Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Fabio Quartararo’s (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) 1:31.156 gave the Frenchman and Yamaha Day 1 honours at the Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands in what was a rather dramatic Friday. Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73), despite a crash in Practice, headed into Saturday as the second fastest rider, with Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37) kicking off his weekend with a positive P3.

Read our previous MotoGP race reports here…

However, positive wasn’t a word to describe Marc Marquez’s (Ducati Lenovo Team #93) day at the Cathedral of Speed. A big crash in FP1 was followed by another rapid off at Turn 7 as drama unfolded for the MotoGP World Championship leader – rider ok but down in sixth by the end of play.

Is there anyone in the world faster in time attack mode than Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP)? Probably not. In a fiercely competitive MotoGP Q2 at the Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands, the Frenchman stormed to another 2025 pole position with a sensational 1:30.651. The gap to second place Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) was just 0.028s, with Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) completing the front row, as Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) started from off the front row for just the second time this season.

 Moto2

After drama and delay in the morning, it was a smooth afternoon for the Moto2 field at the TT Circuit Assen as an all-important Practice session gave us the top 14 for Q2 and the big names who need to go via Q1. Late yellow flags and big names suffering problems may have headlined, but it was Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #12) who bagged top spot by the close of action on Friday, setting a new lap record.

Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) then took a third pole position in a row thanks to a stunning new lap record at the Motul GP of the Netherlands, so the question begged: can he convert it into a first Moto2 win? So far he’d just come up short. Trying to stop him on the front row would be Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI #4), the rookie impressing late on to get within 0.072s of pole, with Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) completing the front row.

Read about Barry Sheen winning at Assen 50 years ago to the day, here… 

Moto3

A 1:40.053 in the latter stages of a dry Moto3 Practice saw Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse #58) top the Friday afternoon rush at Assen, and his margin to second place was a healthy one. David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #64) was the rider closest to Lunetta, 0.209s the gap, as Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA #66) made up the top three.

Red Bull KTM Ajo banked a 1-2 on the grid at Assen, with Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) ahead of teammate Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83).

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Tissot Sprint victory number nine of the season is in the books for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) after the #93 got to the front early doors on Saturday at the Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands.

It was a brilliant start from pole for Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), as Marc Marquez got away just as he’d have hoped. The Yamaha and factory Ducati went into Turn 1 side by side, it was tight, and because he was on the outside, Marquez was slightly wide and had to come back onto the track over the kerb. That then meant it was tight between Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), but the former stayed in P2.

And then, by the end of Lap 1 at the GT Chicane, the title race leader was the Sprint leader after carving up the inside of Quartararo. Alex Marquez quickly followed his brother through, and then Bezzecchi was also past the polesitter.

At the start of Lap 5, the Sprint had settled down a tad, but Alex Marquez was looking eager to pass the #93. Bezzecchi was 0.3s away in P3, Quartararo was a further 0.5s away from the RS-GP and had Pecco and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) for close company.

Half a lap later, Di Giannantonio was through on Pecco at the GT Chicane. The top six were split by 1.5s on Lap 7 of 13, but it was still Marc Marquez leading the chase.

Then, Quartararo was down. Turn 10 was the place as the YZR-M1’s front end washed away from underneath the Frenchman after he’d just fired in his fastest lap of the Sprint. That gave Bezzecchi some breathing space in P3 – the Italian was 0.8s clear of Di Giannantonio with three laps to go.

Last lap time. 0.2s split the top two, with Bezzecchi 0.7s further down. Could Alex find a way through on Marc? There was no way through in the first three sectors, so it was all coming down to the GT Chicane. And boasting enough of a gap, there was no getting by the six-time MotoGP World Champion. A ninth Sprint win of the season came the way of the #93 in what has been the most difficult weekend of his year so far.

Di Giannantonio finished just over a second away from Bezzecchi in P4, with Bagnaia having to settle for a low-key P5 on Saturday.

“Today, I was calm and tried to control the situation. It’s true that I didn’t expect the victory in the Sprint, but I started first, and then I defended. I just tried to not make any big mistakes,” Marc Marquez explained.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo (20m 2.150s)
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+0.351s)
3. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+1.247s)
4. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+2.269s)
5. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+2.686s)

Sunday
MotoGP

In an eventful Motul Grand Prix of the Netherlands that saw title-chasing Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crash out, Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) fended off the fight from Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) to claim his 68th MotoGP victory by 0.6s. The #93 and #72 treated us to a fascinating Grand Prix at the front, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was a couple of seconds away from the win in P3.

Bagnaia got a brilliant start from the middle of the front row and grabbed the holeshot into Turn 1, as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) lost out. The polesitter was down to P4, Alex Marquez was P2 and Marc Marquez was P3 – before he wasn’t. The #93 carved his way past his chief title rival at Turn 1 on Lap 2 to sit behind teammate Pecco. Bezzecchi then took P3 from Alex Marquez at the end of Lap 2.

Quartararo’s early Grand Prix pace was suffering. The Frenchman was down to P7 behind Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21), as Acosta became the latest rider to wrestle his way through on Alex Marquez. That meant on Lap 5 of 26, Bagnaia led from Marc Marquez and Bezzecchi, with Acosta, Alex Marquez and Morbidelli right in the hunt.

The leader of the pack wasn’t Pecco at the end of Lap 5, though, as Marc Marquez lunged up the inside of his teammate. Then, on Lap 6, drama. Alex Marquez and Acosta were rubbing shoulders and fairings on the exit of Turn 5, and heading up the back straight, Marquez was suddenly down. A puff of smoke from the Gresini star’s tyre suggested something had happened with the brake lever, but in any case, Alex Marquez’s Grand Prix was over – and it was later confirmed he’d unfortunately fractured his left hand.

Further back in the pack, the other BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP rider, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54), highsided out of contention at Turn 11, and that left Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) and Quartararo with nowhere to go. The latter was wide and down to P13, as Mir also crashed.

At the front, Marquez remained at the front, but on Lap 8, Bezzecchi made a move on Pecco to pounce up to P2. Now, Pecco had Acosta climbing all over the back of him, and sure enough, the KTM star moved into P3. And it was really closing up at the front because Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #12) and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) reeled themselves into the podium picture.

On Lap 13, Marc Marquez was putting the hammer down. A 1:32.273 was over two tenths quicker than Bezzecchi, but on the next lap, the Italian responded with the fastest lap of the Grand Prix. And on that same lap, Pecco passed Acosta to regain P3.

And now he was back in P3, with Pecco setting the fastest lap. Two tenths quicker than Marquez, less than half a tenth quicker than Bezzecchi. After threatening to break clear, Marquez didn’t look like he was going to be able to do so at this stage. The chasers were locked in, and that included Acosta. And again, Pecco slammed in another Grand Prix best lap, but he lost 0.3s on the next lap.

So where were we on Lap 20? Marquez led Bezzecchi by 0.2s, with Pecco 0.5s behind the Aprilia and Acosta 0.7s off the Ducati. It was as you were two laps later, as Bezzecchi continued to tag himself onto the rear tyre of Marquez.

Three to go. Bezzecchi remained 0.2s away and he just couldn’t quite get close enough to realistically make a lunge on the #93. Two to go. Bezzecchi was digging deep, but Marquez wasn’t putting a wheel out of line, and Pecco was now 0.9s away from his compatriot. And the penultimate lap was where the gap stretched out to 0.7s – was that game over?

It looked that way. Bezzecchi couldn’t close in, and Marquez had 0.7s to play with heading into the final sector. And powering his Ducati through the final chicane, Marquez clinched victory at Assen to draw level with MotoGP Legend Giacomo Agostini on 68 MotoGP wins. An unbelievable record as he continues to set the world alight in 2025.

Bezzecchi handed Aprilia a double podium weekend at Assen as the #72 pushed Marquez all the way at the Cathedral, with Bagnaia returning to the podium in P3 after a disappointing result on home turf seven days ago.

Acosta didn’t quite have enough to cling onto the podium fight, but it was a great Grand Prix for the Spaniard and KTM in P4. Viñales handed the Austrian factory a double top five, with Di Giannantonio taking home P6 and Morbidelli finishing P7 after being handed a Long Lap penalty for shortcutting the final chicane while battling his teammate.

“We had an amazing weekend, unexpected because normally Assen is not one of my best tracks,” Marc Marquez said.

MotoGP Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
2. Marco Bezzecchi Aprilia Racing (+0.635s)
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+2.666s)
4. Pedro Acosta Red Bull KTM (+6.084s)
5. Maverick Viñales Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+10.124s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

 MotoGP Championship Points

1. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 307
2. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 239
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 181
4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 139
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina Enduro VR46 Team LCR – 136

 Moto2

After the two threw down at Mugello over the podium, the stakes were even higher in Assen as Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) beat Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego #44) in a thriller. The Brazilian made history by taking his first Moto2 win, and first for Brazil, by just 0.056s in a fascinating fight to the flag, as championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) battled his way back to a P3 finish following a sluggish opening few laps.

Having bagged the first front row of his rookie campaign, Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR – FRINSA – MSI) collected the holeshot. But polesitter Moreira pounced back to lead through turns three and four. Having fought off a fast-starting Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo #53) on Lap 1, Canet forced his way to the front on Lap 2 to lead the Dutch GP. Meanwhile, Gonzalez was P9.

Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego #7) completed his two Long Lap penalties by Lap 5, which dropped the Belgian to P14, as Ortola began to get a little beaten up by the chasing pack. Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #75), Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team #16) and Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) were through to demote Ortola to P7.

Lap 7 saw Baltus’ Grand Prix end at Turn 1, while at the front, Canet and Moreira were 1.2s clear of Öncü, who, in turn, was 1.3s clear of Roberts as the American led a gaggle of riders that included Gonzalez, who was now past Dixon and starting to make up ground after a sticky start to his race. And on Lap 12 of 22, Gonzalez was into P3 after a tidy pass on Öncü at Turn 5. The gap to title rivals Canet and Moreira? Three seconds.

