Iannone (Team Pata Go Eleven) +12.904s
  5. Jonathan Rea (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +13.521s

Championship Points

  1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 523
  2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 487
  3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 284
  4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) 254
  5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 253

WorldSSP Race 2

Oncu’s win breathes life into the 2025 Championship picture, cutting Manzi’s lead down to 60 points. After Saturday’s Race 1 saw Valentin Debise earn his first win in the FIM Supersport World Championship, the WorldSSP field took to the track for the last time for the final race of their Tissot Aragon Round at Motorland Aragon. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) emerged victorious on Sunday afternoon, winning his 6th race of the season and the 7th race of his career. Joining him on the podium were Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) and Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse), who enjoyed their 16th and 4th podium appearances of the season, respectively.

Manzi leapt forward from P2, overtaking polesitter Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team,) who by T3 was back to P3. Oncu powered off the line from P7 to take the race lead by the second sector. Manzi saw himself back in fifth by Lap 5, overtaken by Oettl, Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) and Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse).

Manzi, however, showcased his trademark composure and made a late climb back up to P1, battling with Oncu in the last five laps for the race lead, as the pair had put roughly a quarter of a second between them and Debise in P3 by Lap 13. By the final lap, Debise closed the gap between the pair, and in the back straight, the trio went three wide as they sprinted towards the final loop. Oncu cut across the nose of Manzi in P2 from the inside towards the outside, leading the trio out of Turn 17 towards the finish line. The two Yamaha rivals opened up the throttle and pipped the title leader Manzi by 0.027s in P2 and Valentin Debise was top Ducati in P3.

Oettl’s return to the podium fight will put wind in the sails of the Feel Racing camp as they hope to close their season strong. The German finished in P4. Jaume Masia by Lap 3 had carved seven positions forward to P4 from his P11 start position, finishing just a position behind that as the Spanish rookie finished P5.

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

  1. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) 1’53.310s
  2. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) +0.027s
  3. Valentin Debise (Renzi Corse) +0.146s
  4. Philipp Oettl (Feel Racing WorldSSP Team) +0.499s
  5. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) +2.846s

Championship Points

  1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 344 points
  2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) 275
  3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 214
  4. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 191
  5. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 178

WorldSSP300
WorldSSP300 Race 1

A dramatic conclusion to the WorldSSP300 season is building as David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI #38) closed to within seven points of title leader Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove #7) following an intense race at MotorLand Aragon. Carter Thompson (#50) took his second career WorldSSP300 victory, with Salvador and Fernandez joining him on the podium for P2 and P3, respectively. Fernandez grabbed the holeshot ahead of Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300 #91) and Thompson as a competitive pack followed closely. A group of five riders traded the lead freely but struggled to break away, with seven riders within one second of P1 by mid-race. Salvador consistently attacked from within the pack, making late moves to gain positions.

On the final lap, Salvador led going into the back straight, but Thompson managed to slip ahead and block him through Turn 16, securing the win and pushing Salvador to second. Riding in his home round, Fernandez used his Red Bull Rookies Cup experience to make a smart late move, boxing out Vannucci to clinch P3 and maintain a narrow seven-point championship lead. Matteo Vannucci, who earned pole with a record-breaking Tissot Superpole time, stayed with the leaders early but was forced wide in a congested corner on Lap 2, dropping to P16. He fought back impressively to contest the podium late in the race, finishing fourth.

Juan Risueno (MS Racing #39) followed his fellow Yamaha rider across the line for P5, a solid finish after starting the race in sixth position.

WorldSSP300 Race 1 Results

  1. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) 2’06.522s
  2. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) +0.037s
  3. Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) +0.202s
  4. Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) +0.317s
  5. Juan Risueno (MS Racing) +0.358s

WorldSSP300 Race 2

Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300 #91) cruised to his first win since 2023 as the FIM Supersport 300 World Championship concluded the Tissot Aragon Round with a chaotic race at MotorLand Aragon. Despite crashes shaking up the field behind him, Vannucci rode clear to take his fourth career victory and his first since Imola 2023. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki #71) secured his second podium since returning to the class, while Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing #12) rounded out the rostrum with his seventh career podium. Championship leader Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove #7) dropped to P10 but extended his lead to 13 points after his main rivals all went down.

Juan Risueno (MS Racing #39) took the holeshot and led early until Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki #50) pushed him down to second at Turn 4 on Lap 1. The front group of Risueno, Thompson, Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing #6) and Vannucci battled fiercely until Thompson suffered a big high-side crash at Turn 5, collecting Buis in the process and ending both their races. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI #38) and Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing #66) crashed at Turn 14, while Roberto Fernandez (Kawasaki Junior Team by MTM #13) went down at Turn 7.

Risueno later crashed at Turn 3 on Lap 6 and was taken to the medical centre. Meanwhile, Vannucci pulled away to build an 8 second lead by Lap 7 and finished with a 10.135 second gap, the third-largest in WorldSSP300 history. Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing #88) improved to P4, matching his Magny-Cours Race 2 result. Wildcard Jakob Rosenthaler (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing #78) impressed with P5, and Pepe Osuna (ZAPPAS-DEZA-BOX 77 Racing Team #77) celebrated a career-best P6 on home soil.

WorldSSP300 Race 2 Results

  1. Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300)
  2. Loris Veneman (EAB Racing Team) +10.135s
  3. Humberto Maier (Yamaha AD78 FIMLA by MS Racing) +10.182s
  4. Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) +10.273s
  5. Jakob Rosenthaler (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) +10.374s

Championship Points

  1. Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) 172
  2. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) 159
  3. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) 150
  4. Julio García (Prodina Kawasaki Racing Sport) 136
  5. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) 131

How did the Aussies Do?

Remy Gardner (#87) endured a tough weekend in Aragon on a track that didn’t suit his Yamaha machine, with an electrical issue forcing him to retire in Race One before claiming 16th in the Superpole Race and P12 in Race Two. Race One proved to be a difficult outing for PTR Triumph’s Oli Bayliss (#32) after a crash in qualifying, with him only able to muster 23rd. The talented Aussie then bounced back in the second bout, where he surged through the field from as far back as 25th to claim 13th.

WorldSBK 2025 Round 10 Gallery

 

 

Aussies Racing Abroad | September 2025

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Aussies Abroad September 2025 | With many Australians showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines both on-track and off-road, our latest column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes. Here is Ed’s latest update… Words: Ed Stratmann

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

Kicking his August off with a 12th in the Sprint after starting 14th in Catalunya, this was a solid effort in a bout where he displayed some excellent pace and engaged in some fierce battles throughout. In the main race, he recovered from early adversity to secure 14th place, fighting his way back into the points after being pushed wide by Brad Binder on the opening lap, which had dropped him to the back of the field. Keen for more at Misano, Jack Miller (#43) began his weekend with a decent 14th in the Sprint, clawing his way back from 20th on the grid despite him not feeling overly confident on the bike. He followed that up with a gritty ride to 12th in Sunday’s main race, once again carving through the field – this time from 21st – to round out what was another tidy body of work.

“It’s been a relatively good day, considering where we started and where we finished. I lost quite a bit of time in the opening laps while settling into my rhythm, but from around lap eight until about six laps from the end, I felt pretty good and confident on the bike, even setting my best lap of the race in that stint. From then on, with a low fuel load and worn tyres, the bike started moving around a lot, and it was difficult to manage the weight transfer – that‘s something we need to work on. Overall though, I’m satisfied: I had a solid Sprint and a solid Sunday. We’re still missing a bit of speed, but the team did a good job. We have an important test, where I’ll try the new Yamaha YZR-M1 V4 prototype,” he commented.

Read our previous Aussies Racing Abroad columns here…

Speaking of the test, and Miller was content following his first outing on Yamaha’s new V4, noting that there’s much to like already even though there’s huge scope for improvement given the project’s still in its early stages.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Despite banking an impressive P8 in qualifying, Senna Agius frustratingly could only manage 14th in the race, as he was hindered by a sluggish start, grip issues and a long lap penalty on his return from his brutal crash in Austria. Eager to come out swinging in Misano, this is exactly what the Aussie flyer did, for he produced a sterling showing, which began with a strong P7 in qualifying: just 0.190 seconds off the fastest time. He then positively transferred his pace into the race, with him riding with plenty of intensity and fight to clinch fifth, which secured him a valuable points haul to propel him from tenth to eighth in the Moto2 standings.

“It was a good race, I can’t complain. Fourth place would have been the best I could have hoped for today. Maybe even a little better, because I saw the podium and relived that feeling I’ve been missing over the last months. But I got a little kick from behind and ended up on the kerbs, where I almost lost control of the front on the outside. I almost had a serious crash because it was at a fast place. Fifth place at the end is good, and we’ve made up a little ground in the championship, which is nice.” Agius reflected.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Joel Kelso rocketed to P2 in qualifying at Barcelona, setting himself up nicely for an uplifting race. However, he was unable to fully convert that speed when it counted, slipping as far back as 14th before fighting back to finish a respectable seventh.

At Misano, Kelso wanted to carry that momentum. And he did just that by bagging an eye-catching P3 in Friday practice. He duly backed it up with another front-row start in qualifying and went on to finish fourth in the race to cap off a fine round at the office.

“Not the smoothest race today – made it to the front but got shuffled back after a small mistake. Fought my way through to finish with solid points. Happy to have the good feeling back on the bike and ready to build for the second half of the season. Time to tidy up a few things and go again next weekend,” Kelso stated.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

While he was dissatisfied with only logging P11 in qualifying, mainly due to getting stuck behind others on slow laps at Catalunya, Jacob Roulstone was ready to show his class in Sunday’s showdown. But his race ended in devastation after a technical issue forced him to retire.

“Really unfortunate once again. It seems that when everything is going good, I can’t catch any luck. I don’t know how many ladders I walked under this year, but I am really upset. It is the third time this year that I am having this issue. I know it is out of the team’s control, so it’s just a really big shame. I felt really strong from lap one, I showed top speed, so it is sad,” he lamented.

It was a weekend of highs and lows in San Marino too. After securing the first front row of his GP career with a superb P3 in qualifying, tyre issues meant P11 was the best he could salvage in the race.

“We felt good at the start. I tried to manage myself, but I quickly struggled with the tyre drop, and I was a bit lost. I am a bit disappointed, of course, but we take the positives from this weekend, and let’s keep working,” admitted Roulstone.

Remy Gardner – World Superbike

Despite feeling sore from his Balaton spill, Remy Gardner produced a valiant effort on the physically demanding Magny-Cours circuit to register a brave sixth in the opening race. An 11th in the Superpole Race then followed for the #87 before he picked up an admirable P13 in the final race to close out the French round.

“Unfortunately, in the sprint race we couldn’t hold our position early on, even though our pace was good in the closing stages. That meant starting one row further back for race two, which made things a bit tougher. We tried to work our way through the field and kept a consistent pace, but it wasn’t quite enough to gain more places. Now we’ll focus on Aragon and take some time to rest,” Gardner said.

Oli Bayliss – World Supersport

While beginning race one from the back after a collision with Kaito Toba prevented him from completing a qualifying lap, Oli Bayliss mounted a spirited charge, gaining 18 spots to finish 12th over the 19-lapper. Bayliss once again put in a remarkable comeback in the second stanza, where, having started from the back, the Australian steadily sliced through the field at a rate of over one place per lap, showing both pace and determination. His remarkable surge to tenth at the chequered flag was certainly a supreme effort.

“It was a frustrating kind of a weekend. We had a pretty good free practice, and as we all know, we got taken out of the first lap of qualifying, so we had to start at the back of the grid. We were really close to making the lap time in race one to start one of the first nine in race two, we just missed out, so we had to start at the back again. We made good progress throughout the race and finished tenth. We were really fast at the end of the race, it’s annoying because I think we could have had some really good results, but we are just going to have to try again next time,” he noted.

