Raul Fernandez Claims Maiden Victory at The Island

Bezzecchi penalty allows Trackhouse Aprilia rider to take charge down under

Leaden skies and a steady but fading breeze set a brooding stage at Phillip Island, with the threat of rain hanging over an overcast MotoGP Sunday. When the lights went out, Marco Bezzecchi launched perfectly for the holeshot, Raul Fernandez tucking into second ahead of Pedro Acosta, Fabio Quartararo and local hero Jack Miller. Bezzecchi immediately tried to break clear to cushion the blow of his looming double long-lap penalty, pumping out early pace that stretched the field, but Fernandez and Acosta refused to let him escape.

By lap three Bezzecchi had the fastest lap and over a second in hand, while Acosta used the KTM’s punch to draft past Fernandez into Turn 1. With each long-lap expected to cost roughly 2.5 seconds, Bezzecchi dived in for the first on lap 5, rejoining in third behind Acosta. Miller was looking good in fifth but caused heartbreak for the adoring home crowd after he too went down at Siberia after being passed by Alex Marquez. Fernandez assumed command on lap six as Bezzecchi delayed his second penalty, but by lap seven he had no choice, taking the second long-lap and dropping to sixth behind Fabio Di Giannantonio, leaving himself a mountain to climb with 20 laps remaining.

With Alex Marquez surging past Quartararo into Turn 1 for third and Di Giannantonio demoting the Yamaha through Siberia, Fernandez began to look like the day’s unlikely hero, edging a second clear at the front and then more. Bezzecchi found himself mired behind Quartararo as laps bled away, finally unleashing Aprilia power down the Gardner Straight to blast past and set about chasing Di Giannantonio. Ahead, Alex Marquez homed in on Acosta while Fernandez settled into the 1:27s and stretched the gap at the front. Acosta’s pace faded as tyre wear bit, and while Bezzecchi was now the quickest rider on track, Di Giannantonio’s speed looked the greater threat to the podium.

Di Giannantonio hounded Acosta relentlessly, thwarted repeatedly by the KTM rider’s ferocious braking until he finally forced a clean pass. Acosta struck back at Turn 1, only for Diggia to respond immediately through the Southern Loop, his momentum carrying him onto the rear of Alex Marquez as Bezzecchi closed from behind. Bezzecchi’s eventual move on Acosta was pure commitment, sweeping through the Hayshed as the rookie defended hard through Miller and Siberia; the cost of that duel allowed Diggia and Alex Marquez to skip away.

Up front, Fernandez was immaculate. Calm, precise and relentless, he kept the rhythm fast and the errors at bay as the attrition mounted with Joan Mir and Pecco Bagnaia also going down. Di Giannantonio’s pace told as he outgunned Alex Marquez into the Hayshed to seal second, leaving Bezzecchi to chase the final rostrum spot. Two laps from home, Bezzecchi outbraked Alex Marquez into MG for third, capping a fierce recovery from his double long-lap handicap.

The last lap saw the gap shrink but not enough to change the script. Raul Fernandez took a superb maiden MotoGP victory for Trackhouse Aprilia, a poised, mature triumph that hinted at long-promised potential finally blooming – with an Aprilia package now capable of trading blows with Ducati. Di Giannantonio sealed a comfortable second, with Bezzecchi fighting back to third despite his penalties. Alex Marquez settled for fourth ahead of Acosta and Luca Marini, with Alex Rins the surprise top Yamaha in seventh, followed by Brad Binder, Enea Bastianini and Espargaro completing the top ten. An emphatic breakthrough for Fernandez, and a statement weekend for Aprilia at the Island.

Bagnaia’s disastrous weekend sees Bezzecchi vault him for third in the championship standings, while Alex Marquez has to wait another round to seal second position behind his brother for a historic sibling 1 – 2.

2025 Phillip Island MotoGP Race

2025 MotoGP Championship Standings