In the battle for the top four, Öncü’s race ended at the final chicane on Lap 14 to promote Dixon to P5, as Moreira continued to shadow Canet in the fight for the win. With three to go, Moreira remained right up the tailpipes of Canet’s Triumph-Kalex – where and when was a move coming? The change for the lead came on the penultimate lap at Turn 3. Canet was wide, Moreira went through, so was that the race-winning move?

Last lap time! Moreira led into it, but the duo were locked together. It was as you were coming into the final, jaw-dropping sector at Assen, and Canet wasn’t close enough. Moreira earned a debut Moto2 win to hand Brazil their first Moto2 win too – a massive moment for the #10.

Gonzalez did hold onto an important P3 ahead of Dixon, who collected a very solid and confidence-injecting P4 from P11 on the grid. Roberts fended off teammate Marcos Ramirez by 0.061s at the line as the American and Spaniard crossed the line in P5 and P6.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team
2. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO (+0.056s)
3. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+1.783s)
4. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing (+2.364s)
5. Joe Roberts OnlyFans American Racing Team (+3.212s)

 Moto2 Championship Points

1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 159
2. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 154
3. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team – 128
4. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 98
5. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 94

 Moto3

Keeping a cool head when it mattered most, Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) came out on top in a crazy Moto3 Grand Prix ahead of David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) and Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Ajo #73). Not only did the #99 extend his championship lead, but another key talking point was that the Argentine flag returned to the rostrum for the first time in four years thanks to Perrone’s third.

Grabbing the first holeshot on Sunday, Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) led teammate and Championship leader Rueda, but there was drama behind for Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #94), who stalled it on the grid from P7. Thankfully, everyone avoided him, but the #94’s Dutch GP was done. Rueda had taken over in P1 from his teammate, and then, on Lap 2, David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) attempted a pass on the #99 at Turn 8 but collided with him. Carpe, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, lost momentum and dropped down to P15. Lap 4 and more contact, this time between Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) at the final chicane, both losing places but staying in the victory chase.

Leading until Lap 9, Rueda relinquished it at Turn 12 to a hard-charging Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team #28), as the #28 forced his way through and thus upset the polesitter’s rhythm. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #6) and Almansa – albeit briefly for the #22 – put him back to P4.

Fernandez was now pouncing too, for he got ahead of his teammate, and then Rueda, to propel himself into the provisional podium places. A mistake at the end of Lap 11 dropped the #99 further back, and he was now down in seventh place, just ahead of Perrone.

Lap 15, and the gloves came off as Almansa briefly took P1, barging ahead of Maximo Quiles, who repaid the favour at Turn 9. Heading into Lap 16 at Turn 1, Carpe’s sensational comeback was nearing completion. P3 at Turn 1, he was in the lead at Turn 10, and after swapping paint with the #22 of Almansa, maintained the advantage. Likewise fighting back through, Furusato was eighth and Rueda in the provisional podium spots.

With three laps to go and having hustled his way back through the group, Quiles crashed at Turn 10. And for Almansa, he was shoved wide at Turn 15 by Perrone, sending him back to 13th place with two to go. Amidst the drama, Rueda and Carpe were back at the front, and at the right time, heading into the final lap, with Muñoz keeping his powder dry.

At the end of the penultimate lap, there was a big crash for Furusato, Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse). The group fragmented, it was down to three at the front: Rueda vs Perrone vs Muñoz.

Into the final sector on the last lap, Muñoz snatched P2 at Turn 15, but due to the previous multi-rider crash, a red flag was thrown before the field returned through where the incident was being cleared. Results went back to the start of Lap 19, with Rueda declared the winner ahead of Muñoz and Perrone, which was the first podium of the #73’s career and indeed for Argentina since Mugello in 2021 with Gabriel Rodrigo.

Carpe came back to fourth ahead of Piqueras, who salvaged fifth from 16th on the grid.

Moto3 Race Results

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo
2. David Munoz Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+0.144s)
3. Valentin Perrone Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+0.245s)
4. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo (+1.087s)
5. Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+1.296s)

 Moto3 Championship Points

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 187
2. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 118
3. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 117
4. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA – 100
5. Maximo Qulies CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team – 86

MotoE

MotoE graced the hallowed racing ground of the TT Circuit Assen for two spectacular races on Saturday. It was the second round of action for the electric class in 2025, with plenty of drama unfolding over both events, which saw Andrea Mantovani (KLINT Forward Factory Team #9) and Alessandro Zaccone (Aruba Cloud MotoE Team #61) take top step honours at the Cathedral of Speed.

MotoE Race 1 Results

1. Andrea Mantovani KLINT Forward Factory Team
2. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team (+0.413s)
3. Jordi Torres Power Electronics Aspar Team (+0.858s)
4. Nicholas Spinelli Rivacold Snipers Team MotoE (+1.052s)
5. Matteo Ferrari Felo Gresini MotoE (+3.289s)

MotoE Race 2 Results

1. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team
2. Andrea Mantovani KLINT Forward Factory Team (+0.365s)
3. Lorenzo Baldassarri Dynavolt Intact GP (+3.244s)
4. Jordi Torres Power Electronics Aspar Team (+3.463s)
5. Hector Garzo Dynavolt Intact GP (+3.721s)

MotoE Championship Points

1. Andrea Mantovani KLINT Forward Factory Team – 74
2. Alessandro Zaccone Aruba Cloud MotoE Team – 61
3. Jordi Torres Power Electronics Aspar Team – 54
4. Lorenzo Baldassarri Dynavolt Intact GP – 47
5. Mattia Casadei LCR E-Team – 46

How Did the Aussies Do?

 Having claimed 14th in the Sprint, Jack Miller (#43) also secured 14th in the main race. Displaying promising pace throughout, positives could be found from how he briefly moved up to 10th on lap seven and stayed in 11th for nine laps, even though some tough battles in the closing laps saw him eventually drop back to 14th.

Despite making a tidy start, the 20-year-old Australian Senna Agius was hampered by unexpected grip issues that disrupted his early momentum. To his credit, he regrouped quickly, settled into a solid rhythm and fought his way to a well-earned ninth.

 While ninth at Assen may have been a disappointing result for Joel Kelso, with his speed below his usual level and his race disrupted as he was forced to avoid a crash, he still deserves credit for salvaging valuable points to maintain fourth in the Moto3 standings.

Jacob Roulstone (#12) continued his steady return to form with a solid 12th at Assen. While he knows he has what it takes to battle further up the field, he’ll look to carry this momentum into Germany as he keeps building confidence and consistency.

The post MotoGP 2025 Round 10 Report | Marquez Matches Agostini appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

A fast Turn 5 Practice crash for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) didn’t stop the #73 from ending Friday as the rider to beat in MotoGP at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain – and with an all-time lap record too.

Marquez’s stunning 1:35.991 was enough to beat Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21) as World Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) settled for P4 to set things up nicely for the rest of the weekend.

Read our MotoGP round 4 report here…

They say class is permanent, and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) would most certainly agree with that after taking a stunning pole position in Jerez, putting in a new lap record on his final dash around the packed-out venue. It was a first pole for Yamaha and the Frenchman since 2022, and he denied Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the #93’s home turf as he was forced to settle for second. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), winner here for the last three years, lurked in P3 too after running the gauntlet with only one bike following an FP2 crash.

Moto2

Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) got his home Grand Prix off to the perfect start after a 1:40.142 saw the Spaniard beat second place Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego #7) by a healthy 0.338s margin. Third place on Friday went the way of Deniz Öncu (Red Bull KTM Ajo #53), the Turk was four tenths adrift of top spot.

Home is where the heart is, and whilst some crack under the pressure, others rise to the occasion, and that was exactly the case for Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Team) and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2 #75), who headed a Spanish 1-2 in Moto2 at Jerez. Both put in superb late laps to bag the first two grid slots and with both split by just 0.032s, it was a mouthwatering prospect in the offing for Sunday’s Grand Prix. In third, it was a first front row for Australian Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #81).

Moto3

There was no doubting Moto3’s Friday action at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain belonged to Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) after the former title chase leader ended the day over a second clear of second place Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83). Third place went the way of Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72), who was +1.057s  away from Rueda’s magnificent 1:43.770.

Home hero Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) had been mighty all weekend at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain, and he bagged a first pole of 2025 as he aimed to retake the Championship lead he relinquished in Qatar through no fault of his own with that late technical issue.

Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA #66) took a third front row of the season in second, with David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #64) forced to settle for third. Championship leader Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36) only just missed out, with him bagging fourth on home turf.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

Five Saturday victories in a row was something that only reigning World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #1) had been able to achieve before – until now. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), after polesitter Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) crashed out on Lap 2, delighted a magnificent Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain crowd by clinching a gold medal in Jerez as the World Championship leader beat Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) by just over a second in Jerez. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) took the chequered flag in P3 to pocket a decent haul of Tissot Sprint points.

From a historic pole, Quartararo was beaten off the line by Marc Marquez, but late on the brakes into Turn 1, the Yamaha star grabbed P1 back expertly to lead the pack around the opening lap. Alex Marquez was up to P3 from P4 on the grid, with Bagnaia holding off Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).

Then, drama unfolded on Lap 2. Marc Marquez managed to get alongside Quartararo going into the Dani Pedrosa corner at Turn 6. The latter, hanging it around the outside on the dirtier part of the circuit and braking ultra hard, saw his Sprint cruelly end as the front end washed out from underneath him. A real shame after a stunning Saturday in Jerez for Quartararo.