Off-Track
Jett Lawrence – SuperMotocross

Jett Lawrence capped off an extraordinary 2025 season with another sensational performance at the SMX finale in Las Vegas to secure his third consecutive SuperMotocross 450 Championship. Entering the final round with just a six-point edge over his brother Hunter and facing a triple-points format, Jett was under intense pressure in a winner-take-all duel. And he delivered when it mattered most, overcoming average starts in both motos to go 1-2 on the night. A critical late-race pass on Eli Tomac in the second moto clinched the overall victory and the title, netting him $1 million and his 10th career AMA crown – tying him with legends Jeremy McGrath and Ryan Villopoto. At just 22, Jett remains the only rider to have claimed every premier category SMX title since the series began in 2023, cementing his place as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

“It was a good race weekend. Hunter rode well and executed two starts, which made it hard on me. The first moto, I was able to dig deep and get that moto win, thankfully, it saved me for sure. In the second moto, I got another bad start, and the boys were riding well. Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to be able to catch Eli to make the pass, but in the last few laps I was able to close up. I saw an opportunity to pass and jumped on it real quick. I was able to make it stick and get the win. It’s awesome to go 1-2 with Hunter and me,” Jett explained.

Hunter Lawrence – SuperMotocross

Hunter Lawrence may have narrowly missed out on the SMX 450 title, but his exertions in Las Vegas were nothing short of impressive. With the championship on the line and only six points separating him from his younger brother Jett, Hunter came out all guns blazing. He led both motos early and even held on to win the second, showcasing his speed, maturity and racecraft. His third in moto one and triumph in the second earned him second overall on the night and in the final standings – along with a hefty $500,000 payout. While he fell just short of the title, Hunter’s consistency and ability to push his brother to the limit underlined why he’s a top-tier contender in the premier class.

“Yeah, I’m gutted. I did everything I could in that one, felt like I just gave it 110% every time I went on the track. Just came up short,” Hunter insisted.

Jake Cannon – EMX250

Aussie Bud Racing ace Jake Cannon ended his EMX250 season well despite enduring some adversity. Although all the signs were looking good in race one, where he was running fourth, his moto was scuppered when he got run into by another rider, which relegated him to eleventh. Recalibrating his focus swiftly, he notably fought back to finish seventh.

Then, in the second moto, Cannon didn’t let being pushed wide condition his race, as he rapidly regained his composure, and charged from ninth to fourth. His resilient output saw him secure fourth overall and eighth in the final EMX250 standings.

Liam Owens – EMX250

Liam Owens wrapped up his 2025 EMX250 crusade in style by powering himself to the podium at the finale in Turkey to close out the term with back-to-back podiums to clinch an outstanding fifth in the gruelling EMX250 championship.

While battling a bout of food poisoning wasn’t ideal in race one, Owens charged from 13th on the first lap to finish an excellent fourth. Feeling better on Sunday, the hotshot found his groove again to take home third to earn third overall.

“Back-to-back podiums to finish my 2025 EMX250 campaign. This weekend in Turkey was definitely an experience, from eating the wrong food and throwing up in race one to riding in the altitude and bikes feeling slower because of it,” Owens posted.

MotoGP Round 17 2025 Report | Pecco Bagnaia secures double, MM#93 World Champ!

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MotoGP Round 17 | Pecco Bagnaia secures sublime double | A poised win. An unbelievable comeback and a home podium for Honda as Joan Mir (#36) added to a day of celebrations at Motegi for round 17 of the MotoGP World Championship of 2025. Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP Press

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Well, that was fun. After a mad dash for Q2 in the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, there was lots to talk about on Friday. Despite two crashes in FP1, it was Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) who headed into Saturday as the rider to beat. The Italian denied Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) the top spot in Practice, with Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93) claiming a late P3 after sitting outside the top 10 for most of the hour-long stint.

Read our previous MotoGP reports here… 

The trials and tribulations of Barcelona and Misano now seem like distant memories for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) as the double MotoGP™ World Champion snatched pole position at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, continuing a weekend that saw him back to his best. Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) put in a stunner to run the #63 close in the battle for pole too, right in contention but forced to settle for second. Still, that equals his best ever qualifying in MotoGP. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), meanwhile, completed the front row at Motegi as he faced down championship point on Sunday.

Moto2

Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) just edged out home hero Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP #71) on Friday in Japan, taking to the top in Moto2™ Practice by a tenth and a half late on after the #71 set the pace for much of the session. Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #18) completed the top three, earning a place after the session following a tyre pressure infringement that scrubbed off the best lap for Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28). Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) hit back in style in Japan, taking pole to lead a duo of rookies as closest challenger Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) was forced to settle for fifth.

Moto3

David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #64) took top honours on Friday, edging out Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) by over a tenth and a half – a similar gap to the one behind the duo to the chasing pack. That pack was led by home hero Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #6), who suffered a crash but then headed back out to improve his best lap time.

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was back on top at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, taking pole position by just under a quarter of a second as he looked to hammer home his advantage ahead of a looming championship point in Indonesia. Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73) impressed once more to take second place following his pole in Misano, with Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA #66) completing the front row after getting denied late on.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) stormed back to the top with a dominant win in the Tissot Sprint at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan. The reigning double World Champion led from lights to flag, beating teammate Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) by 1.8 seconds to claim his first Sprint victory of the season. Marquez’s P2 result was a major boost in his bid for the 2025 MotoGP title, especially with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) finishing P10 and scoring no points. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) rounded out the podium after a dramatic day.

The race began with Bagnaia grabbing the holeshot from pole. Behind him, chaos unfolded at Turn 1 as Marco Bezzecchi and Jorge Martin (#1) (both Aprilia Racing) crashed out. Martin’s fall, caused by a braking error, resulted in a broken collarbone that ruled him out of Sunday’s race. Early on, Acosta overtook Marc Marquez and then Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) for P2. Meanwhile, Bagnaia began to pull away, building a gap of 1.6 seconds by Lap 6. Marquez struggled initially to pass Mir, but an aggressive move at Turn 10 pushed him into P3 with four laps to go.

 

Three laps from the end, Turn 10 was the scene again as Marquez lunged past Acosta for second. Alex Marquez, meanwhile, faded to P10, just behind home hero Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79), dealing a blow to his slim title hopes. Bagnaia maintained a commanding pace, leading by 2.4s at the start of the final lap. He crossed the line comfortably ahead of Marquez, with Acosta just holding off Mir for P3 by 0.6s.

Mir’s P4 marked a strong showing for HRC on home soil, while Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21) rounded out the top five. With the title now firmly within reach, Marquez could clinch it on Sunday – but Saturday belonged to Bagnaia.

“I’m back to doing my favourite races, starting well and pushing and not fighting from behind,” Bagnaia stated.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
  2. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo (+1.842s)
  3. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+3.674s)
  4. Joan Mir Honda HRC Castrol (+4.300s)
  5. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+5.130s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) returned to winning ways at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan, overcoming pressure and technical concerns to take the Grand Prix victory. Despite small puffs of smoke emerging from his bike late in the race, Bagnaia stayed composed and secured his first double win of the season. Behind him, teammate Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) made history by clinching his seventh MotoGP World Championship with a solid second-place finish. This marked an incredible comeback after 2,184 days since his last premier class title, making it one of the greatest returns in sports history.

Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) completed the podium, achieving his first MotoGP podium since 2021 and delivering Honda a home crowd celebration. Mir’s performance capped off a remarkable day at Motegi, adding to the race’s memorable moments. At the start, Bagnaia launched well from pole and took the holeshot ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), with Marquez holding third. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) began in seventh, just behind Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). By Lap 2, Bagnaia led Acosta by 0.7 seconds, while Mir had recovered to fourth after dropping to sixth on the opening lap. Lap 3 saw Bagnaia extend his lead to 1.2 seconds, with Marquez closely following in third.

An early retirement for Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol #10) left Mir as Honda’s main podium hope, closing in behind Marquez by less than half a second. By Lap 6, Bagnaia’s lead stretched past two seconds, while Mir began closing the gap to Marquez after some small errors from the championship contender. On Lap 11, Marquez overtook Acosta for second and set a pace close to Bagnaia’s, who was 3.7 seconds ahead by Lap 13. Mir continued to pressure Acosta, with Bezzecchi eyeing a podium in fourth.

Mir eventually passed Acosta on Lap 16, as smoke appeared again from Bagnaia’s Ducati. Though concerning, the issue did not slow Bagnaia significantly, and he maintained a 4.1 second lead. Acosta’s challenge faded as Bezzecchi and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) passed him. With seven laps to go, Marquez was in position to secure the title, sitting comfortably in second while Mir held third.

Bagnaia’s bike emitted more smoke with four laps remaining, and his lead began to shrink to 2.8 seconds. Despite this, Bagnaia remained unaware and focused. Two laps from the finish, he led Marquez by two seconds. On the final lap, with no threat from behind, Marquez guided it home to second, sealing the championship. Bagnaia crossed the line first, proving he’s back at his best, while Mir secured third for Honda. Bezzecchi finished fourth, just ahead of Morbidelli, showing progress for Aprilia and the VR46 squad.

Marquez’s seventh MotoGP title marks a triumphant end to years of struggle, surgeries and determination – the longest gap between premier class crowns in history. Meanwhile, Bagnaia’s win confirms his return to form, setting the stage for next season’s battles.

“I don’t want to take any spotlight from Marc, he deserves the spotlight today,” Bagnaia said. “In any case I’m happy, it’s just a shame that it happened now. But happy for the weekend and performance, and I hope from now on I will continue in this way because like this, I can fight.”

Marc Marquez became Ducati’s fourth MotoGP world champ in Japan this year.

MotoGP Race Results

  1. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
  2. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo (+4.196s)
  3. Joan Mir Honda HRC Castrol (+6.858s)
  4. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+10.128s)
  5. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+10.421s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 541
  2. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 340
  3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 274
  4. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 242
  5. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 196

Moto2

Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team #27) delivered a commanding performance to claim his second win of his rookie season at Motegi. Taking the lead on Lap 2, Holgado pulled away to finish ahead of Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team). Title leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) faced challenges after serving a Long Lap Penalty for a collision with Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team #13), but still maintained a 34-point lead heading to Indonesia by finishing fifth.

Moreira had an explosive start, jumping from fifth to lead through Turns 1 and 2, overtaking Holgado, who initially had the holeshot. Gonzalez, the polesitter, struggled early and dropped to ninth by the end of the first lap. On Lap 2, Holgado reclaimed the lead from Moreira, who was closely followed by Tony Arbolino (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #14) and Dixon. Gonzalez fought with Vietti on Lap 4, but their battle ended with a crash at Turn 10, forcing Vietti out and earning Gonzalez a Long Lap Penalty. Moreira’s early momentum faded as he lost places to Arbolino and Dixon, while Holgado pulled ahead by more than three seconds.

After serving his penalty, Gonzalez dropped from seventh to ninth, with Moreira in fourth but under pressure from David Alonso (CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team #80). Dixon took second on Lap 10, trailing Holgado by over four seconds. With five laps remaining, Moreira overtook Arbolino, but Alonso soon moved into fourth. Gonzalez mounted a comeback, advancing to fifth by the penultimate lap. Holgado remained untouchable for the win, with Dixon second and Moreira holding off Alonso for third. Gonzalez finished fifth, maintaining his championship lead, but Moreira narrowed the gap by five points.

Moto2 Race Results

  1. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team
  2. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing (+1.304s)
  3. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team (+5.943s)
  4. David Alonso CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team (+5.985s)
  5. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+8.426s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 238
  2. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team – 204
  3. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 189
  4. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 182
  5. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 172

Moto3

Fortune favoured the brave at the Motul Grand Prix of Japan as David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) took a commanding Moto3™ victory in tricky conditions. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) delivered a late-race surge to finish second, keeping his championship hopes alive heading to Indonesia, while Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) held off Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) for third, securing his eighth podium of the year.

Rueda and Perrone made strong starts from the front row, with Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72) charging to an early third on home soil. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA), Muñoz, Quiles and Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83) worked their way through the pack. On Lap 2, Kelso passed Rueda for the lead, followed by Muñoz, while Quiles and Perrone pushed Rueda down to fifth. David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22), starting from the back, set the fastest lap and joined the leaders.

Rain spots added spice as the lead changed hands frequently. Quiles grabbed the lead on Lap 4, but Kelso’s charge faltered after contact with Almansa at Turn 10, dropping him outside the top 10. By Lap 8, Muñoz led by a second, with rain intensifying and the group splitting. Championship rivals Rueda and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) found themselves further back in ninth and tenth. Furusato crashed out twice, ending hopes of a home podium. With six laps left, Muñoz led Perrone by 1.5 seconds, with Quiles close behind. Rueda fought his way into the top five amid battles with Leopard teammates.