So, where did that leave us? Marc Marquez led Alex Marquez by half a second, with Bagnaia 0.8s behind the Gresini Ducati in third. Morbidelli was 0.4s away from Bagnaia in P4, rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54) was fifth after an early scare on Lap 1 and Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) a close sixth.

With eight laps to go, Marquez’s lead over Marquez was up to a second, but that closed to 0.9s a lap later. However, the #93’s lead rose to 1.4s with five laps remaining, and with three laps left, it was still hovering around that number. Bagnaia wasn’t attacking Alex Marquez, and Morbidelli was now a second off his compatriot, so it looked like no late challenges for the podium positions were coming unless a mistake was going to be made.

And those potential mistakes didn’t arise. To the tune of 100,000 Spanish supporters filling the famous Jerez hillsides, Marc Marquez held off Alex Marquez to clinch his fifth consecutive Tissot Sprint victory as the #73 collected another Saturday silver medal. Bagnaia secured important points in P3, but the Italian would be searching for more in Sunday’s Grand Prix. Morbidelli was P4, with Aldeguer impressing again to collect a Sprint P5 in front of his home crowd.

“Today was not easy, especially with this warmth that changed a lot the feeling [on the bike],” Marquez explained. “But I already expected this, and while I struggled a bit in the end, I was controlling. I always say on Saturday that I hate the sprint race because I want to control my emotions, but tomorrow is the most important day. In front of this crowd, you have this extra power.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+1.001s)
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+3.077s)
4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.530s)
5. Fermin Aldeguer BK8 Gresini Ducati (+5.791s)

Sunday
MotoGP

Quartararo launched superbly from pole, and so did Bagnaia from third. Marc Marquez didn’t get away as well as he would have wanted, and immediately the #93 was P3. Bagnaia tried to show a wheel to Quartararo at Turn 2 but thought better of it as Turn 6 saw Alex Marquez almost collect his older brother. The Spaniard was in way too hot but managed to hook it back up and hold into P4, as Marc Marquez and Bagnaia went into battle at Jerez’s famous stadium section.

Marquez dived underneath his teammate at Turn 9 to the roar of 100,000 fans. But Bagnaia, hanging it around the outside and getting a better run out of Turn 10, got back alongside the six-time MotoGP World Champion. Then, contact between the Ducati duo! Both were fighting for the same piece of asphalt, and it was the #63 who came out on top.

An opening lap for the ages was then followed by monumental drama. The home hero, Marc Marquez, while shadowing Bagnaia, crashed at Turn 8 on Lap 3 while sitting in P3. Seemingly asking too much of that front end, the Spaniard was down and out of victory contention – but not the Grand Prix.

Where did that leave things then? Quartararo led from Bagnaia, but Alex Marquez shoved his way past the Italian to climb into P2 and set his sights on trying to latch onto and pass El Diablo. Further back, there was more drama as lead rookie Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) crashed at Turn 6 from fourth place.

On Lap 10 of 25, Quartararo was keeping Alex Marquez at bay and Bagnaia was lapping 0.6s behind the Gresini star. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #12) was 1.3s behind the factory Ducati rider in P4 before Lap 11 saw a change of the Grand Prix lead.

Turn 1 saw Alex Marquez strike. An aggressive but great move up the inside of Quartararo saw the Sprint silver medallist snatch the race lead baton, and within a lap, his lead was up to 0.8s. Now, what could Bagnaia do about passing Quartararo?

After a few laps, the answer was nothing. And Viñales was beginning to reel in Quartararo and Bagnaia, while Alex Marquez’s lead grew to 1.7s on Lap 16 of 25. On Marc Marquez watch, he was now back in the points after crashes for Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol #36) and Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) promoted Marquez into P15.

With five laps left, Marquez’s lead was 2.4s over Quartararo, and the latter was keeping Bagnaia 0.6s behind. Viñales was now 0.4s away from a podium spot, as we saw Marc Marquez and Aleix Espargaro (Honda HRC Test Team #41) enjoy a little battle for P13 on Lap 21. Three to go. Was there life left in the fight for P2? Bagnaia was trying, but Quartararo was hitting all his markers in his efforts to keep the #63 behind him, as Alex Marquez edged closer to a maiden MotoGP win. Two to go. It was as you were, with Viñales seemingly now settling for a P4 – the #12 was 0.9s away from Bagnaia’s tailpipes.

Last lap time in Jerez! Only a mistake now would cost Alex Marquez a famous win, and Quartararo was still far enough ahead of Bagnaia that it wasn’t allowing the latter to show a wheel. And after being Mr P2 for much of 2025 so far, Alex Marquez clinched a well-deserved maiden MotoGP Grand Prix win to crown himself Mr P1 in front of his adoring home fans.

Quartararo did fend off Bagnaia for an outstanding P2 finish and his first Grand Prix podium since the 2023 Indonesian GP. What a weekend for Yamaha, and although it wasn’t a fourth Jerez victory in a row, Bagnaia’s second P3 of the weekend brought solid points to the Italian’s camp.

After the disappointment of a post-race penalty in Qatar, Viñales backed up his quality display by earning P4 in Spain, with Top Gun finishing three seconds up the road from fifth place Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).

“It’s the best birthday present, amazing,” Alex Marquez said. “The first one here in Jerez is something amazing. I cannot ask for more, it was a race where I was really clever, the move where I did it. I controlled the race perfectly.”

MotoGP Race Results

1. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati
2. Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (+1.561s)
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+2.217s)
4. Maverick Viñales Red Bull KTM Tech3 (+3.678s)
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+7.267s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

1. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 140
2. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 139
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 120
4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 84
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 77

Moto2

The perfect weekend on home turf always goes down a treat, and that’s exactly what Moto2 Spanish GP winner, Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), enjoyed in Jerez. The Spaniard was in a class of his own on Sunday afternoon; now, he’s the Championship leader again too. Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) was Gonzalez’s nearest challenger as the Belgian produced a fine ride to bag P2 and his first podium of the year, while Senna Agius made it two Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP riders on the famous Jerez podium with a hard-fought P3 finish.

From pole, Gonzalez grabbed the holeshot from teammate Agius as Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) lost ground from the front row. Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) made a fast and aggressive start that saw the Brazilian climb to an early P2, as the top four – Gonzalez, Moreira, Agius and Baltus – built an early 0.8s lead over Arenas and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

Further down the order, Championship leader Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego #44) was in P8 behind seventh place Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team #13), as we saw both CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team riders crash out. First, Daniel Holgado (#27) following contact with teammate David Alonso (#80) at Turn 13, and then the latter crashed on Lap 5. The reigning Moto3 World Champion collected the luckless Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) along the way as both saw their races prematurely end at the Jorge Lorenzo corner.

The following laps saw the race settle down as Gonzalez stretched his lead to 2.6s by the end of Lap 11. Baltus was keeping Moreira and Agius behind him for the time being, with the latter making a move into the podium places with three to go. The Australian was past Moreira on the run down the hill into Turn 6, and then he faced a 1.2s gap up to Baltus in second place.

However, no one could lay a glove on Gonzalez. A pole position and lights-to-flag victory from the Spaniard saw him retake the Championship lead in front of his home fans, a simply wonderful weekend from the #18. Baltus bagged his first podium of the season with a classy P2, while Agius did eventually fend off Moreira to stand on the rostrum for the second time in 2025. Moreira was forced to settle for P4, as Öncü picked up a P5 after his Qatar GP podium finish.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP
2. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO (+2.256s)
3. Senna Agius Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact GP (+3.781s)
4. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team (+4.781s)
5. Deniz Oncu Red Bull KTM Ajo (+6.390s)

Moto2 Championship Points

1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 88
2. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 79
3. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 66
4. Barry Baltus Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 53
5. Marcos Ramirez OnlyFans American Racing Team – 39

Moto3

The cliché goes that every Spanish rider wants to win the Spanish Grand Prix at Jerez, but for some, it means even more. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) is one of those; born an hour away in Sevilla, he’s gone from watching it on TV with friends and family to winning it with them in attendance. A childhood dream was achieved with domination as Rueda gave the home crowd a victory in Moto3 to start off Sunday in style for the home fans.

Polesitter Rueda hit the front and snatched the holeshot on the opening lap, holding position in front of his home crowd. At Turn 6 on Lap 1, there was drama as Ruche Moodley (DENSII Racing – BOE #21) took out David Almansa (Leopard Racing) and David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP); the #64 of Muñoz was able to remount, but an already difficult GP due to his back-of-the-grid penalty was made a whole lot harder. Lap 2 was likewise eventful, as Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team #54), Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA #32) and Cormac Buchanan (DENSII Racing – BOE #14) all fell in separate incidents, with New Zealander Buchanan rejoining.

With Rueda demonstrating his pace and supremacy that we already knew from Friday and Saturday, the field stretched out, but Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) and Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) were digging deep and keeping him honest. With three seconds back to Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #6) and Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) behind, all three were alone for the podium places.

Just past half-race distance, Rueda set the fastest lap, asking more from his rivals to see if they could keep up with his pace. On Lap 13, and sensing his compatriot breaking clear, Piqueras picked off Kelso at Turn 1. But the gap was bordering on a second. In his attempt to keep up with Rueda, the #36 went wide, allowing Kelso back through, with the gap now at 1.5s.

That exchange was enough for the #99 to put his trademark on the Grand Prix, easing clear where he remained until the chequered flag, taking a magical home victory that never looked in doubt across the weekend.

P2 was to be sorted out on the final lap, however, with Kelso vs Piqueras at Turn 5 and Turn 6; it was close, but eventually, it went the way of the Valencian to make it a Spanish 1-2, leading to a memorable celebration at Turns 9 and 10 on their slow-down lap. Kelso’s podium is his second of the season, whereas Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) made it three Spaniards in the top four, pipping Yamanaka, who was P5.