Drama struck as Piqueras crashed but remained in the points, while Almansa’s crash ended his impressive run. In the final laps, Rueda snatched second from Quiles, who held off a late attack from Perrone to take third. Muñoz claimed a stunning third win of the season, with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) fourth and home favourite Ryusei Yamanaka (Honda Team Asia) sixth.

Moto3 Race Results

  1. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP
  2. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo (+1.618s)
  3. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (+2.203s)
  4. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+2.336s)
  5. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+3.853s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 315
  2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 222
  3. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 204
  4. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 197
  5. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 157

How Did the Aussies Do?

It was a tough weekend for Jack Miller (#43) at Motegi. He showed promise in the Sprint, charging from 14th on the grid to nearly crack the top ten before crashing on the final lap while running 11th. Unfortunately, Sunday was even harsher, as he was forced to retire just three laps from the finish after his chain snapped. Senna Agius’ (#81) Motegi certainly didn’t go as planned, for after struggling all weekend, he frustratingly crashed in the race on lap three to end an unsatisfactory round.

Following his brilliant P3 in qualifying, Aussie flyer Joel Kelso recorded a strong eighth in the race despite an untimely contact with Almansa and the rain hindering him from finishing higher. Despite starting 20th, Jacob Roulstone (#12) put in an admirable effort in the main race, fighting his way back to 13th despite being involved in an early incident that dropped him to the back of the field.

 

YART Yamaha Win FIM EWC Title at Bol d’Or 2025

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PitBoard
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The 88th edition of the Bol d’Or at Paul Ricard ended in spectacular fashion, delivering one of the most dramatic finales in endurance racing history. Yoshimura SERT Motul stormed to a dominant race victory, but it was YART Yamaha who emerged as FIM Endurance World Champions. Press: EWC

From the early stages, the #12 Yoshimura SERT Suzuki GSX-R1000R set the pace. Gregg Black, Étienne Masson and Dan Linfoot carried the team’s momentum into the night, barely relinquishing control as they racked up maximum points. Their consistency, pit discipline and relentless pace ensured a third consecutive Bol d’Or win, confirming the team’s reputation as one of endurance racing’s strongest forces.

Yet the championship fight lay elsewhere. BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team looked set to clinch their first EWC title until disaster struck with just 30 minutes left on the clock. A mechanical failure forced the M1000RR out of contention, handing the advantage to Yamaha.

For YART Yamaha, the 2025 season had already been a landmark campaign, including victories at the 24 Heures Motos and strong performances at Spa. In France, the trio of Marvin Fritz, Karel Hanika and Australian Jason O’Halloran kept their composure under immense pressure. Despite setbacks – including minor technical issues and illness in the camp – they secured enough points to leapfrog BMW and seal Yamaha’s second world crown in three years.

Their triumph also marked history for O’Halloran, who became the sixth Australian to win an FIM EWC championship, further strengthening Australia’s presence on the global stage.

There were more stories across the classes. Champion-MRP-Tecmas battled adversity to secure victory in Superstock, while National Motos Honda lifted the Endurance World Cup for a second year running. ARTEC #199 wrote their own page of history by winning the Production competition title.

Check out the full Bol d’Or results here…

Rieju, TSR Honda and ERC Endurance were among those sidelined during the gruelling 24-hour marathon, proof once again of the unforgiving nature of endurance racing.

For Australian fans, the result was especially sweet. Jason O’Halloran’s championship win with YART has put another Aussie name on the EWC honour roll, joining legends who have carried the flag in one of the world’s toughest racing arenas. With more local riders eyeing international endurance competition, and growing broadcast access in Australia, the EWC is carving out a stronger profile among local enthusiasts.

In total, Ducati, BMW and Honda all showed flashes of brilliance during 2025, but Yamaha’s ability to adapt and endure over four rounds proved decisive. SERT may have stood on the top step at Le Castellet, yet it was YART Yamaha who carried the trophy home, underscoring the unpredictable beauty of endurance racing.

The curtain falls on the 2025 FIM EWC season with Yamaha crowned champions, Suzuki celebrating a Bol d’Or masterclass, and fans already looking ahead to 2026. For Australians, there’s added pride knowing one of our own played a decisive role in this unforgettable campaign.

 

MotoGP Round 16 2025 Report | Marc Marquez holds off Bezzecchi at Misano

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PitBoard
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MotoGP Round 16 2025 Report | Marc Marquez holds off Bezzecchi at MisanoMarc Marquez (#93) reigned supreme over Marco Bezzecchi (#72) on the way to Championship point in Motegi as the duo traded fastest laps to the flag. Report: Ed Stratmann/MotoGP Press

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying

MotoGP

A 1:30.480 saw Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) pocket Day 1 honours at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera in a tightly contested afternoon in the weekly MotoGP chase for the top 10 on a Friday. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) was second fastest on home turf for him and the Noale factory, 0.147s the gap, as Franco Morbidelli (#21) handed Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team a top three heading into Saturday’s action at Misano.

Read our previous MotoGP reports here…

Misano had a home hero on pole thanks to Marco Bezzecchi’s (Aprilia Racing) late run in a fascinating MotoGP Q2. The Italian landed a 1:30.134 on his penultimate flying lap to beat Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #72) by just 0.088s, while Q1 graduate Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) also got within a tenth of a Saturday morning P1. Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) launched from P4 ahead of a quartet of hungry Italians.

Moto2

It was a perfect start to his second home round of the year for Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team #13) as the Italian clinched P1 on Friday at Misano. Going into Saturday as the rider to beat, it was a solid start for Vietti, who continued to chase his first win of the year, and where better to get it than at Misano? Elsewhere, title race leader Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #18) earned a Friday P2 ahead of Catalan GP winner Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #27) in third.

Fresh from his first Moto2 win from his first pole in the class, Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar Team) remained the class of the field post-qualifying in Misano. A new record 1:34.216 put the Spanish rookie ahead of home hero Celestino Vietti (SUP Racing) by just 0.040s, with points leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) in third.

Moto3

That’s what a great afternoon at the office looks like for Leopard Racing as David Almansa (#22) and Adrian Fernandez (#31) handed the Honda outfit a 1-2 Friday finish at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, with the session leader 0.498s clear of the field. Almansa’s 1:40.596 was the only time below the 1:41 mark, as Joel Kelso (LEVEL-UP MTA #66) completed the top three.

Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73) took another pole position, the second of his impressive rookie season after the Red Bull Ring in Austria. Still, the Argentinean left it late to fly up the order to head a KTM front row lockout ahead of Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) and Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3 #12), the latter of whom made a first appearance on the front row.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Simply the Bez. Saturday at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino and the Rimini Riviera belonged to Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia Racing, as the Italian stormed to his first gold medal in two years with a flawless home performance.

Bezzecchi and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) battled early in the Tissot Sprint, but a rare error from the title leader saw him crash out at Turn 15. That opened the door for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) to secure the remaining podium places.

Bezzecchi grabbed the holeshot with a bold move around the outside at Turn 1, while Marc Marquez muscled into P2 past his brother. By Lap 3, Bezzecchi began edging clear, clocking a 1:30.970 to build a 0.4s lead.

Drama struck on Lap 5 as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) crashed out of P4, promoting Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46) up the order.

Marc Marquez briefly hit the front on Lap 6 after a Bezzecchi mistake but crashed moments later, handing the lead back. From there, Bezzecchi fended off pressure from Alex Marquez, stretching his advantage to nearly a second by Lap 11.

On the final lap, Bezzecchi held firm, converting pole position into a Sprint win. Alex Marquez settled for second, with Di Giannantonio completing the podium. Morbidelli crossed the line in P4, narrowly behind his teammate. Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) claimed P5 ahead of rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54).

“It was a fantastic Saturday,” Bezzecchi explained. “I’m very happy to grab the Sprint win, I don’t even remember when my last one was. The race was not perfect because we had some issues during the race, but even having these problems, I was able to have a good pace. I knew that Marc was on the limit.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing
  2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+1.000s)
  3. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+2.551s)
  4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.526s)
  5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+6.834s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) edged closer to the MotoGP World Championship with a hard-fought victory at the Red Bull Grand Prix of San Marino. After fending off relentless pressure from Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing), the #93 took top honours on Sunday, putting his Saturday crash behind him in style. Only Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who finished third, can now mathematically deny him the title heading into Japan.

Drama unfolded before the start when Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #1) suffered a sighting lap issue, forcing him to start the warm-up from pit lane. Though he reclaimed his grid spot, he was later handed two Long Lap penalties.

Once racing began, Bezzecchi held P1, but Marc Marquez was quickly on the attack. Alex Marquez slotted into third, with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) P4. Early crashes from Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR #5), Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) and Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79) thinned the field, and Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #12) retired on Lap 5.

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) looked strong in P5 but was forced to retire when his chain came off – mirroring a Friday issue suffered by Brad Binder (#33). On Lap 10, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) crashed out from P7.

Up front, Bezzecchi led until a Lap 12 mistake at Turn 8 allowed Marc Marquez to take control. Bezzecchi stuck close, the pair trading fastest laps as the battle intensified. Though the gap hovered between 0.3s and 0.6s, Bezzecchi couldn’t find a way through. Marc Marquez held strong to win by 0.415s. Bezzecchi settled for P2 after a valiant effort, with Alex Marquez 7.7s back in P3 to give Gresini a home podium.

Franco Morbidelli and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completed the top five, with Morbidelli narrowly ahead of his teammate.

“Today I gave everything I had. It’s true that the mistake from yesterday gave me extra concentration, power and energy. It’s super-important for Ducati, I felt the pressure this weekend to win the Italian GPs in Mugello and here, so I’m happy for it,” Marquez said.

MotoGP Race Results

  1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
  2. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+0.568s)
  3. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+7.734s)
  4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+10.379s)
  5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+11.330s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 512
  2. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 330
  3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 237
  4. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 229
  5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 188

Moto2

Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedUp Team) claimed his first win of the 2025 season in dominant fashion at the San Marino GP, leading from Turn 1 and never looking back in front of an adoring home crowd. The Italian became the 10th different winner of the year in what’s now a record-breaking Moto2 season. Launching from P2, Vietti grabbed the holeshot ahead of Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team), Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) and Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP). An early incident saw Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) pushed wide at Turn 6, dropping him outside the top 10.

By Lap 7, a small gap had opened between second-placed Holgado and Moreira in third. On Lap 9, Gonzalez attempted a pass on Moreira at Turn 14 but ran wide. Their battle continued through Laps 11 and 13, with Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego #7) and Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #81) closing in.

Gonzalez finally made a move stick at Turn 11, but Baltus was soon on the scene, snatching P3 from Gonzalez on Lap 13. Moreira then began slipping back, losing out to Agius in the top-five battle on Lap 15. Out front, Vietti steadily built his lead to over a second. Holgado, meanwhile, was under pressure from a charging Baltus, who claimed P2 with four laps remaining. Behind them, Agius passed Gonzalez after a Turn 1 mistake, though the Australian ran wide later, allowing Gonzalez and Moreira back through. In the final laps, Vietti stayed composed to resist any late pressure from Baltus and sealed back-to-back wins at Misano. Baltus finished a strong second – his fifth runner-up result of the year – while Holgado secured another podium in P3. Moreira crossed the line fourth, Agius took fifth and Gonzalez ended up sixth, losing more ground in the title fight.

Moto2 Race Results

  1. Celestino Vietti Beta Tools SpeedRS
  2. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO (+0.747s)
  3. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team (+3.911s)
  4. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team (+4.246s)
  5. Senna Agius Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP (K+7.973s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 227
  2. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team – 188
  3. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 188
  4. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 173
  5. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 152

Moto3

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) pulled off a dramatic last-corner overtake to win the Moto3 race at Misano, strengthening his grip on the championship heading into the flyaway rounds. Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) was denied victory in the final moments but returned to the podium, while Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) banked his first top-three finish since Argentina with a late charge to P3.

The race exploded into action as Joel Kelso (LEVEL-UP MTA) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) traded places multiple times in the first few corners, with Kelso emerging in front. David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #64) was strong early, moving into P2 before passing Perrone at Turn 12. By Lap 5, a front group of eight formed, including Rueda, Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Fernandez, Quiles and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36). Then, on Lap 6, Muñoz misjudged a move on Perrone at Turn 4, resulting in contact that sent him into the gravel and down to P19. Perrone dropped to P6, while the lead fight intensified.