Moto3 Race Results

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo
2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+4.334s)
3. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA (+4.486s)
4. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+6.308s)
5. Ryusei Yamanaka FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+6.409s)

Moto3 Championship Points

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 91
2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 87
3. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA – 57
4. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing – 53
5. Taiyo Furusato Honda Team Asia – 48

The post MotoGP Round 5 | Alex Marquez clinches first MotoGP victory appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

Friday at Qatar belonged to a very fast Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21) after a late lap saw the Italian oust compatriot Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) under the night lights at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar. Marc Marquez (#93) ensured two Ducati Lenovo Team machines were in the top three, as World Champion Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing #1) made his much-anticipated return to MotoGP action – and thankfully, it was a trouble-free day for the #1.

Read our MotoGP news here...

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) continued his run of qualifying supremacy with a new lap record pole position at Lusail, putting in a 1:50.499 on his final push to deny Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) by just a tenth.

In third was a stunning performance from Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) as Yamaha got back on the front row for the first time since 2022, meanwhile fortunes reversed for Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #63 found himself down in P11 after sliding out on his second run.

The second row featured Friday’s fastest Morbidelli, who was just ahead of Marc on track to improve late on, pipping teammate Di Giannantonio. Then came another serious standout performer, as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #12) made it three manufacturers on the front two rows of the grid in sixth.

Moto2

Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #18) snatched top spot with a late lap in Moto2 Practice, seeing the Spaniard back at the summit after an Americas GP to forget. Gonzalez rocketed to P1 to finish ahead of Aron Canet (Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO #44) who was also able to move up to take P2. Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team #27) was P1 going into the final five minutes before being relegated to P3. He still managed to come away with one of his best results of his rookie season. Completing the top four was Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo #53), who improved to be just less than a tenth away from top spot.

Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) earned pole for the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, taking to the top by a tenth and a half to deny key rival Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) as the Brit was forced to settle for second. The two have been duelling it out so far in 2025, and it looked like Doha would be no different. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) completed a front row of familiar names, as he hoped to kickstart his 2025 title charge.

Moto3

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) shone under the lights of Lusail on Friday to lay an early Moto3 gauntlet down. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #6) was the championship leader’s closest challenger in P2, the gap between the Spaniard and Japanese riders sitting at 0.244s, as Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) completed the top three.

Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) took a first pole position at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar, pipping Joel Kelso (LEVELUP- MTA #66) by just 0.041. Championship leader Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) made up the front row as the grid set up for a stunner.

Behind that top three, Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team #54) sat fourth and just ahead of Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36), with rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83) completing the second row.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

The scintillating 2025 Saturday streak kept up for Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the #93 secured a pole position and Tissot Sprint double at the Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar to wrestle back the championship lead from second-place finisher Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). The bronze medal went the way of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), as fellow Italian Francesco Bagnaia’s (Ducati Lenovo Team) evening ended with a disappointing P8.

The top three on the grid all launched off the line very well, but it was polesitter Marc Marquez who grabbed the holeshot ahead of Alex Marquez and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Morbidelli and Fermin Aldeguer (#54) exchanged P4 at Turn 4, before the rookie got a little bit beaten up as Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) and Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol #5) forced their way through.

Meanwhile, at the end of the first lap, Bagnaia’s progress was P11 to P8. Not bad, but the Italian needed more. At the front, Alex got the better of Marc at Turn 1 on Lap 2, but the red corner bit straight back. And what were we saying about Pecco needing more? That’s exactly the opposite of what happened on Lap 2.

First Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37), then Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79) and then 2023 and 2024 title rival, Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing), were ahead of Bagnaia. What was going on with the #63?

At the front, Marc continued to lead Alex, with the gap between the two hovering around the 0.3s mark. Morbidelli was third, 0.7s further back, with Quartararo 0.3s away from his former teammate in P4. Viñales was well in touch in P5, as a mistake from Zarco cost the Frenchman a place to Aldeguer on Lap 4 of 11.

A fastest lap of the race was then set by Marc Marquez, seeing his lead stretch to 0.5s, but Alex Marquez responded with his personal best lap on the next lap to maintain that half a second. Elsewhere, Aldeguer was flying. The Gresini rider quickly reeled in Viñales and made a move stick with five laps left, with Bagnaia still outside of the points in P11. That was then P10 as Zarco lost more ground after running wide at the final corner, with Bagnaia now facing Acosta and Ogura.

Three laps to go. Marc Marquez was now 1.2s up the road and looked set to keep his 100% Sprint record, while Morbidelli was keeping Quartararo half a second behind him. Bagnaia passed Acosta at Turn 4 to climb into P9 – in other words, a point-scoring position.

Last lap time! The victory fight seemed over, but the podium battle certainly wasn’t. Morbidelli’s margin had disappeared as Quartararo and Aldeguer swarmed. Could they do anything to pinch a podium from the Italian? Not quite. A small error at the final corner saw Quartararo hand Aldeguer a free pass into P4, but for the fourth Grand Prix in a row, Marc Marquez doubled up on a Saturday. Alex Marquez’s P2 run continued, and Morbidelli did just about hold onto a bronze medal. Aldeguer’s mid to late Sprint pace was nothing short of sensational as the rookie bagged a very impressive P4, with Quartararo backing up his front row with a hard-earned P5.

“At the moment we keep the same performance as the first part of the season. I’m riding in a very good way, and in the Sprint I was super consistent controlling the gap, and then in the last two laps, I slowed down. I feel very good with the bike, and tomorrow let’s see if we can improve very small things for the race distance, but the feeling [today] was great,” Marquez explained.

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+1.577s)
3. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.988s)
4. Fermin Aldeguer BK8 Gresini Ducati (+4.369s)
5. Fabio Quartararo Monster Yamaha (+4.593s)

Sunday
MotoGP

The double in Doha – who’d have thought it? Some might, but not Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team). However, that’s exactly how it unfolded for the #93 as a frantic MotoGP battle played out in a Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar that saw Maverick Viñales clinch a first podium in Red Bull KTM Tech3 colours – or so we thought. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) recovered to P3 at the line after a dissatisfying Saturday, as drama unfolded for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who was forced to settle for P7, which was then P6.

Why? Because after a tyre pressure penalty for Viñales post-race, most of the points scorers were promoted one position. It saw Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) elevated to P3 – and, of course, Bagnaia to P2. Those +16s demoted Viñales to P14.

Marc Marquez was the rider to earn the holeshot into Turn 1, but as the field exited the opening corner, contact was made between the #93 and Alex Marquez, with a piece of bodywork pinging off the rear end of the red machine. This allowed Morbidelli to take the lead into Turn 2 as Viñales made life harder for Alex Marquez. Top Gun was P3 through the fast Turn 3, but fair play to Marquez, as he bit back to get behind his older brother once more.

Morbidelli’s lead was up to 0.8s at the beginning of Lap 3, as Bagnaia made a decent start. The Americas GP winner was up to sixth before more contact! Alex Marquez was trying to muscle his way back past Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) into Turn 12 but he misjudged it. Both went wide, with Marquez dropping to P7 and the luckless Di Giannantonio being forced back to P21. And for the incident, Alex Marquez was handed a Long Lap penalty.

Viñales’ P2 result is a huge boost for KTM – what a ride from Top Gun in Doha… but a post-race tyre pressure penalty for the #12 saw Morbidelli promoted to the podium…

Meanwhile, Bagnaia was on the move. On the anchors heading into Turn 1 on Lap 5, Bagnaia breezed past Marc Marquez to climb into second place. That meant the championship leader was third, Viñales was fourth, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) was running in P5 with Fermin Aldeguer and BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP teammate Marquez in P6 and P7.

On Lap 6, Marquez completed his Long Lap penalty. The #73 went from P6 to P12, 4.9s away from Morbidelli. At the front, Marc Marquez forced his way back through on Bagnaia for P2 with 16 laps left. And right behind them, Viñales set the fastest lap of the race as Morbidelli’s lead continued to shrink. What were we saying about Viñales? At the end of Lap 7, the #12 passed Bagnaia for P3 and then set his sights on Marquez.

And with 13 laps to go, Viñales got the better of his second factory Ducati. This was stunning from the Tech3 star, and a lap later, he led. Same spot, same outcome. Morbidelli lost the lead for the first time, and Marquez powered past the Italian as well. Bagnaia was then desperate to pass Morbidelli as the VR46 Academy duo swapped positions five times on Lap 11 of 22, but it cost the pair crucial ground. Over the line, Bagnaia was 0.9s behind Marquez.

Zarco was the next rider to get the better of Morbidelli as the Frenchman grabbed P4, and the Italian started to immediately lose ground. With eight laps to go, Viñales was still holding Marquez at bay, with Pecco 0.8s behind the top two. Then, a mistake. Viñales was wide at Turn 6 and that opened the door for Marquez to take the race lead with seven laps to go, so what could Viñales and Pecco do?

The answer, for now, was not a lot. Marquez was the fastest of the trio, but only by a tenth over Bagnaia. However, Viñales was 0.3s slower than Marquez on Lap 17, so was this the KTM star beginning to run out of grip and steam? It wasn’t – it was Marquez finding pace. The fastest lap of the race was landed by the six-time MotoGP World Champion – it was two tenths quicker than Viñales and seven tenths faster than Pecco.

Three to go. Another fastest lap of the race for Marquez saw the #93 stretch his lead up to a second, as Bagnaia slipped 1.4s behind Viñales. And heading onto the last lap, it was as you were. Marquez led Viñales by 1.5s, Bagnaia was in a comfortable third, and sure enough, as the chequered flag waved, Marc Marquez bounced back from his Austin disappointment with an almighty bang. And with it, strengthened his championship position ahead of a date with Jerez.

Viñales’ P2 result is a huge boost for KTM – what a ride from Top Gun in Doha. Bagnaia will be disappointed to lose ground in the title chase, but after a below-par Saturday, a comeback ride to P3 was a job well done by the Italian.

Morbidelli did fight back in the end to earn P4 across the line, but as mentioned, that’s now P3 as Zarco held off the efforts of Aldeguer to earn a career-best Honda result in P4, while the latter earned his best Grand Prix result in MotoGP with a P5. Alex Marquez’s recovery ended with a P6, a top effort to get back there from the Spaniard, but that’s the run of P2s and podiums over.

“I needed to manage the front tyres, so for that reason in the first part of the race I was quiet,” Marquez reflected.“Morbidelli was going [ahead], but I predicted or I understood yesterday with the rhythms that he would not be fast in the second part of the race. Big surprise when Maverick overtook me. I thought it was Acosta because normally he is the fastest on KTM. He was super-fast, but I had that margin for the end. Victory in Qatar is amazing.”

MotoGP Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
2. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+4.535s)
3. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+6.495s)
4. Johann Zarco Castrol Honda LCR (+6.668s)
5. Fermin Aldeguer BK8 Gresini Ducati (+7.484s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 123
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 106
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 97
4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 78
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 48

Moto2

The best win of his career? Surely the answer is yes. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) completed a stunning comeback ride to claim a first victory of the season, and with it, the Moto2 World Championship lead. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) finished P2 and P3 in Qatar, as Argentina and USA winner Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) crashed out of the race.

Gonzalez got the getaway he would have wanted from pole, with Dixon also launching well from the middle of the front row – but it was a disastrous start for Aron Canet (Fantic Racing). A big wheelie as the lights went out saw the Spaniard go from third down to P14 on Lap 1, as Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) made a rapid start – the rookie was P3 on Lap 1.

Canet’s climb back through the pack was impressive. The #44 was up to P5 on Lap 7, ahead of Gonzalez, as Öncü still led the pack that were locked together in the victory battle. That was then P2 with eight laps to go, as teammate Barry Baltus (#7) set the fastest lap of the race to cling onto the back of the top seven. Then, it was the top six because title race leader Dixon crashed at Turn 13 as he tried to chase down Gonzlaez. Not the night the #96 was searching for in Lusail.

With five laps to go, Canet hit the front for the first time after a small mistake from Öncü handed the Spaniard the lead, and from there, Canet began to stretch his legs. Heading onto the final lap, Canet was 1.1s clear of Öncü who in turn was doing a great job to keep Gonzalez behind him. And that’s how it stayed. A classy Canet comeback ride saw him clinch a first win of the season and the World Championship lead heading to Jerez, as Öncü grabbed a first podium of the year to finish ahead of third place Gonzalez. Rookie Holgado finished 2.7s away from the podium in P4, a fantastic effort from the #27, as Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10) beat Baltus in the P5 battle.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO
2. Deniz Oncu Red Bull KTM Ajo (+1.103s)
3. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+1.286s)
4. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team (+4.021s)
5. Diogo Moreira Italtrans Racing Team (+5.892s)

Moto2 Championship Points

1. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 71
2. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 61
3. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 59
4. Daniel Holgado CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team – 36
5. Marcos Ramirez OnlyFans American Racing Team – 35

Moto3

Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) is the new Moto3 Championship leader after defeating Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) on the drag to the line in Doha, with the duo split by just 0.009. Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) completed the podium for his second GP rostrum from a maiden pole position, with drama hitting late on for Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) as a technical problem dropped him out of the fight for the win.

Yamanaka grabbed the holeshot and there wasn’t too much drama at the start, with the freight train forming from the off. But the penalty notifications came in quickly for those with Long Laps to serve – one for Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) and two for rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) – dropping them down the order, and a crash for Dennis Foggia (CFMoto Gaviota Aspar Team #71) that saw him tag David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #64) took them out of the front group, Foggia out of the race and Muñoz dropped down the order.

At the front, it became a leading quartet of Yamanaka, Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA), Rueda and Piqueras, with a gap back to David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) heading the fight for the top five. It closed up again as the laps ticked down though, and Almansa slid out of contention, leaving six riders battling before Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) faded from the group to make it five.

Just before the final lap, huge drama suddenly hit in the title chase as Rueda sat up. The former championship leader had a mechanical and was out of the fight, leaving four riders to fight for three places on the podium. As ever at Lusail, the chopping and changing went right to the wire. At Turn 14 on the last lap, Furusato took over in front as he decided to be the defender at the final corner, and defend he did – but maybe too much.

The #72 stayed well on the inside and was ahead on the exit too, but Piqueras got the hammer down and just beat him to the line by 0.009. Furusato just missed out on that maiden win, but Piqueras made a 25-point gain on Rueda to just take over as the championship leader. Yamanaka fended off Kelso to follow up a maiden pole with a second-ever podium. Kelso was forced to settle for fourth this time round, ahead of Rossi and an impressive comeback from Muñoz after getting forced wide by Foggia’s crash.

Moto3 Race Results

1. Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI
2. Taiyo Furusato Honda Team Asia (+0.009s)
3. Ryusei Yamanaka FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+0.042s)
4. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA (+0.097s)
5. Riccardo Rossi Rivacold Snipers Team (+7.295s)

Moto3 Championship Points

1. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 67
2. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 66
3. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA – 41
4. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing – 40
5. Matteo Bertelle LEVELUP – MTA – 40

How Did the Aussies Do?

It was a challenging weekend for Jack Miller in Qatar, with tyre issues and a crash in the race ensuring it was a round to forget for the Aussie. Aussie flyer Joel Kelso enjoyed an excellent showing in Losail, as not only did he clinch P2 in qualifying, but he also went on to produce a fine display to cross the line in fourth. Forced to do three Long Lap penalties in Qatar, mustering 14th was a reasonable result in the trying circumstances by Senna Agius. On his return to racing following injury, Jacob Roulstone claimed a respectable 14th in the hugely demanding Moto3 class.

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

The post MotoGP Round 4 2025 Report Qatar | Marc Marquez victorious again appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

With another P2 finish, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #73) became the new MotoGP title chase leader, as Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) completed the podium in an absolutely unforgettable Round 3.

Read our MotoGP reports here...

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying

MotoGP

Starting wet, finishing dry and with a flurry of action, Friday afternoon’s MotoGP Practice at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas was a real treat. With rain easing off after a lunch time shower, we got the fastest times of the weekend thus far, resulting in Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) setting a 2.09:929 to set the only time in the 2.02 bracket of the day, holding off Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team pairing Fabio Di Giannantonio and Franco Morbidelli (#21) behind.

Qualifying for MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas was a rollercoaster, with history made and some late shuffles changing the front row once and then again. Having topped Friday afternoon and Saturday morning action, COTA master Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) remained the rider to beat with his eighth pole at the circuit though, and that’s a new record for poles at one track in MotoGP.

Behind Marc Marquez was Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #37), Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Bagnaia.

Moto2

Days at the office don’t get much better than that if your name is Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96). P1 in FP1 was backed up by a dominant P1 in Practice to see the British rider sail into Saturday as the rider to beat in Moto2 at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas, as Tony Arbolino (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #14) and Alonso Lopez (Team HDR Heidrun #21) pocketed P2 and P3 on Friday.

It’s one win apiece in Moto2 this season for Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Intact GP #18) and key rival Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team), but the former’s made a clean sweep of qualifying so far. Dixon turned the tables in Texas to take his first pole of the year though, and it was Gonzalez he denied to set up another showdown – the #18 even heading through Q1 too.

Third went to Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO #7) as he took his first front row. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO #44) slotted into fifth ahead of a huge step forward in Moto2 qualifying for Alonso.

Moto3

Practice for the Moto3 World Championship saw a familiar name on top as Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA #18) continued his prowess from the opening two Grands Prix. In a session that was once again wet, he led a very fast rookie in Maximo Quiles (CFMOTO Valresa Aspar Team #28), whilst Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power #19) was P3.

David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP #64) put in a late charge to pole position at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, denying rookie sensation Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) an unbelievable debut pole by just 0.110. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA #66) completes the front row, having come from Q1.

Saturday

Tissot Sprint

Stateside Tissot Sprint glory went the way of Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) – but not without a decent slice of drama and fireworks thrown in along the way. The #93 eventually beat Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) by less than a second in Austin to keep up his 100% victory record in 2025, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) – after leading on the first lap – brought home a bronze medal to set things up beautifully for Sunday.

Without any shadow of a doubt, the opening lap of the Sprint was the best lap of the season – and it’ll take some beating too. Bagnaia, from P6, launched away superbly to grab the holeshot up the hill into Turn 1. Marc Marquez bit straight back at Turn 2 to retake the lead from his teammate, but at Turn 3, it was Pecco doing the overtaking again. It didn’t take long before Marquez decided to pounce back though, Turn 7 his chosen spot.

So it was Marc Marquez leading Bagnaia and Alex Marquez. But at Turn 17, the #93’s Sprint very nearly came to a premature end. An almighty rear-end slide led to the six-time MotoGP Champion getting thrown out of the saddle, which cost the Championship leader P1 and P2. Thought we were done? Nope. Bagnaia and the Marquez brothers were locked together on the exit of Turn 19 and into Turn 20, the final corner, Marc Marquez passed both to retake the lead, with Alex Marquez slotting into P2. That’s worth several rewatches.

That was some opening lap. But after hitting the front again and getting into a rhythm, Marc Marquez started to build a gap to Alex Marquez. It was 0.6s on Lap 3, as Bagnaia lost touch with the top two. The Italian had Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20) swarming all over his rear tyre before the Frenchman had a huge moment on entry to Turn 15, which allowed Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) to slide through. Now, Quartararo was in a VR46 sandwich, with Fabio Di Giannantonio sitting in P6.