Rueda took the lead for the first time on Lap 7 after passing Kelso at Turn 8. Quiles, showing his aggression, overtook Kelso on Lap 10, though the Aussie struck back a lap later. The top six remained tightly packed as Roulstone lost ground. With five laps to go, Rueda, Perrone, Kelso and Quiles led the charge, just ahead of Fernandez and Piqueras. The battle peaked with two laps to go, as Quiles snatched the lead through Turn 13, dropping Perrone from P1 to P4 in seconds. On the final lap, Quiles held firm through Turn 14, but Rueda launched a stunning move at the final corner to steal the win by inches. Fernandez capitalised on a mistake from Perrone to secure P3, ahead of Kelso and Piqueras, with Perrone finishing sixth, just 0.9s off victory.

Moto3 Race Results

  1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo
  2. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team (+0.113s)
  3. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+0.117s)
  4. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA (+0.164s)
  5. Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+0.456s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 295
  2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 217
  3. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 188
  4. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 172
  5. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 155

MotoE

The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli delivered the goods again for MotoE™ qualifying. After his pole in Barcelona, Eric Granado (LCR E-Team) bagged another P1 in qualifying ahead of Alessandro Zaccone (Aruba Cloud MotoE Team) and Andrea Mantovani (KLINT Forward Factory Team). Both returned to a front row that’s covered by less than a tenth of a second.

Alessandro Zaccone and Matteo Ferrari then won a race apiece, as the championship fight heads into the final round on a knife edge.

MotoE Race 1 Results

  1. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team
  2. Nicholas Spinelli Rivacold Snipers Team MotoE (+0.170s)
  3. Andrea Mantovani KLINT Forward Factory Team (+0.882s)
  4. Eric Granado LCR E-Team (+1.162s)
  5. Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE (+1.832s)

MotoE Race 2 Results

  1. Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE
  2. Eric Granado LCR E-Team (+0.082s)
  3. Mattia Casadei LCR E-Team (+0.173s)
  4. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team (+0.420s)
  5. Kevin Zannoni – Power Electronics Aspar Team (+0.732s)

MotoE Championship Points

  1. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team – 160
  2. Mattia Casadei LCR E-Team – 155
  3. Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE – 148
  4. Lorenzo Baldassarri Dynavolt Intact GP – 148
  5. Eric Granado LCR E-Team – 142

How Did the Aussies Do?

Jack Miller (#43) began his weekend in Misano with a respectable 14th in the Sprint after a stirring comeback from 20th on the grid. He then rounded out a solid weekend with a hard-earned 12th in the main race, charging through the field once again from 21st to the chequered flag. Banking P7 in qualifying, Senna Agius crucially transferred his speed into the race, where he produced a superb effort to claim P5.

Not bad at all, given he was recently sidelined with a nasty injury. Beginning his weekend with an excellent P3 on Friday, this served as the catalyst for a quality weekend at the office for Joel Kelso, as he went on to qualify second before clinching fourth in the race to cap off a fine Misano. Jacob Roulstone mixed the highs with the lows in San Marino, as he secured the first front row of his GP career by qualifying P3. Disappointingly, tyre issues meant P11 was the best he could muster in the race.

WorldSBK Report Round 9 2025 | domination by Toprak Razgatlioglu

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WorldSBK Report Round 9 2025 | In front of a weekend attendance of 51,041, the French Round at Magny-Cours was dominated by Toprak Razgatlioglu (#1). The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team made it 12 wins in a row and extended his championship advantage to 39 points. Report: Ed Stratmann/WorldSBK

Friday practice 
WorldSBK

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #11) claimed top spot for Friday’s action at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship, finishing four tenths clear of nearest rival Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #14). Title rival Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had looked like he would end the day in P1 but lost three places as FP2 came to a close at the French Round.

WorldSSP

Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team #61) earned pole position, followed by Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing #62) and Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA #94). The session was halted just before time expired by a red flag caused by Mattia Volpi’s (Motozoo ME Air Racing #55) bike suffering a technical issue. With two minutes to go, riders returned to the track in a chaotic dash to the finish.

Saturday
WorldSK

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) secured his first pole position at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in the MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship with a stunning 1’34.930s lap time. He was joined on the front row by title rival Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team).

WorldSBK Race 1

The French Round’s MOTUL FIM Superbike World Championship race action broke out in force at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) emerged victorious on a sunny Saturday afternoon at the quaint French hamlet for his 16th win of the season, now just two below his 2024 race win tally. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) claimed P2 for Italy’s 500th WorldSBK podium, and in third, Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team #22) earned his 48th career podium.

Read our previous WorldSBK reports here…

Toprak Becomes the second-ever rider to win a race with three different manufacturers at the same track. Toprak Razgatlioglu landed the holeshot, and was followed into the first corner by Alex Lowes, who slid past Nicolo Bulega from the Englishman’s P4 start.

Lap after lap, Toprak slowly ran away with the race, having put more than four seconds between himself and Bulega behind him by Lap 11. From there, it was a lonely ride for ‘El Turco’ and ‘Bulegas’ alike as the #1 cruised to his ninth win at Magny-Cours, tying Jonathan Rea’s (#65) tally of nine wins at the French Circuit. Bulega led Lowes onto the rostrum in P2 as the British rider earned Bimota their 24th podium.

Alex Lowes earned his first dry Bimota podium since Hockenheim Race 2 in 1989 Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) battled brother on brother starting on Lap 6 as the twins scrapped tooth and nail for the final podium position. Alex led the duo until his brother Sam crashed out on Turn 13 of Lap 19 for a P9 finish. Riding some distance behind the brotherly duel, Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team #9) finished P4.

After starting one spot from the back of the grid in P22, Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha #55) worked his way all the way up to P8 on Lap 6 behind fellow Yamaha rider Remy Gardner (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team #87). By Lap 14, ‘Loka’ climbed a further two positions to P6 and finally improved to a P5 finish after Sam Lowes’ crash in front of him. Behind the Italian, fellow Yamaha rider Gardner landed P6.

“Today was incredible because I earned pole position in the Superpole and broke the circuit record. This is special to me, especially after missing Magny-Cours last season because of the big crash I didn’t race. Now, I need to win here with BMW because this is my last season,” Razgatlioglu reflected.

WorldSBK Race 1 Results

  1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
  2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +8.597s
  3. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +10.979s
  4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +17.793s
  5. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) +20.648s

WorldSSP Race 1

Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) pulled off a late-race comeback that will go down in FIM Supersport World Championship history at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. After a huge moment on the penultimate lap, the #62 regrouped to close in on Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) and passed him at Turn 13 on the last lap to claim a sensational victory in Race 1 of the French Round.

Oncu grabbed the holeshot as he aimed to reduce the gap to title rival Manzi, who settled for P3 early behind Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA). Mahias moved past Oncu at Turn 5 on Lap 4, but Manzi reclaimed the lead the same lap at Turn 13, pushing Mahias to third. On Lap 6, Oncu retook the lead under heavy braking at Turn 5, only for Manzi to surprise him at Turn 15. Both traded positions throughout the race, with neither able to break away.

Manzi led until Lap 15 when Oncu took over at Turn 5, but Manzi responded at Turn 13. Two laps later, they battled side-by-side at Turn 5 as Oncu regained P1, only for Manzi to quickly pass him again at Turn 11. This back-and-forth continued, with Manzi making moves at multiple corners. A big moment at Turn 13 allowed Oncu to lead by over a second, but Manzi rapidly closed the gap. On the final lap, Manzi passed Oncu at Turn 13 and held on for a remarkable victory.

Meanwhile, Lucas Mahias and debutant Alberto Surra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team #76) fought for P3 early on. Surra took third at Turn 5 on Lap 7 before Mahias regained it four laps later. Surra moved ahead again on Lap 16, and although Mahias crossed the line third, a three-second penalty for shortcutting promoted Surra onto the podium in his debut race.

WorldSSP Race 1 Results

  1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
  2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.244s
  3. Alberto Surra (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +4.415s
  4. Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA) +5.991s
  5. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) +7.257s

Sunday
Superpole Race

Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) claimed victory ahead of Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) in the Superpole Race. Bulega’s P2 marked his 46th career podium, while Lowes secured his second straight podium, his 49th overall, tying Carlos Checa for 17th all-time in WorldSBK podiums.

Bulega got the holeshot from Razgatlioglu, but the defending champion quickly retook the lead at Turn 5 on the opening lap. On Lap 4 at Turn 15, Bulega ran wide and dropped to P4 behind Sam and Alex Lowes. Bulega would regain P2 shortly after, but his race ended on Lap 7 when he slid off at Turn 2 from fourth place. The front trio then pulled away, with Razgatlioglu taking the win, followed by Bulega and Alex Lowes.

Pic: David Clares

Razgatlioglu’s win set new records, making him the first rider with at least 10 wins at three different circuits and the most successful rider at Magny-Cours, surpassing Jonathan Rea’s nine wins.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) couldn’t match Lowes for the podium but pulled clear of BMW teammate Michael van der Mark (#60) to finish P4. Van der Mark held onto P5, matching his best result of the season from Assen’s Superpole Race.

Superpole Race Results

  1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
  2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +3.712s
  3. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +7.674s
  4. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) +8.854s
  5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +9.660s

WorldSBK Race 2

In the final race of the weekend at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) emphatically claimed his 75th WorldSBK win, cementing his status as the circuit’s most successful rider with a dominant performance.

Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) and Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) completed the podium behind ‘El Turco’. Bulega’s second place marked the 27th time he’s finished runner-up to Razgatlioglu, while Lowes celebrated his 50th career podium and gave Bimota its third podium of the weekend – a feat not achieved since 1988. With this win, Razgatlioglu extended his Riders’ Championship lead to 39 points over Bulega, with nine races remaining across three rounds.

At the start, Razgatlioglu took the holeshot, followed by Bulega, Lowes and Jonathan Rea, who surged up from P7. The defending champion controlled the race smoothly, earning his fourth consecutive hat-trick of the season. Bulega secured his 23rd podium of the year, while Lowes continued Bimota’s strong weekend.

David Clares

Early in the race, Rea defended P5 against Michael van der Mark but soon began pressuring Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) for P4. Despite relentless attacks, Rea initially struggled to overtake. However, on Lap 8, he manoeuvred between Petrucci and Lowes to take third. The battle for the final podium spot was fierce until Lowes pulled ahead for his third straight podium. Rea’s pace then faded, and he dropped behind van der Mark and rival Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #19), finishing sixth.

“It looks like we took everything, but it was not an easy weekend, every lap I was pushing the limit, and I was trying to post a good pace. In general, we did a very good job; this was a product of teamwork. This is my favourite track, every race I did a good job and made a big gap, but more importantly, we won the races. We’ve pulled off another hat trick, and now the focus is on Aragon,” Razgatlioglu said.

WorldSBK Race 2 Results

  1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team)
  2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +8.087s
  3. Alex Lowes (bimota by Kawasaki Racing Team) +12.123s
  4. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) +13.806s
  5. Michael van der Mark (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) +16.293s

Championship Points

  1. Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) 469 points
  2. Nicolo Bulega (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 430
  3. Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) 260
  4. Andrea Locatelli (Pata Maxus Yamaha) 236
  5. Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) 230

WorldSSP Race 2

The FIM Supersport World Championship’s French Round concluded with an exciting Race 2 at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, where Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) claimed victory ahead of Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) and Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing #69), earning their 28th and ninth career WorldSSP podiums, respectively. With this double podium, Yamaha secured the Manufacturers’ Championship, thanks to strong performances from riders like Manzi, Oncu and Lucas Mahias (GMT94-YAMAHA).

To begin, Oncu led Manzi into Turn 1, followed by fellow Yamahas Lucas Mahias and Alberto Surra. By Lap 4, Oncu had built a three-second lead, though, with him cruising toward his first win since Donington. Manzi, however, steadily closed the gap, chasing behind Valentin Debise (#53) and Jeremy Alcoba (#52). By the final lap, Manzi was within a bike length and eye-catchingly overtook Oncu in the last sector for his ninth win of the season.

Alcoba showed strong pace early and looked set to secure Kawasaki’s first WorldSSP podium since Jerez 2023, but Booth-Amos, starting from the fourth row, made a decisive move mid-race, pushing Alcoba to fourth. Yamaha’s P1 and P2 finishes clinched the 2025 Manufacturer’s title, solidifying their dominance with more poles, podiums, wins and fastest laps than any rival. With this 11th title, Yamaha surpassed Honda, who had been tied with 10. French rider Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport #6) finished fifth again on home soil.

WorldSSP Race 2 Results

  1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing)
  2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) +0.554s
  3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) +9.393s
  4. Jeremy Alcoba (Kawasaki WorldSSP Team) +9.665s
  5. Corentin Perolari (Honda Racing World Supersport) +9.985s

Championship Points

  1. Stefano Manzi (Pata Yamaha Ten Kate Racing) 344 points
  2. Can Oncu (Yamaha BLU CRU Evan Bros Team) 275
  3. Tom Booth-Amos (PTR Triumph Factory Racing) 214
  4. Jaume Masia (Orelac Racing VerdNatura) 191
  5. Bo Bendsneyder (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) 178

WorldWCR
WorldWCR Race 1

The FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship officially kicked off race action at the French Round’s Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team #6) topped the podium in the first encounter of the weekend, followed into Parc Ferme by Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport #15) and Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha #36) for their fourth and ninth podiums of the season, respectively.

WorldWCR Race 1 Results

  1. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team)
  2. Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) +0.130s
  3. Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) +2.868s
  4. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) +6.937s
  5. Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) +7.265s

WorldWCR Race 2

The chequered flag waved on WorldWCR’s French Round at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. Their Race 2 saw Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) return to the top of the podium, taking home her fourth win of the season. British rookie Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) kept her strong form rolling, clinching her fourth consecutive podium. Lastly, rookie and home hero Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA #17) took home third place, earning her first WorldWCR podium to the elation of the home fans.

WorldWCR Race 2 Results

  1. Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha)
  2. Chloe Jones (GR Motosport) +0.130s
  3. Lucie Boudesseul (GMT94-YAMAHA) +0.458s
  4. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) +0.580s
  5. Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) +0.657s

Championship Points

1 Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Racing Team) 210
2 Beatriz Nelia (Ampito Crescent Yamaha) 204
3 Roberta Ponziani (Klint Forward Racing Team) 136
4 Chloe Jones (GR Motorsport) 133
5 Sara Sanchez (Terra & Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team) 111

WorldSSP300

WorldSSP300 Race 1

The FIM Supersport 300 World Championship enjoyed its first race of the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours’ French Round on Saturday afternoon. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki) made his first WorldSSP300 appearance since returning to the category after six races in WorldSSP. And Veneman duly took home his first win since his double at Most 2024, ahead of Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300), who earned his ninth WorldSSP300 podium, and Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki), who earned his fourth career podium in the category.

Carter Thompson landed the holeshot from P3, however, Dutch polesitter Loris Veneman and Spanish rider David Salvador gave chase in the early laps until Salvador fell back to P16 after taking his Long Lap Penalty on Lap 2. The Kawasaki machinery pair led the race until Vannucci got his Yamaha R3 in front by Lap 7. #91 wasted no time in charging up the grid from his P29 starting position. After jumping up to P3 by Lap 6, the Italian led much of the contest, yet Thompson and Veneman nipped at his heels into the final laps, the trio an emphatic five seconds ahead of the rest of the pack.

Into the final sector of the final lap, Veneman led, until Vannucci and Thompson cut inside the Dutchman. Thompson ran wide, and into the final chicane, Veneman passed the Italian back with an incisive move up the inside through the chicane. The win marked Veneman’s fourth WorldSSP300 win, and his first since returning to the category after a stint in WorldSSP.

Into the final four laps, less than a second separated P4 from P10, the large pack trading overtakes corner after corner as they fought for every available point. Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) led his KTM teammate Jeffrey Buis across the line by just 0.131s to claim P4 for himself and shuffle the two-time WorldSSP300 Champion to P5.

WorldSSP300 Race 1 Results

  1. Loris Veneman (MTM Kawasaki)
  2. Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) +0.053s
  3. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) +0.575s
  4. Phillip Tonn (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) +5.690s
  5. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing) +5.821s

WorldSSP300 Race 2

David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) claimed his first FIM Supersport 300 World Championship victory of the 2025 season at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours as he moved into second in the Championship standings. He was part of a nine-rider group who were fighting for victory during the French Round as he took victory ahead of Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) and Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki).

Veneman was looking for a double victory on his return to WorldSSP300 and immediately moved into P1 when lights went out, looking to break away from the field alongside two-time Champion Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM – Paligo Racing). Although it looked like they had, the chasing pack caught up around one-third into the 11-lap race.

Halfway through the race, it became a lead group of nine fighting for victory, and it remained like this until the end of the race. With three laps to go, Vanucci tried to break away on his own, but the gap came down on Lap 10 on the run into Turn 5, dropping the #91 into seventh after contact with another rider. That allowed Veneman back into the lead, and he held that on the run to Turn 5 on the final lap. Salvador took the lead at Turn 13, and he and Veneman went side-by-side into Turn 15 before Veneman came down after contact, as did Buis. The #6 was taken to the medical centre following the crash. He was diagnosed with concussion, but the Dutchman was conscious.

Salvador went on to take his second WorldSSP300 victory ahead of Vannucci in second, who made it back-to-back podiums for the first time since Imola 2023. Thompson crossed the line in P3. Kawasaki claimed their 70th win in WorldSSP300, and Thompson’s P3 was the Japanese manufacturer’s 200th rostrum. Salvador became the sixth different winner this season, as many as in the 2024 campaign and four shy of the all-time record set in 2020.

Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) was just 1.054s away from victory at the end of the race as he finished in fourth, ahead of Benat Fernandez (Team#109 Retro Traffic Kove) who climbed from 10th on the grid to finish in fifth.

WorldSSP300 Race 2 Results

1. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI)
2. Matteo Vannucci (PATA AG Motorsport Italia WorldSSP300) +0.243s
3. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) +0.805s
4. Daniel Mogeda (Pons Motosport Italika Racing) +1.054
5. Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) +2.107s

Championship Points

  1. Benat Fernandez (Team #109 Retro Traffic Kove) 150
  2. David Salvador (Team ProDina XCI) 139
  3. Julio Garcia (Prodina Kawasaki Italka Racing) 133
  4. Jeffrey Buis (Freudenberg KTM-Paligo Racing) 125
  5. Carter Thompson (MTM Kawasaki) 125

How did the Aussies Do?

Despite feeling sore from his Balaton crash, Remy Gardner produced a valiant effort in Race 1 to claim sixth before proceeding to grab P11 in the Superpole Race and P13 in Race 2, which were admirable results in the circumstances.

Despite starting Race 1 from the back after being unable to complete a qualifying lap due to a collision with Kaito Toba, Oli Bayliss (#32) delivered a determined charge to gain 18 positions to ultimately finish 12th. He then carried this momentum into Race Two, where he produced another wicked surge through the pack to clinch 10th.

 

MotoGP Round 15 2025 Report | Alex Marquez fends off Marc to win in Barcelona

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MotoGP Round 15 | Alex Marquez fends off Marc to win in Barcelona. The #73 banished his Sprint demons to hold off the #93 for a stunning home turf win as Enea Bastianini (#23) completed the Catalan GP rostrum. Report: MotoGP/Ed Stratmann

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Not a bad day at the office for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Brad Binder (#33), closely followed by Pedro Acosta (#37), led a very competitive and closely fought MotoGP field on Friday at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) acted as the Austrian factory’s closest challenger in P3.

Read our previous MotoGP reports here…

How about that for a qualifying session? Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #93) clinched pole position at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia with a simply stunning new all-time lap record. The #73’s final sector was mega, as his 1:37.536 was plenty good enough to beat second place Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20), with the Frenchman coming through Q1 to stick his Yamaha on the front row.

Moto2

Leading the Moto2 charge, Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego #44) stole the show on Friday in Barcelona with a late lap that was enough to slot him nicely into P1, less than a tenth ahead of Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Impulse Aspar Team #27). The Spaniard, who was originally leading going into the closing moments, finished ahead of first Boscoscuro Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) as the Brit completed the top three.

After some impressive pace on Friday, Dani Holgado (CFMoto Impulse Aspar Team) backed it up on Saturday with a new lap record for his first pole position in Moto2. Fellow rookie Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95) continued his recent form as well to take a first front row in the class, with the two debutants split by Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in second.

Moto3

Valentin Perrone’s (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73) 1:47.584 saw the Argentine rookie front the Moto3 field in Practice at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia, but it wasn’t by much. A late lap from David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #64) propelled the Spaniard into P2, 0.096s off Perrone, while David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) collected a Friday P3.

David Almansa left it late to fire himself into pole position for the first time in his Moto3 career. The Spaniard will have a clear view down to Turn 1 and was the only rider able to dip into the 1’46s, with a 1’46.877 good enough to see him clear of Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA #66) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36).

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Marc Marquez’s unbeaten Sprint run continued at the Catalan GP – but only after a dramatic crash from Alex Marquez handed him victory. Alex had pulled over a second clear when he lost the front at Turn 10 with just four laps remaining. Fabio Quartararo finished 1.2s behind to claim second, with Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina VR46 Ducati #49) completing the podium after escaping a fierce KTM scrap.

Alex Marquez led early after a strong launch, as Quartararo, Marc Marquez and Pedro Acosta diced behind. An intense opening lap saw multiple lead changes before Marc Marquez reclaimed second and began hunting down his brother. As the race settled, Quartararo and Marc Marquez chipped away at Alex’s lead, but the #73 looked in control – until disaster struck. Marc Marquez inherited the lead and never looked back, securing his 14th Sprint win of the year.

Behind the podium trio, Acosta edged Bastianini and Binder in a thrilling finish, the trio covered by just 0.075s across the line.

“I’m happy for my victory for the Ducati team and we won the Constructors’ Championship, but unfortunately Alex crashed,” Marc Marquez explained. “I already gave up because he was faster than me, and when I gave up, maybe he relaxed a bit too much, and he crashed at Turn 10. He will have another chance tomorrow because he has the best pace, but we are happy at a circuit where we are struggling. I was a bit on the limit.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
  2. Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (+1.299s)
  3. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.653s)
  4. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+5.868s)
  5. Enea Bastianini Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+5.913s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Alex Marquez banished his Sprint demons with a phenomenal victory at the Monster Energy Grand Prix of Catalonia, fending off brother Marc Marquez to claim a sensational home win. The #93’s unbeaten Sunday run ended, but P2 extended the title race to at least Japan. Enea Bastianini secured his first Sunday podium with KTM in P3.

Marc got the holeshot from P3, leading into Turn 1, while Pedro Acosta launched into third. Quartararo slotted into fourth, ahead of Bastianini. But on Lap 2, chaos hit: Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72) clipped Morbidelli (#21) and crashed, with Di Giannantonio going down moments later trying to avoid him – both out of podium contention.

Alex Marquez took the lead on Lap 4 with a decisive Turn 1 move, and behind him, Marc had Bastianini and Acosta in close pursuit. Meanwhile, Binder crashed out from P10 on Lap 7, as Pecco Bagnaia surged from P22 to P8 by Lap 8, which was an impressive recovery. By Lap 10, the top four had pulled 2.1s clear. Bastianini moved past Acosta into P3 and began closing on Marc Marquez, cutting the gap to 0.8s.

As the race wore on, Acosta faded and eventually lost touch with the podium fight. By Lap 19, the stage was set for an epic Marquez showdown. But a couple of mistakes from Marc on Lap 20 gave Alex a gap of 0.8s – then 1.3s with two laps to go. Alex held his nerve, conquered his Turn 10 demons from Saturday and crossed the line 1.7s clear for his second MotoGP win – and a very special one on home soil. Marc settled for P2, proud to share the podium with his brother in a Marquez 1-2. Bastianini claimed a hard-earned P3.

Acosta secured P4, while Quartararo won the fight for fifth. Rookie Ai Ogura (#79) charged late to bank his best MotoGP result yet in P6.