On Lap 5 of 10, Marc Marquez’s advantage had shrunk from just under a second to 0.4s. That did rise back up to 0.6s on the next lap though, as Pecco found pace. But was it too late to lock onto the rear end of Alex Marquez?

Meanwhile, a ferocious battle was unfolding between the two VR46 Ducatis and Quartararo. The trio exchanged fourth with four laps to go as the Yamaha star dug deep to try and cling onto a chance of finishing P4 – and what a job he was doing.

With two laps to go, Marc Marquez’s lead was up to 1.4s, while Alex Marquez was still holding Bagnaia at bay by just over a second. However, heading onto the last lap, Alex had reeled in Marc. It was 0.7s over the line, so could anything be done by the younger Marquez to end his brother’s early season momentum?

The answer was no. Marc Marquez held firm to pick up his third Tissot Sprint win on the bounce, with Alex Marquez continuing his P2 streak. Bagnaia claimed an important P3, just under two seconds away from his teammate, but the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion would be wanting more in Sunday’s Grand Prix despite being pleased with the result.

After a phenomenal mid-race scrap, Di Giannantonio won the fight for fourth, with Morbidelli keeping Quartararo behind him as the former teammates clinched P5 and P6 respectively – a top effort from the Yamaha star.

“That opening lap was too close,” Marquez commented. “The grip was worse, but it was a nice fight with Pecco and Alex. In the end I found my rhythm.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+0.795s)
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+1.918s)
4. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+8.536s)
5. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+9.685s)

Sunday

MotoGP

Talk about amplified drama. Rain before the start saw the riders face incredibly tricky conditions heading to the grid, as Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) proved. The Frenchman crashed on his sighting lap, but managed to get back round to the grid, as we then saw something we very rarely see.

Just before the three-minute board was signalled, Marc Marquez dashed off the grid. This led to Bagnaia, Di Giannantonio, Alex Marquez and more following suit, with riders and team members sprinting down pit lane to grab the spare bikes that were fitted with slick tyres.

Some though, including Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol #10), Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #33), Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team #79) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #23), opted to gamble on slick tyres from the get-go and remained on the grid – along with some other riders. However, in the chaos, the red flags were thrown. Below, the reasoning from Race Director Mike Webb:

“We called for a delay and then quick start procedure due to safety concerns. Given the number of riders, bikes and pit staff on the grid and in the pit lane area, it was impossible to start the Warm Up lap. A new race start was the safest way to respond to the unprecedented circumstances at the start of the Grand Prix. We will analyse the situation together with the teams and revisit the regulations.”

After a brief pause in proceedings, the updated information was a 14:10 pit lane green light and a quick start procedure, with original grid positions to be occupied by every rider. Then, it was time to try again – every rider now on slicks. But again, there was drama. Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #12) had to be wheeled off the grid before we finally got the Grand Prix underway.

Marc Marquez launched well and grabbed the holeshot, with Alex Marquez holding off Bagnaia into Turn 1. Pecco was trying to wriggle his way past the Gresini rider, first at Turn 11, then at Turn 12, but both attempts failed. Meanwhile, Marc Marquez built a 1.1s lead at the end of Lap 1, with the top four – Marquez, Marquez, Bagnaia and Di Giannantonio – nearly two seconds up the road from Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Team #43), who was enjoying a good battle with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team).

A 2:02.466 from the #93 saw Marquez stretch his lead to 1.6s at the start of Lap 5, and then a 2:02.433 meant the gap was now up to the two-second mark. Meanwhile, further down the pack in the fantastic fight for P6, Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) crashed at Turn 1.

Then, fancy another massive slice of drama? Because that’s what we got. Turn 4 was the place, and it was race leader Marc Marquez who was on the floor! The front end washed away as he clipped across the curb too far, hit a wet patch, and with that, the undefeated run was over. Marquez was able to remount in P18, but without a right foot peg, plus more damage to his GP25, there was no way back into the points for the #93 with both Viñales and Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing #32) passing the six-time MotoGP Champion.

So where did that leave us? Bagnaia led Alex Marquez by 1.6s, with the latter 2.2s clear of Di Giannantonio. And on Lap 13, Marc Marquez called time on his 2025 Sunday outing at the Americas GP. The victory streak was officially over.

Meanwhile, the fastest rider on track was Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP #54) and the rookie, with two laps left, bullied his way past Miller for P5. However, a fantastic ride then ended in the gravel trap at Turn 15, and at a similar time, Zarco’s impressive display ended at Turn 12.

Last lap time. Bagnaia simply had to bring it home, but 2.5s behind, Alex Marquez couldn’t relax as much. Diggia was prowling, a second split the two, so any slight error from the #73 could prove costly. In the end, it stayed as you were. Bagnaia bagged a massive 25 points to become the 10th rider in history to earn 30 MotoGP wins, as new World Championship leader, Alex Marquez, crossed the line in P2 for the sixth straight outing. Di Giannantonio’s efforts weren’t enough for P2, but nevertheless, a phenomenal P3 was pocketed for the Italian in Austin. Morbidelli came home in P4, with Miller grabbing his best Yamaha result with a very classy P5.

“It’s an incredible feeling, I’m very happy. It’s the first time I’ve won here at COTA,” Bagnaia said. “I know that the win came because of a crash for Marc. He was faster than us, faster than everybody else today. So I was just trying to match his pace as best as possible.”

MotoGP Race Results

1. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+2.089s)
3. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+3.594s)
4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+10.732s)
5. Jack Miller Pramac Yamaha (+11.857s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

1. Alex Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 87
2. Marc Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 86
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 75
4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 55
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 44

Moto2

P1 on Friday, pole position on Saturday and P1 on Sunday. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was simply unstoppable at the Red Bull Grand Prix of The Americas as wet weather added an extra dose of spice to the Moto2 Grand Prix.

Just as the Moto3 race ended, the skies decided to sprinkle some water over COTA to add some pre-race drama to Moto2. But with the rain not heavy, some riders decided to chance it on slick tyres for the start – including World Championship leader Gonzalez. Dixon, the polesitter and Argentina GP winner, opted for Pirelli’s wet tyres.

And it proved to be the right decision for the Brit and most of the other riders. On Lap 8, Dixon lapped Gonzalez, the Spaniard’s teammate Senna Agius (#81) and Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team #10), who were all struggling to keep their Triumph-powered machines on the road.

With five laps left, Dixon grew his lead to six seconds over Arbolino, with Lopez four seconds behind the Italian. That gap dropped to 5.2s on the penultimate lap, but heading onto the final lap, it grew again to 5.5s. Meanwhile, chasing teammate Lopez for the final podium spot, Celestino Vietti (Team HDR Heidrun #13) crashed not once, but twice. Turn 12 the first and then eager to get back into the race, Turn 13 saw Vietti go down to end his points hopes altogether.

There were no such issues for Dixon though. A mixed conditions masterclass saw the #96 clinch a second consecutive victory and, with it, the Championship lead. Arbolino collected his first podium of the season, and so too did Lopez as Boscoscuros locked out the rostrum.

Aron Canet (Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO) claimed an important points haul in P4, with Izan Guevara (BLUCRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 #28) coming from P26 on the grid to bag a P5 – a tremendous ride from the Spaniard.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing (Boscoscoro)
2. Tony Arbolino BLU CRU PramacYamaha Moto2 (+4.148s)
3. Alonso Lopez Team HDR Heidrun (+12.685s)
4. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO (+28.375s)
5. Izan Guevara BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 (+30.290s)

Moto2 Championship Points

1. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 59
2. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 46
3. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 45
4. Alonso Lopez Team HDR Heidrun – 30
5. Tony Arbolino BLU CRU PramacYamaha Moto2 – 28

Moto3

Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) put in another stunner at the Red Bull Grand Prix of the Americas, hitting the gas at the front and pulling a gap to take his second win of the year. Joel Kelso took his first dry weather podium in second, with LEVELUP – MTA teammate Matteo Bertelle completing the rostrum for his first Moto3 podium ever.

Off the line it was a stunning start for Maximo Quiles (CFMoto Valresa Aspar Team) and the debutant kept it pinned round the first lap too, leading his very first racing lap in the World Championship. The classic group fight at the front was in hot pursuit although it didn’t take long for some dramas to change the dynamic again.

David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) was the first as he slid out of the lead group, suffering another tough race after starting on pole. Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) had some dramas too, the first of which was nearly not making it out of pitlane on time after a technical issue. He was allowed to leave to line up on the grid despite the red light because the green flag hadn’t been removed, but he was at the back. And then he jumped the start and got two Long Laps.

Meanwhile, Quiles led the first lap, but then came under attack, with Rueda making his way to the front and building a lead. By half race distance it was over two seconds, with Kelso and Bertelle in a duel in second and third. Then came Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI #36), Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Quiles on the chase, before a much bigger gap back to a big group battle from seventh place down.

Rueda began the final lap with some breathing space in the lead, with Kelso also managing to make it a safe second ahead of teammate Bertelle, who finally took a podium after having also taken two poles to start the season but missed out on the rostrum. The fireworks came behind between Piqueras and Quiles, who had a spectacular last lap duel. Experience just won out as the #36 took fourth and a good chunk of points. Quiles debuts in the top five after a stunning weekend, with Carpe forced to settle for sixth.

Moto3 Race Results

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo
2. Joel Kelso LEVELUP – MTA (+2.399s)
3. Matteo Bertelle LEVELUP – MTA (+4.200s)
4. Angel Piqueras FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (+5.345s)
5. Maximo Qulies CFMOTO Aspar Team (+5.522s)

Moto3 Championship Points

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 66
2. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 42
3. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing – 40
4. Matteo Bertelle LEVELUP – MTA – 40
5. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 30

How Did the Aussies Do?