“It feels so good. It’s true that I have in my head a little bit the race from yesterday, but when I was there on the bike, I said ‘this one needs to be with me’ so I just needed to push all the race and manage the tyres. With six, seven [laps] to the end, it was the time to see if I had something. I was able to make good lap times in that moment,” Alex Marquez explained.

MotoGP Race Results

  1. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati
  2. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo (+1.740s)
  3. Enea Bastianini Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+5.562s)
  4. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+13.373s)
  5. Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (+14.409s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 487
  2. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 305
  3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 237
  4. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 197
  5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 183

Moto2

Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Aspar Team) led every lap of the Catalan GP to take his first Moto2 victory in commanding style. The pole-sitter blasted off the line and never looked back to become the ninth different winner of the season. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing) returned to the podium in second, while wildcard Daniel Muñoz (#17) stunned with a maiden P3 finish.

Holgado got the holeshot and immediately opened a gap to Dixon. Turn 4 claimed Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS #12), who was forced wide into the gravel, while Ayumu Sasaki (RW-Idrofoglia #71) crashed out on the opening lap. By Lap 3, Holgado led Dixon, with Muñoz charging in third ahead of Izan Guevara (#28) and Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (#18).

Muñoz made his move on Dixon at Turn 1 on Lap 6 to take second. Behind, Jorge Navarro (#9) wiped out Salač at Turn 1, while Aron Canet crashed at Turn 7 to put a nasty dent in his title hopes. Gonzalez and Guevara battled hard for fourth, swapping positions on Laps 16 and 17 before Gonzalez made it stick. He sat in a strong P4 as Holgado stretched a 2.5s gap up front. On the penultimate lap, Dixon reclaimed second from Muñoz at Turn 1, holding the place to the flag. Muñoz, subbing for Deniz Öncü, held on for a remarkable debut podium. Further back, Diogo Moreira’s (#10) weekend worsened with a Long Lap Penalty for exceeding track limits, thus meaning he finished outside of the points.

For Aspar, it was a back-to-back debut win – this time from the other side of the garage. Holgado’s lights-to-flag masterclass was a career milestone. Dixon earned a solid P2, Muñoz celebrated a shock podium and Gonzalez extended his title lead with P4, just ahead of a season-best fifth for Guevara.

Moto2 Race Results

  1. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team
  2. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing (+2.500s)
  3. Daniel Munoz Red Bull KTM Ajo (+3.119s)
  4. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+4.497s)
  5. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (+5.859s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 217
  2. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 179
  3. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team – 175
  4. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 153
  5. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 152

Moto3

A crucial win in the title race. Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) emerged victorious from an intense Moto3 battle in Barcelona, cutting five points from José Antonio Rueda’s (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) championship lead. Despite a Long Lap penalty, Rueda recovered brilliantly to finish P2. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72) was passed at the final corner but held on for P3 – his second podium of the season.

From his maiden pole, David Almansa led into Turn 1, as Maximo Quiles (#28) jumped from P9 to P4. Piqueras dropped to P6, while Rueda took his penalty on Lap 3, falling from P5 to P15. By Lap 4, Piqueras was up to P3, as Rueda clawed back to P10 and rejoined the lead group. Almansa continued to lead a 14-rider freight train until Lap 9, when Quiles briefly hit the front before Almansa and Piqueras retaliated. Rueda moved into the lead on Lap 11, but Quiles ran wide at Turn 1, tumbling to P14.

With four laps to go, Rueda had a 0.5s lead over a chasing pack of Almansa, Piqueras, Adrian Fernandez (#31), Furusato and a charging Ryusei Yamanaka (#6), who’d started from the back. Two laps from the end, the top ten were locked together. On the final lap, Piqueras took the lead at Turn 1. Rueda dropped to P4 after a failed Turn 5 lunge but pulled off a bold final-corner move to snatch P2 from Furusato. But the win belonged to Piqueras – a vital one for the championship. Furusato held P3, with Almansa and Fernandez just missing the podium in P4 and P5.

Moto3 Race Results

  1. Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI
  2. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo (+0.081s)
  3. Taiyo Furusato Honda Team Asia (+0.156s)
  4. David Almansa Leopard Racing (+0.229s)
  5. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+0.542s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 270
  2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 206
  3. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 168
  4. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 163
  5. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 149

How Did the Aussies Do?

Starting 14th and finishing 12th in the Sprint, Jack Miller (#43) was content with his Saturday effort, where he showed excellent pace and engaged in some fierce battles throughout. Then in the main race, Miller recovered from early adversity to secure 14th, fighting his way back into the points after being pushed wide by Brad Binder on the opening lap, which dropped him to the back of the field.

Although Senna Agius (#81) banked an admirable P8 in qualifying after having his best lap cancelled, a poor start, grip issues and a Long Lap Penalty ensured 14th was the best he could muster on his return from his heavy crash in Austria. Rocketing to P2 on the grid in qualifying set Joel Kelso up superbly for a strong race. Frustratingly, he couldn’t translate that pace into the race itself, dropping as far back as 14th before admirably recovering to secure P7. Starting the race from P11 on the grid, Jacob Roulstone’s (#12) round was disappointingly ended prematurely when a technical issue forced him to retire.

 

Aussies Racing Abroad | August 2025

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Aussies Racing Abroad | August 2025. With many Australians showcasing their skills abroad in a range of disciplines both on-track and off-road, our latest column focuses on how they’re faring battling it out with the best in their chosen classes…. Words: Ed Stratmann

On-Track
Jack Miller – MotoGP

After a tough 17th in the Austrian sprint, where he struggled with severe rear wheel spin, Jack Miller endured more of the same in the main race, limping home in 18th to cap off a weekend to forget.

“It’s quite clear on paper that this weekend our bike simply doesn‘t work with this rear tyre and its construction. There‘s just no way to make it work. I tried everything I know – from short-shifting to being super patient on the throttle – just trying to find a way to defend myself,” Miller reflected.

Heading to Hungary, the popular #43 secured a positive 12th in the Sprint on a track where overtaking was difficult. The main race was always going to be a challenge, with Miller forced to start 17th after receiving a three-place grid penalty for impeding Francesco Bagnaia during Friday’s practice. Despite a brilliant start, Jack Miller frustratingly crashed out of the race to end another challenging round.

“Definitely not the day I wanted or expected. I got off to a decent start, settled in behind Pol (Espargaro) and waited a bit before making a move, knowing I had the pace to get ahead. But then, at turn one, as soon as I touched the throttle, the front went away and that was it. Honestly, I hadn‘t done anything different from the lap before. I picked the bike up and tried to push, hoping to catch someone, even with a small clutch issue. But a few laps later I went down again at Turn 11. A real shame, because we had a decent pace this weekend and I feel it was a missed opportunity,” he lamented.

Senna Agius – Moto2

Kicking off his weekend with a strong P5 in FP2 and sixth in qualifying in Austria, things were looking promising for Senna Agius to deliver a fine race. But it wasn’t to be, as a brutal crash at turn two on the opening lap, involving Ivan Ortola and Alonso Lopez, saw Agius get run over, ending his race early. Fortunately, he escaped without serious injury. Though scans at the Red Bull Ring came back clear, he was transferred to Judenburg Hospital for precautionary checks and underwent further tests in Barcelona.

“Lucky to be walking away today, relatively okay after a scary crash on lap one. Time to recover to get back on it soon,”Agius recalled. While he had to sit out the Hungarian GP to rest and recuperate, he positively plans to return to action in Catalunya, pending medical clearance.

Joel Kelso – Moto3

Back from injury in Austria following the summer break, exciting talent Joel Kelso claimed 10th on the grid before producing a commendable 11th in the race. Leaving determined and motivated to build on this ahead of the subsequent round in Hungary, his words illustrated he wasn’t content.

“Not the result we wanted coming back from the summer break. Didn’t feel fully dialled in this weekend, but we’ll regroup and go again,” stated the #66. Although it wasn’t the weekend Joel Kelso had envisaged in Hungary on a track he enjoyed riding, the Australian dynamo showed plenty of grit to fight his way back from P14 to a respectable eighth.

“It wasn’t an ideal weekend, starting from P14, but we fought hard and managed to move forward. We’re still in a bit of a rut – no point sugar-coating it. The focus now is on finding solutions, and we won’t stop until we do,” asserted the Aussie.

Jacob Roulstone – Moto3

Having toiled earlier in the weekend, it was admirable how Jacob Roulstone made steady progress on the Saturday to qualify P12 at the Red Bull Ring. Sadly, grip issues hindered his race, thus ensuring he couldn’t get any higher than 14th.

“I’m taking some positives away from what was definitely a tricky round, at not one of my favourite tracks. In today’s race, I managed to get a decent start and maintain a decent pace throughout. I did struggle with grip toward the end of the race. It seems we’re making small steps in the right direction, even if the results aren’t quite reflecting that yet,”commented Roulstone.

After qualifying P7, Jacob Roulstone continued his admirable Moto3 momentum with a P10 in Sunday’s race in Hungary. While a reasonable result, the Aussie felt more was possible with better tyre management.

“Really good start, and I was able to stay near the front for a while. But I just didn’t manage the tyre well enough. Small steps forward again. Not the results I’m aiming for, but I’m giving my best day in and day out to get to where I know I can be. Just need to work things out on and off the bike a little earlier in the weekend. A week off now, but see you in Barcelona,” insisted the gifted prospect.

Off-Track
Jett Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Jett Lawrence wrapped up his second 450 AMA Pro Motocross crown and his fifth title in the premier class after enjoying his latest masterful season. His achievement was made all the more remarkable given the fact he’d only just recovered in time from an ACL injury for the start of the Pro Motocross series. Winning nine of the 11 overalls on offer, there was no denying the 22-year-old phenom, who was a cut above his adversaries throughout. Combining superb technique, elite line selection, tremendous starts and outstanding racecraft, it was a joy to watch the #18 flex his muscles.

“I think the biggest moment in this championship was round one. Leading up to it, I was dealing with my knee injury. It was my first one, so mentally it felt horrible, and I was originally told I’d be out four months. I didn’t think I was going to make the opener at all. Just making it to the first round had me stoked, and to go there and win made it one of my best races ever. To wrap up the title one round early makes it even more rewarding,” Lawrence explained. The younger Lawrence sibling will now immediately shift his attention to the upcoming SMX Playoffs.

Hunter Lawrence – AMA Pro Motocross

Hunter Lawrence rounded out an excellent Pro Motocross season by finishing second in the standings behind his sensational brother, in a campaign which memorably included him banking his first-ever victory outdoors in the 450 category when he reigned supreme at Ironman.

“I haven’t got the energy to be emotional or happy. It’s hot and I’m finished. I’m just happy to get one [a win]. A lot of second-place finishes, but it’s good to get the monkey off my back,” he divulged. Launching out of the gate wonderfully throughout the crusade and riding in a disciplined and calculated manner, Hunter deserves huge credit for what was an accomplished body of work over 11 gruelling stops on the calendar. Expect him to come out swinging in SMX too, where he’ll aim to go one better after falling just short last time around.

Jake Cannon – EMX250

Consistency has been key for Jake Cannon in August in the fiercely competitive EMX250 division. Beginning with a solid P5 in Sweden despite a spill in race one and having an off-track excursion in the second race, there were many positives to extract from his Uddevalla. Feeling good on the bike, possessing podium speed and comfortable on the iconic venue, a podium was in reach if only he’d avoided those mishaps.

“I felt good on the bike and was enjoying the track, but the first moto just didn’t go my way. I rode strong to get back to ninth after crashing on the second lap, but I need to get better starts and minimise the errors. I’m frustrated with my first lap in the second moto, as I jumped off the side of the track after a good start. After ten minutes I started riding like myself again and came back to fifth for fifth overall. I just have to put it all together for a full moto. I know I have the speed to be at the front,” Cannon told the Bud Racing website.

The Venum Bud Racing Kawasaki hotshot then ventured to Arnhem ready for more, but unsatisfactory starts ensured he had to surge through the pack to eventually clinch a hard-earned sixth overall.

Liam Owens – EMX250

Liam Owens continues to make impressive strides in EMX250, with the Aussie flyer notching his maiden podium at Arnhem last weekend, which was a just reward for all his hard work. Riding superbly on the demanding sand circuit, his 4-2 moto scores saw him claim a deserved third overall and his spot on the box.

“Finally made it on the podium. If you had told me, when I first moved here from Australia, that my first EMX250 podium would come in the sand, I would’ve fallen off my chair. Big thanks to everyone involved in my first podium. Getting that feeling once just makes me want it even more,” said a delighted Owens.

In another piece of uplifting news, it was also confirmed that the Cat Moto Bauerschmidt Husqvarna ace will stay with the team for 2026, where his sights will be firmly set on the coveted EMX250 title.

 

ASBK Round Six 2025 Report | Waters extends lead as ecstatic West lands winning blow

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Round six of the 2025 ASBK Championship at Phillip Island delivered drama and history, with Anthony West claiming a maiden pole and breakthrough win, while Josh Waters extended his title lead in challenging conditions across a packed weekend of racing. Report: ASBK Media/Ed Stratmann

Saturday

Anthony West (#13) was the star of the show in qualifying for round six of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island on September 6.

Check out the ASBK Round Five report here...

The Queenslander was a cut above in the premier SW-Motech Superbike class, powering to his maiden pole position in the ASBK Championship on the Addicted to Track Yamaha. The 44-year-old has been knocking on the door of pole position for quite some time, but in brilliant Phillip Island weather he finally reached the summit with a searing lap of 1:30.462 – the second best ever in the Superbike class. West was joined on the front row for Sunday’s two 11-lap races by Josh Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati #1) and Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team #46), who both sit above him in the championship race after five of eight rounds.

Qualifying was also held across all the other ASBK classes on Saturday – Kawasaki Supersport, Race and Road Supersport 300 and the BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup – as well as the Yamaha R3 BLU CRU Asia-Pacific Championship making its first visit to Phillip Island. The Oceania Junior Cup riders also enjoyed their first race to bookend Saturday’s on-track activities, ahead of a massive 11-race schedule on Sunday.

SW-Motech Superbike

West’s trajectory has been on the up for some time, and today the former Moto2 winner’s stocks rose yet again. “I’m just so happy, and hats off to the Addicted to Track team,” said West. “We’ve been working hard towards getting the best out of the bike: we have a plan and we know what to do. All that experience is coming together really well.”

West was the only rider to circulate in the 1:30 bracket in qualifying, with Waters, Jones, Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati #11), Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati #65) and Max Stauffer (Yamaha #27) all in the 1:31s.

The top 10 was completed by Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha #33), the returning Troy Herfoss (Yamaha Racing Team #17), Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Yamaha #20) and Ty Lynch (Yamaha #85). Meanwhile, Cameron Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha #3) didn’t take part in qualifying after mechanical woes in practice, with his team then forced to race against the clock to get him on the grid.

It was also a hapless day for Glenn Allerton (Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati #14), who didn’t go out because of a physical ailment.

Kawasaki Supersport

There’s breaking records and then there’s breaking records. Albury’s Archie McDonald (#69) was simply sensational in Kawasaki Supersport qualifying, setting a new best lap of 1:33.808 on his Stop and Seal Yamaha YZF-R6, nearly one second under the current lap record (1:34.682) and well over a second ahead of the previous qualifying marker. McDonald has now been in pole position in all four ASBK rounds he has competed in this season. Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha #49) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki #279) were second and third among the 17 Supersport riders, ahead of Tom Bramich (Yamaha #44), Mahaffy (#37) and Oli Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki #5). Mahaffy laboured in practice and qualifying with a bent frame, which was replaced overnight. Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati #7) was the fastest of the Supersport Next Gen riders despite a bingle at turn six in the second qualifying session.

Race and Road Supersport 300

Pressure Ghage! A stunning pole position for Ghage Plowman (Yamaha #27) in his Race and Road Supersport 300 ASBK debut, with Oliver Short (Kawasaki #7) and Jordy Simpson (Yamaha #33) second and third. Championship leader Scott Nicholson (#39) qualified in sixth, three spots ahead of his closest pursuer – fellow Kawasaki rider Tara Morrison (#95). The times were typically tight, though, which augers well for three crackerjack races on Sunday.

BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup

A race for the ages, with the top 20 OJC riders flashing across the finish line separated by just 1.648 seconds! Xavier Curmi (#82) came out of the rolling scrum first ahead of Chaz Williams (#18) and Rossi McAdam (#61).

Sunday

Veterans Josh Waters and Anthony West were the stars of a challenging round six of the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul (ASBK) at Phillip Island on September 7. Waters (McMartin Racing Ducati) and West (Addicted to Track Yamaha) shared victories in the two 11-lap races, the first one held on a wet circuit before conditions cleared in the afternoon as West broke through for his first win in the SW-Motech Superbike class – one day after also setting his maiden pole position.

Broc Pearson (DesmoSport Ducati) was also mightily impressive at Phillip Island, with his 2-3 scorecard securing third overall. With Waters’ main championship rival Mike Jones (Yamaha Racing Team) unable to produce his normal front-running deeds, Waters has now extended his lead in the championship to 69pts (306 to 237) with two rounds remaining. West (234pts) is circling in third position ahead of round seven at One Raceway in Goulburn in two weeks – October 3-5.

“That was a wild day, and in race two a lot of the other riders had nothing to lose, while I have a lot on my mind in terms of the championship,” said Waters. “I was getting carved up like a Sunday roast, but I was happy with the result, and I’d like to thank my team and all of our sponsors for their support.”

Meanwhile, it was all about pure adulation for West. “I don’t remember too much about race two, as there was just so much going on,” he said. “But some of the young guys were making me angry, which really fired me up to get the job done. This weekend has been awesome on so many levels.”

SW-Motech Superbike Race One

It was a just-in-time final salvo from Waters, who won his ninth SW-Motech Superbike race of an extraordinarily impressive season after passing long-time leader Pearson on the final blast down Gardner Straight. The final margin was 0.094 seconds after 11 laps on the sodden Phillip Island layout.

“I had so many moments in that race – I would have liked Broc to have slowed down!” said Waters. Glenn Allerton – grimacing with an injured back which saw him sit out qualifying – was a brilliant third on his Superbike Advocates Racing Ducati after starting from the back of the grid.

West was fourth from Jones, Jonathan Nahlous (Omega Racing Team Yamaha), Oscar O’Donovan, (Scott’s Motorcycles Kawasaki #171) in a stunning ASBK debut, and Ryan Yanko (Addicted to Track Yamaha #82).

Troy Herfoss (Yamaha Racing Team) didn’t make the start after a crash on his out lap – suffering a minor injury, which was enough to end his day before it really got started – while others to get caught out in the slick conditions included Max Stauffer (Yamaha), Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha), Cru Halliday (Stop and Seal Ducati) and Ty Lynch (Yamaha).

Race One Results

  1. Josh Waters
  2. Broc Pearson (+0.094)
  3. Glenn Allerton (29.703)
  4. Anthony West (36.870)
  5. Mike Jones (+41.620)

SW-Motech Superbike race two

Race two was held on a drying track, with all riders fitting slick tyres – which made for a cautious opening before the intensity was dialled up as more dry lines appeared. The race eventually boiled down to a five-rider arm wrestle between West, Waters, Pearson, Nahlous and Halliday, with Pearson spending most time at the front.

However, on the penultimate lap, West made a decisive move to hit the lead, and then pinned his ears back over the final 4.448 km to win his first Superbike race in his 61st start. Meanwhile, Waters roared past Pearson at the death knell for the second time in as many races, with the duo finishing second and third ahead of Halliday, Nahlous, Jack Favelle (Addicted to Track Yamaha), Jones, Cameron Dunker (MotoGo Yamaha), Stauffer and Allerton. Allerton (190pts) remains fourth in the standings but now has the in-form Pearson (185pts) on his hammer. Dunker is on 175pts.

Race Two Results

  1. Anthony West
  2. Josh Waters (+0.262)
  3. Broc Pearson (+0.263)
  4. Cru Halliday (+1.141)
  5. Jonathan Nahlous (+1.213)

Championship Points

  1. Josh Waters – 306 Points
  2. Mike Jones – 237 Points
  3. Anthony West – 234 Points
  4. Glenn Allerton – 190 Points
  5. Broc Pearson – 185 Points

Kawasaki Supersport and Supersport Next Gen

There was a massive power shift in Kawasaki Supersport from Saturday to Sunday. After Archie McDonald’s sensational record-breaking performance in qualifying on the Stop and Seal Yamaha – and bike geometry woes for teammate and championship leader Jack Mahaffy – the prevailing view was “how far” for the Albury dasher in Sunday’s two 10-lap races.

But Mother Nature doesn’t always follow the script, with the first spots of rain appearing at the start of race one with riders on slicks.

Front row starter Jake Farnsworth (Yamaha) immediately sensed his opportunity, bolting from the start in an all-the-way triumph. It was his first victory in the category, and he was understandably elated: “I knew I had to get to the front and build into the race. It’s been so much hard work to get here, so this one’s special.”

Olly Simpson (BCperformance Kawasaki) was second ahead of Mahaffy and McDonald, who adopted a more cautious approach at the start before finding some late speed. Tom Bramich (Yamaha) and Hayden Nelson (BCperformance Kawasaki) were fifth and sixth, while Tom Toparis (Stop and Seal Ducati) was the first Supersport Next Gen rider ahead of Luca Durning (DesmoSport Ducati #21) – a feat he would replicate in race two.

The second outing saw riders on wet tyres on a drying track, making tyre management critical. Toparis and Simpson immediately settled into a nice rhythm, and were 1-2 across the finish line ahead of Nelson, Farnsworth, McDonald, Mahaffy and Mitch Simpson (Yamaha #66).

Simpson (199pts) is now second in the standings, moving past McDonald (195pts), while Mahaffy (220pts) still leads. Nelson (165pts), Bramich (155pts) and Farnsworth (147pts) fill positions 4-6.

Round Results

  1. Olly Simpson – 45 Points
  2. Jake Farnsworth – 43 Points
  3. Hayden Nelson – 35 Points
  4. Archie Mcdonald – 35 Points
  5. Jack Mahaffy – 34 Points

Championship Points

  1. Jack Mahaffy – 220 Points
  2. Olly Simpson – 199 Points
  3. Archie Mcdonald – 195 Points
  4. Hayden Nelson – 165 Points
  5. Tom Bramich – 155 Points

Race and Road Supersport 300

Three very different scenarios for the Race and Road Supersport 300 field, with race one held on a wet track, race two in drying conditions and race three on dry asphalt.

Through it all, championship leader Scott Nicholson (Kawasaki) showed the most composure with a 2-1-3 scorecard to claim the overall from Tyler King (Kawasaki, 1-15-2 #128), Jordy Simpson (Yamaha, 4-9-5), Tara Morrison (Kawasaki, 3-DNF-1) and Phoenix O’Brien (Yamaha, 5-2-14 #85).

Meanwhile, surprise polesitter Ghage Plowman (Yamaha) elected to sit out the races, instead focussing on his BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup commitments.

Attrition was its highest in race one, with 17 riders going down – including Morrison and three others on the sighting lap. The first attempt at the race was red-flagged after Riley Nauta (Kawasaki #42) crashed at turn six and required medical assistance. He was okay, and returned for the balance of the program.

With an imposing lead of 67pts over Morrison (292 to 225), it’s now Nicholson’s championship to lose. Simpson (208pts), Jake Paige (Kawasaki, 190pts #55), King (190pts) and Hudson Thompson (Yamaha, 186pts #41) are next, with Simpson making the biggest inroads at Phillip Island – up from fifth to third.

Championship Points

  1. Scott Nicholson – 292 Points
  2. Tara Morrison – 225 Points
  3. Jordy Simpson – 208 Points
  4. Jake Paige – 190 Points
  5. Tyler King – 190 Points

BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup

The 2025 BLU CRU Oceania Junior Cup (OJC) redefined the meaning of close racing when round four was held at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit on September 6-7.

It was mesmerising from start to finish, kicked off in spectacular fashion when 20 riders and their striking Yamaha YZF-R15s flashed across the line separated by just 1.648 seconds in race one. Xavier Curmi came out of the Saturday rolling scrum with the biggest smile before New Zealand wildcard Lucas Hyslop (#31) and Callum Campbell (#26) won the two races on Sunday. With slipstreaming a key battlefront at Phillip Island, it was nigh on impossible for riders to break free, which placed an extra premium on racecraft and again emphasised why the class is the perfect launching pad to begin circuit racing.