Jack Miller claimed his first top five finish of the 2025 campaign with an excellent ride in Texas. Cutting a delighted figure after the race, his words made for great reading. “It was a good day for us,” Miller explained. We had a solid pace throughout the entire race after a strong start, where I also managed to stay out of trouble at Turn 1.

“The bike was behaving well, and I was trying to get the maximum out of it. I really hope we can continue this trend. I‘m also very happy for the entire Prima Pramac Yamaha team. They work so hard every day to give me a great bike, and they deserve a day like this. The atmosphere is so amazing that it just makes me want to give them more and more.”

The unpredictable weather conditions ensured it was a tough one for Senna Agius, as the Australian went for slick tyres. While this move unfortunately didn’t pay off, the 19-year-old showed commendable maturity to bring it home safely in 23rd.

Joel Kelso had a race to remember as the young hotshot claimed a masterful second. Banking his first dry weather podium in fine style, in a race where he showed his skills, fight and racecraft, this was a fitting reward for an outstanding body of work.

“It’s been a long time between podiums! But I am so happy to finally be back up there. Thank you all for the support! Let’s keep the ball rolling,” an overjoyed Kelso insisted.

The post MotoGP Round 3 Report 2025 | Bagnaia capitalises appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Friday Practice and Saturday Qualifying
MotoGP

The #93 was on top in Termas at the 2025 Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) tangoed his way to the summit in Practice as everyone chased the Spaniard’s pace heading into the Tissot Sprint on Saturday.

Read our MotoGP News here…

A late corker from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #49) and a consistent Friday from Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) saw the Italian and Spaniard sit as the title leader’s main contenders, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team #63) narrowly avoided another Q1 showing following a Turn 2 crash in the closing minutes.

Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) then took back-to-back poles for the first time since 2019, with another stunner coming in from the #93 in Argentina. His 1:36.917 was the first ever 1:36 at the venue, a new lap record, and put him a quarter of a second clear at the top.

Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who was close on Friday too was next on list in second, with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR #5) making some magic in third for Honda’s first front row since 2023 – just 0.042 off the #73 ahead. It was fourth for Pecco who would be looking to make a traditional fast start off the line.

Moto2

World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP #18) hit the ground running in Termas de Rio Hondo as the Spaniard ended Moto2 Practice at the top of the Triumph-powered timesheets. Gonzalez’s 1:41.713 was 0.160s quicker than Alonso Lopez’s (Team HDR Heidrun #21) best time, but it was the #21’s crash on the exit of Turn 3 that signalled the premature end to Practice with a Red Flag. Just over one minute was left unused on the clock, but Lopez was all OK after the crash. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team #96) rounded out the top three.

Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing #24) and Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing #7) eased into Q2 after pocketing P4 and P5, with Aron Canet (Fantic Racing #44) in P6.

Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) continued his wonderful start to 2025 as he claimed pole in Argentina, edging out Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing). With some Thai GP frontrunners in Q1 and only some making it through, it was close as ever in the Triumph-powered class. Behind that trio, the second row was an all-Q1 affair: Escrig (#11), Moreira (#10) and Salač (#12).

Moto3

David Almansa (Leopard Racing #22) topped the Moto3 timesheets on Day 1 at Termas, leading a session for the first time in his career and with a new lap record. His advantage was impressive too, with 0.364 in hand over rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo #83). Carpe already raised eyebrows in Thailand with a maiden podium first time out and at a venue he’d never previously ridden. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo #99) was third fastest as the Thai GP winner proved a key player once again, and was also second fastest in FP1.

Fourth went to home hero Valentino Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3 #73), who impressed to head a tightly packed group of riders where thousandths made the difference. Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA #18) was a surprise name in Q1 after Friday in Argentina, but the Italian definitely came out swinging on Saturday. He headed Q1 and then went out in Q2 and did it again, so he’ll head the grid for the second time in two Grands Prix.

FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI pairing Angel Piqueras (36#) and Ryusei Yamanaka (#6) completed the front row. Behind Bertelle, Piqueras and Yamanaka, Almansa headed Row 2, joined by rookie sensation Carpe and points leader Rueda.

Saturday
Tissot Sprint

A second perfect Saturday on the spin came the way of Marc Marquez as the Ducati Lenovo Team star fended off the threat of Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) to win his second Tissot Sprint of the season.

Marc Marquez got another perfect launch from pole and grabbed the holeshot ahead of Alex Marquez, as Bagnaia grabbed an early P3 with Johann Zarco (LCR Honda CASTROL) not getting away well from Row 1 – the Frenchman was P6.

Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing #33) was a faller on Lap 1 following contact with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team #21), as the former’s teammate Pedro Acosta climbed up to P4 ahead of the fast starting Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP #20). Meanwhile, the Marquez brothers were pulling the pin at the front.

On Lap 4 of 12, Alex was 0.2s behind Marc, while Pecco was operating 1.3s away from the scrap. The 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion was 0.5s ahead of Acosta, who in turn had Zarco right on his tail.

At the halfway stage, Alex Marquez wasn’t allowing Marc Marquez to escape. Both were setting 1:37.7s, with Bagnaia also in the 1:37s but a couple of tenths slower per lap at this stage. And on the next lap, Bagnaia was back in the 1:38s. The Italian didn’t have any answers to the Marquez duo, so it was a two-horse race for Tissot Sprint victory in Argentina.

With four laps to go, the gap was 0.371s. Was Alex Marquez now struggling to keep tabs on his older brother? It looked like that was the case. The gap grew to 0.475s with three laps left, and then it was 0.721s with two laps to go. The fight was now seemingly over, but Alex Marquez was still close enough to keep his sibling sweating.

Sweat he did, but the six-time MotoGP World Champion made zero mistakes on the last lap to bring his Ducati GP25 home for a third win of the season – his second in a row on a Saturday. Alex Marquez crossed the line 0.903s shy to claim another podium, with Bagnaia forced to settle for P3 – but it’s more important points on the board for the #63.

After a sluggish launch from the grid, Zarco picked his way back up to P4 to finish just 1.1s behind Bagnaia. That was a top Saturday outing for the incredibly impressive LCR Honda star, as Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) rounded out the top five.

“Very difficult victory as Alex was pushing a lot,” stated Marquez. “I just kept pushing and pushing, I think he slowed down a bit towards the end. Tomorrow will be tough.”

Tissot Sprint Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+0.903s)
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+3.859s)
4. Johann Zarco Castrol Honda LCR (+5.026s)
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+6.451s)

Sunday

MotoGP

Marc Marquez fended off Alex Marquez to collect the holeshot into Turn 1 as drama unfolded for Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing #72). The Italian, who made contact with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after struggling to get his RS-GP stopped into Turn 1, crashed at the opening corner. Rider ok, and Quartararo dropped back.

At the front, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda CASTROL) was hounding Bagnaia in third, with Turn 8 a popular passing place for the Frenchman. This squabbling between Pecco and Zarco saw the Marquez brothers skip to a 0.7s lead, with Alex shadowing Marc in the opening three laps.

On Lap 4, there was a change for the lead. Alex Marquez capitalised on a small mistake made by Marc Marquez at Turn 1, as blue led red for the first time in Argentina. Meanwhile, Morbidelli had picked his way past Zarco and Bagnaia to climb into P3.

After a busy opening handful of laps, the Grand Prix settled down a tad as the riders found their early race rhythms.

On Lap 11, it was as you were at the front. Bagnaia was losing ground on the top three and Zarco was still swarming all over the rear end of his GP25. A couple of laps later, Morbidelli began to lose touch with Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez, but crucially, the #21 was still over a second clear of Bagnaia and Zarco.

With 10 to go, Marc Marquez had a bit of a moment coming through the fast Turn 11. It was a warning that cost the six-time MotoGP World Champion a couple of tenths, but a lap later, that deficit had been clawed back. And now, the #93 was properly all over the rear Michelin tyre of Alex Marquez.

Lap 18 of 25 – an attempted pass. Marc Marquez lunged at Turn 5, but couldn’t get his bike hooked up and stopped in time, so Alex Marquez kept the lead with seven laps to go. And having run wide, the margin between the leader and chaser was up to 0.4s.

What a showdown it was. On Lap 19, the brothers exchanged fastest laps of the race, with Marc going slightly quicker to latch himself on the back of Alex. Then, another move. Again it was Turn 5 and this time, it was a pass that stuck. Now it was all about whether Alex Marquez had anything in response.

The early signs were no. With four laps to go, Marc Marquez stretched his advantage to 0.7s. At the beginning of Lap 22 of 25, the gap was then just over a second, as Marc Marquez’s teammate Bagnaia was trying to put a late attack together to steal P3 from Morbidelli.

LAST LAP! Marc Marquez held a 1.5s lead over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia 0.5s behind Morbidelli. Could the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion find a way to earn a late podium? No he couldn’t. And Alex Marquez couldn’t do anything about Marc Marquez from clinching another victory in 2025 as the #93 made it four wins from four – two Sprints, two Grands Prix – to begin his factory Ducati career in perfect fashion.

Another brilliant effort from Alex Marquez saw the #73 clinch second again, as Morbidelli clung on to pocket his first MotoGP podium since the 2021 Spanish GP. Bagnaia was breathing down his neck but the latter walked away from Argentina with an underwhelming P4.

“Happy to equal Angel Nieto. He was, and is, super important for the Spanish motorcycle world, and also in the World Championship,” Marquez explained. “From the beginning, the confidence was not super good here. I had a few problems. I saw Alex was pushing and controlling the race and I said ‘second today will be OK’, but in the end I started to feel better and better, less pushing on the front.”