Campbell (11-2-1) and Curmi (1-5-7) finished on equal top-scoring points at Phillip Island, with the former awarded the overall courtesy of a higher finishing position in race three.

Hunter Charlett (4-6-2 #73) was third overall, which helped him move up from fifth to fourth in the championship on 176pts. At the front, Connor Lewis (222pts #77) is the new leader in the official Australian Junior Road Race Championship class over Chaz Williams (213pts) and Curmi (179pts).

The weekend started well for Williams – who had led the OJC standings from race one at Sydney Motorsport Park – when he was second in race one after starting from the front row of the grid, before he went down within sight of the finish line in race two. That saw Lewis take over the championship lead, which he extended to 9pts in race three when he finished third and Williams was sixth. But with two rounds and six races still remaining, the 2025 OJC battle is still exceptionally wide open.

The penultimate round will be held at One Raceway from October 3-5, alongside the 2025 mi-bike Motorcycle Insurance Australian Superbike Championship presented by Motul.

Championship Points

  1. Connor Lewis – 222 Points
  2. Chaz Williams – 213 Points
  3. Xavi Curmi – 179 Points
  4. Hunter Charlett – 176 Points
  5. Rossi McAdam – 169 Points

Meanwhile, expressions of interest are now open for riders aged between 11 and 16 to join the OJC grid in 2026. The OJC is officially part of the global Road to MotoGP program and supported by the FIM and FIM Oceania with dedicated coaching, rider training, media and PR development and a host of high-performance training programs.

All detailed ASBK Championship class results are here…

 

MotoGP Round 14 2025 Report | Masterful Marquez extends unbeaten run

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MotoGP Round 14 2025 Report | Masterful Marquez extends unbeaten run | The #93 delivered another double as KTM and Aprilia tasted podium success in Hungary at the first ever MotoGP race at the tight and twisty Balaton Park International Circuit… Report: MotoGP/Ed Stratmann

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

0.006s was the gap splitting Friday pacesetter Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) and Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team #93) after an intriguing opening day of action at Balaton Park, as Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) closed out the top three in Practice at the Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary.

Read our previous MotoGP articles here…

 

The first ever MotoGP qualifying session at Balaton Park threw up some drama and surprises, as the grid was set to stage two intriguing showdowns. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) started from the front with a new lap record, while his closest challenger to that point, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory), crashed out.

Moto2

Day 1 was in the history books as the field hit Balaton in Hungary for the first hurdle of the weekend: getting into Q2 directly from Friday afternoon Practice. Heading the charge, Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) began his weekend off strongly and aimed to cut more points out of his deficit in the standings.

Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) then headed the grid in Hungary as the Brazilian’s impressive form rolled on, taking pole by just 0.050 ahead of Zonta van den Goorbergh (RW – Idrofoglia Racing GP #84). Points leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) completed the front row, pipping Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) by just 0.001.

Moto3

A 1:46.448 saw Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) clinch Friday’s Moto3 honours at Balaton Park, and the rookie topped the standings by some margin too. 0.297s was the gap back to second place Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73), while Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #94) made it a rookie 1-2-3 in Hungary.

A tense tussle for pole position eventually saw Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) bank pole at Balaton Park, denying Austria polesitter Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and last week’s winner Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) as they joined him on the front row.

Full practice and qualifying results, click here…

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) continued his dominant 2025 Sprint form, taking his 13th win in 14 rounds with a commanding performance in Hungary. The #93 avoided Turn 1 chaos and never looked back, finishing two seconds ahead of Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing), with teammate Franco Morbidelli completing the podium.

Starting from pole, Marquez launched cleanly into the lead. Behind him, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha #20) misjudged the Turn 1 braking zone and collided with Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #23). Quartararo crashed out, while Bastianini stayed upright but dropped to P18. The incident also compromised Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72), who slipped into the lower top 10.

Later on Lap 1, Bastianini attempted an ambitious move on Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR #5) at Turn 9, causing both to crash out. Post-race penalties followed: Quartararo received a Long Lap for his first offence and Bastianini was given a double Long Lap for his second.

Up front, Di Giannantonio held second, 1.1s off Marquez by Lap 5, with Morbidelli just over a second behind. Luca Marini (Honda HRC #10) was fourth, ahead of Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini #54) and Joan Mir (#36).

Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM) crashed out on Lap 6 at Turn 11 while battling Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #1) for P10, ending a tough Saturday for the Friday pacesetter.

In the end, Marquez remained unchallenged to extend his Sprint dominance, with the VR46 pair securing strong finishes behind him at Balaton Park.

“I heard somebody super-close in the first corner, but from that point I tried to find my rhythm, and the first lap I was riding already in a very good way,” Marc Marquez explained. “I tried to keep a constant pace, and I saw that was enough to open a gap.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

  1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
  2. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+2.095s)
  3. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.595s)
  4. Luca Marini Honda HRC Castrol (+4.890s)
  5. Fermin Aldeguer BK8 Gresini Ducati (+5.692s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) kept up his flawless 2025 season with a seventh consecutive Grand Prix win at the Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary, extending his unbeaten run with a dominant 4.3s victory over Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) completed the podium after leading early on.

Drama unfolded before lights out as Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46) was forced to start from pit lane due to a technical issue. At Turn 2 on Lap 1, Marquez and Bezzecchi made contact after the #93 ran wide at Turn 1. Bezzecchi led from Franco Morbidelli (VR46), with Marquez settling into P3. Enea Bastianini and Alex Marquez both fell on Lap 1, while further incidents took out Raul Fernandez and Joan Mir shortly after.

By Lap 5, Marquez had passed Morbidelli and began reeling in Bezzecchi with consecutive fastest laps. Acosta also moved into P3, closing in. After two failed attempts, Marquez finally passed Bezzecchi at Turn 1 on Lap 11 and began pulling away.

A key moment came on Lap 16 when Bezzecchi ran wide at Turn 15, allowing Acosta to slip through for second. Marquez, now clear, delivered a 1:37.843 to shut the door on any late charge.

Behind the podium trio, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing) stormed to P4 from P16 on the grid – his best Aprilia finish to date – passing Morbidelli late on.

Marquez’s win at Balaton Park marked his 22nd career victory at a different circuit and moved him 175 points clear in the standings, edging closer to a seventh MotoGP crown.

Acosta grabbed his second podium in three races, while Bezzecchi maintained his excellent run with a fourth podium in five Grands Prix.

“I was patient those first laps, but then when I saw that the soft rear tyre started to drop, with the medium [rear tyre] I started to attack, and then I had a super nice rhythm. I was flowing on the track,” insisted Marc Marquez.

MotoGP Race Results

  1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
  2. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+4.314s)
  3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+7.488s)
  4. Jorge Martin Aprilia Racing (+11.069s)
  5. Luca Marini Honda HRC Castrol (+11.904s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

  1. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 455
  2. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 280
  3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 228
  4. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing – 197
  5. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM – 164

Moto2

David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #80) became the first Colombian to win a Moto2 race, storming to a sensational victory at the Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary. The rookie’s late-race charge saw him beat title rivals Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) and Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #18) in a dramatic final-lap shootout. Moreira’s P2 also marked the first-ever South American 1-2 finish in Moto2.

Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) led early after a bold move at Turn 2, as chaos behind saw Celestino Vietti (#13), Darryn Binder (#15), Yuki Kunii (#92) and Unai Orradre (#19) crash out. Moreira took the lead on Lap 4, with Gonzalez and Dixon close behind, while Alonso climbed from eighth, setting fastest laps as he hunted the leaders.

Gonzalez passed Dixon on Lap 6 to chase Moreira and, after shadowing the Brazilian, struck on Lap 15 at Turn 5. But Alonso, the reigning Moto3 Champion, was now the fastest rider on track, charging past Dixon and Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo #95) into the podium fight.

With three laps to go, Alonso was just 0.3s faster per lap than the leaders. He passed Moreira for P2 on the penultimate lap and lined up Gonzalez on the final tour. At Turn 9, he made the decisive move. Gonzalez, trying to respond, lost drive and was also passed by Moreira.

Despite running wide at Turn 15, Alonso defended into the final corner to seal his first Moto2 win. Moreira held onto second after a clash with Gonzalez at the flag. Dixon finished a close fourth, under a second off victory.

Alonso becomes the first rookie winner since Pedro Acosta, as the title fight heads to Barcelona.

Moto2 Race Results

  1. David Alonso CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team
  2. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team (+0.174s)
  3. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+0.305s)
  4. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing (+0.876s)
  5. Collin Veijer Red Bull KTM Ajo (+1.344s)

Moto2 Championship Points

  1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 204
  2. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 179
  3. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team – 173
  4. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 147
  5. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 132

Moto3

Moto3 delivered a classic at the Michelin Grand Prix of Hungary as Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team #28) edged out Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73) by just 0.018s in a breathtaking last-lap battle. David Munoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #64) claimed third after fending off Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) and Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99).

Polesitter Quiles led early but was passed by Perrone on Lap 3 after a small mistake. The Spaniard quickly struck back at Turn 9, and their duel allowed Munoz to close in. The #64 took second on Lap 4 and briefly led the chase.

Further back, Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power #19) crashed on Lap 6 at Turn 15, forcing Ryusei Yamanaka (#6) and Marcos Uriarte (LEVELUP-MTA #89) off track. At halfway, Quiles led again, ahead of Piqueras, Perrone and Munoz, with Guido Pini (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #93) in fifth. However, a mistake from Quiles at the end of Lap 10 dropped him to P4, and Perrone moved to the front.

With five laps to go, Munoz was second and Quiles had climbed to third. Rueda bridged the gap to join the lead group in P5, while Pini crashed out of sixth at Turn 11. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72) also fell from P8 at Turn 1.

The final lap was a thriller. Quiles passed Perrone at Turn 5, but the Argentine came back strong in the final sector. They banged elbows in the final corner, but Quiles narrowly won. Perrone secured a career-best P2, and Munoz extended his podium streak to five. Piqueras took P4, closing slightly on title leader Rueda, who finished fifth.

Moto3 Race Results

  1. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team
  2. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+0.018s)
  3. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+0.858s)
  4. Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+0.952s)
  5. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo (+1.362s)

Moto3 Championship Points

  1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 250
  2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 181
  3. Maximo Quiles CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 164
  4. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 155
  5. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 146

MotoE

Pole position and a double victory signalled a perfect weekend at Balaton Park for Mattia Casadei (LCR E-Team #40), and it means he now leads the championship ahead of a date with Barcelona. Lorenzo Baldassarri (Dynavolt Intact GP #7), Eric Granado (LCR E-Team #51), Nicholas Spinelli (Rivacold Snipers Team MotoE #29) and Matteo Ferrari (Felo Gresini MotoE #11) were able to stand on the podium.

MotoE Race 1 Results

  1. Mattia Casadei LCR E-Team
  2. Lorenzo Baldassarri Dynavolt Intact GP (+0.106s)
  3. Eric Granado LCR E-Team (+0.790s)
  4. Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE (+1.543s)
  5. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team (+2.289s)

MotoE Race 2 Results

  1. Mattia Casadei LCR E-Team
  2. Nicholas Spinelli Rivacold Snipers Team MotoE (+0.554s)
  3. Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE (+1.443s)
  4. Lorenzo Baldassarri Dynavolt Intact GP (+1.932s)
  5. Hector Garzo Dynavolt Intact GP (+2.151s)

MotoE Championship Points

  1. Mattia Casadei LCR E-Team – 116
  2. Lorenzo Baldassarri Dynavolt Intact GP – 102
  3. Andrea Mantovani KLINT Forward Factory Team – 101
  4. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team – 101
  5. Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE – 94

How Did the Aussies Do?

After securing 12th in the Sprint on a track where overtaking was difficult, Jack Miller (#43) made a brilliant start but frustratingly crashed out of the race.

While it wasn’t the weekend Joel Kelso (#66) had hoped for in Hungary, the Australian rider showed plenty of fight to claw his way back from P14 on the grid to a respectable eighth.

Jacob Roulstone (#12) continued his solid progress in Moto3 with a P10 finish in Sunday’s race in Hungary, following a positive P7 in qualifying. Although this was an admirable outcome, the Aussie knows he could have done better if he’d managed his tyres better.

 

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