MotoGP Race Results

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati (+1.362s)
3. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+4.695s)
4. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo (+5.536s)
5. Fabio Di Giannantonio Pertamina VR46 Ducati (+7.138s)

Check out the full MotoGP race results here…

MotoGP Championship Points

1. Marc Marquez Ducati Lenovo – 37
2. Alex Marquez BK8 Gresini Ducati – 29
3. Francesco Bagnaia Ducati Lenovo – 23
4. Franco Morbidelli Pertamina VR46 Ducati – 18
5. Ai Ogura Trackhouse Aprilia – 17

Moto2

Pure dominance. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was in a league of his own at the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina as the British rider won the Moto2 Grand Prix by 3.5s, with Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) picking up a valuable 20 points in P2. Meanwhile, Celestino Vietti (Team HDR Heidrun #13) pocketed his first top three of the season in P3.

Getting the best launch from the front row was Dixon as the Brit stole the holeshot from polesitter Gonzalez. Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was a keen starter, with the Czech rider slotting into P3 before passing Gonzalez for P2 to make it a Marc VDS 1-2 at the front in the early laps.

Gonzalez got his revenge a couple of laps later though as Dixon began to get the hammer down. On Lap 8 of 21, Dixon’s lead rose above the one second barrier for the first time, and on Lap 12 the gap had climbed to a smidgen over 1.5s.

In the podium fight, Salač’s race ended on Lap 11 at Turn 5 after attempting to pass Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing), with the incident costing the latter time in his attempts to chase third place Vietti and Aron Canet in fourth (Fantic Racing).

As the scrap for the final spot on the rostrum played out, there was nothing anyone could do about stopping Dixon from clinching a phenomenal victory in Argentina. Dixon was in cruise control to take a debut win on board a Boscoscuro, with Gonzalez picking up an important P2, 3.5s behind the race win. Vietti covered off Canet for P3 to bounce back well from his Thailand disappointment, a great ride from ninth on the grid from the Italian.

Canet settled for P4 in the end, vital points for the #44, with Ramirez completing the top five.

Moto2 Race Results

1. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing
2. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP (+3.525s)
3. Celestino Vietti Team HDR Heidrun (+10.098s)
4. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO (+10.508s)
5. Marcos Ramirez OnlyFans American Racing Team (+11.009s)

Moto2 Championship Points

1. Manuel Gonzalez Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP – 45
2. Jake Dixon Elf Marc VDS Racing – 34
3. Aron Canet Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO – 33
4. Marcos Ramirez OnlyFans American Racing Team – 22
5. Senna Agius Liqui Moly Husqvarna Intact – 19

Moto3

Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) is a race winner in 2025 after coming out on top in a titanic last lap battle at the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina. The 2024 Rookie of the Year forced his way through on third place finisher Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) at the penultimate corner, with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing #31) profiting from the late squabbling to earn P2 in Termas.

Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) grabbed the holeshot from the front row, but it was Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who led at the end of the opening lap. David Almansa (Leopard Racing) also took a turn leading in the early exchanges, as a lead group of 11 formed at the front, with the chasing pack just around a second further down the road.

With two to go, Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP MTA Team) was 0.4s clear at the front and on the last lap, he had edged it up to 0.5s. Could Piqueras and Rueda do anything about it? The advantage had disappeared halfway around the last lap as Piqueras made his move at Turn 7. Rueda followed his compatriot through at Turn 9 and then on the exit of Turn 11, Piqueras was wide and on the green.

That cost the #36 the place to Rueda, but a lunge at Turn 12 followed. Piqueras carved past Rueda, and Fernandez managed to pick off the Thai GP race winner too to shadow Piqueras over the line as the latter clinched his first win of the season. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia #72) bagged P4 ahead of Bertelle, but that result was flipped after Furusato exceeded track limits on the final lap.

Moto3 Race Results

1. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets
2. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing (+0.036s)
3. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo (+0.125s)
4. Matteo Bertelle LEVELUP – MTA (+0.373s)
5. Taiyo Furusato Honda Team Asia (+0.473s)

Moto3 Championship Points

1. Jose Antonio Rueda Red Bull KTM Ajo – 41
2. Adrian Fernandez Leopard Racing – 36
3. Angel Piqueras FRINSA – MT Helmets – 29
4. Matteo Bertelle LEVELUP – MTA – 24
5. Alvaro Carpe Red Bull KTM Ajo – 20

How Did the Aussies Do?

After securing 11th in the Sprint, Jack Miller (#43) got a poor start in the Sunday bout, thus seeing him slip back to 16th before eventually logging 13th, 23.486s behind the imperious Marc Marquez.

Despite 13th not being the result Senna Agius (#81) was hoping for after his awesome third in Thailand, this was still a decent outcome for the gifted Aussie.

Even though Joel Kelso was (#66) left somewhat disappointed with his eighth in Argentina, there were many positives, which included him making 13 passes, to be extracted from his riding, especially considering he had to serve a double Long Lap Penalty.

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Sprint races will take place at 15:00 on the Saturday of each Grand Prix and be approximately 50% of the full race distance. The Sprint race will have a 15-minute grid procedure, and the sporting rules will be the same as a full-length Grand Prix race. 

In Sprint races, points will be awarded as follows:

• 1st Position: 12
• 2nd Position: 9
• 3rd Position: 7
• 4th Position: 6
• 5th Position: 5
• 6th Position: 4
• 7th position: 3
• 8th position: 2
• 9th position: 1 

Sprint races will not determine the grid for the Grand Prix race on Sunday. Riders must be free to race on Saturday, without the need to consider their Sunday grid position. The grids for both the Sprint race and the Grand Prix race will be set from qualifying, which will retain its Q1-Q2 format. 

The introduction of Sprint Races allows every day of a race weekend to offer fans and broadcasters the best possible experience on track and off, with track action on Friday, Saturday and Sunday focused on maximum spectacle to show off the best of MotoGP. In addition, the new format will provide increased engagement opportunities for fans, broadcasters and media across the event and increase the profile of the MotoGP class without reducing that of Moto2 and Moto3.  

The MotoGP class will have two practice sessions on Friday, which will be of a longer duration. The combined timesheets from these sessions will determine the direct entrants to Q2, guaranteeing Friday increased significance and exposure. 

On Saturday morning, the MotoGP class will have one 30-minute Free Practice session (similar to the current FP4) followed by Q1 and Q2 for qualifying. The Sprint Race will then take place at 15:00, creating an incredible line-up of MotoGP track action on Saturday. 

Sunday will remain a spectacle for fans and broadcasters, with the Moto3, Moto2 and MotoGP Grand Prix races. The target will also be to have MotoGP as the last race on Sunday at each event, allowing for an improved podium ceremony, on-track celebrations and the possibility of fan track invasions at each venue.  

Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “The fact is, as I read in social media, this is a Sprint Race press conference. So, this is true, you already know that we are going to introduce, starting next year, a sprint race on the Saturday afternoon of every Grand Prix; not like in Formula 1, but in every Grand Prix. We think that after two years of COVID, when all of us made incredible sacrifices to keep having this important Championship, it’s time to give more exposure, as Carmelo says, in the TV, but also to the spectators. We need more spectators, we need a better show, and we need to fill the Saturdays. There are some details that still need to defined, decided together with the teams, together with the riders, together with the manufacturers. But, in principle, you already announced the major part of the new things! The only thing I think you are still in doubt about, is that this Sprint Race will not count for the grid; the grid is defined by the qualifying.”

Carmelo Ezpeleta, CEO of Dorna Sports: “It has been the aim of the Championship; FIM, IRTA, and Dorna, from the beginning to try to improve every time, as much as we can, everything in the sport: the safety, the show, everything. We are working in all the areas but especially in that. We have been looking at other sports for different possibilities and we are trying to offer a better show, especially for the fans, the promoters, and television. It’s very important to us to offer a new schedule which will, in our opinion, improve our presence in all the Grands Prix. This has been something discussed obviously with the FIM, with the manufacturers, and with the teams, and then yesterday, I talked with the riders in the Safety Commission. Even if the Safety Commission is for safety, since the beginning, I has been very proud to talk with the riders about different things. Obviously the matter to inform the riders is something that must be made by their individual teams, but yesterday we had some discussions and I’m very happy to hear the President of the FIM announce what we want to announce today.”

Herve Poncharal, IRTA President: “Back from the summer break, we had a very important meeting together with Mike Trimby to represent the teams as IRTA, with Carmelo and Carlos Ezpeleta. This was really the first time that we saw the project, and from the very beginning, we liked it a lot. If you don’t move forward, you make a step backwards, I think, and although our show is great, maybe the best on Earth, that doesn’t mean we cannot have room for improvement, and there is room for improvement. As Carmelo said to us also, yes, we looked at what is happening somewhere else, and we would be stupid to not look at what is happening somewhere else and works somewhere else. From the very first point I really liked it, we had a meeting with all our colleagues in the Independent MotoGP teams, and universally they supported and they liked it a lot, thinking that it’s going to help also the teams’ business because the media, I’m quite sure, will like it a lot, will love it; the sponsors when the media are more active, will like it a lot.

“So all I can say is we have in mind not to create any inflation, so therefore engine allocation, tyre allocation will remain the same; mileage on the weekend will remain more or less the same. So, there will be no more track action. We will try not to give more work to the riders, but there will be more action, more excitement, which is what MotoGP is all about. I’m very proud to be part of the Championship, to have Carmelo and Jorge next to me to announcing this important news. For sure, as Jorge said, there are still important things to be fine-tuned. We always listen to everybody and when it is something which is visible and clearly an improvement, we will adapt ourselves. But overall, I think this is an important day for MotoGP, and I believe 2023 will be even more exciting.”

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