MOTOGP ROUND 22 | Valencia Deep Dive

Why Bezzecchi’s win is a late season warning shot to the Marquez clan, Moreira completes the greatest Moto2 comeback ever, and quotes from Aussies across all classes

2025 has long been owned by the Marquez brothers. But Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) once again gave warning to the Catalans that both he and Aprilia could bring more of the fight next season after signing off with a convincing win to secure third in the final standings.

Only Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati) outscored Bezzecchi in the season’s second half. And the blueprint of the Italian’s weekend here had similarities to the previous weekend in Portugal: put the RS-GP on pole, underwhelm slightly in the Sprint, before leading every lap of Sunday’s race. Once again, he looked like a championship challenger in waiting.

To everyone’s surprise, Bezzecchi’s main challenge came from within his own factory, rather than Alex’s Ducati, which had dominated the Sprint so conclusively. Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Aprilia) shook off the pain from dislocating his shoulder the previous week to chase his stablemate down after a slow opening. Had the race been a few laps longer, the Spaniard may even have won.

Yet even when Fernandez was applying the late pressure, Bezzecchi was a modicum of cool as Marc Marquez (Lenovo Ducati), back in the paddock for the first time since injuring his right shoulder in Indonesia, watched on from the sidelines. This year’s champ will know he must keep one eye on Aprilia next term, as this was further confirmation of the brand from Noale’s potential. Despite being a factory rider short for 15 of the year’s 22 races, Aprilia had a rider in the MotoGP championship’s top three for the first time. Another first came in the form of second in the Constructor’s Championship, one place higher than its previous best. And thanks to this latest success, they can now boast of winning back-to-back premier class races for the first time in its history. Ducati, take note.

Fifth in Sprint suggested Bezzecchi had much to do on Saturday night. But an issue with his start device deprived him of a start. Mend that and fit new tyres were his only instructions to the Aprilia technicians for Sunday. And it showed off the start.

The 22^nd and final race of the season ventured into the surreal before the start as Franco Morbidelli (VR46 Ducati) clattered into the back of wildcard and old rival Aleix Espargaro (HRC Castrol). The Italian fell over at walking speed and did just enough damage to the stationary Honda to force Espargaro to retire. More importantly, he broke his left hand, curtailing his preseason for this year.

From there, Bezzecchi got the jump to Turn 1 from Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati), Fabio Di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati), Acosta and Fernandez. Back in the pack, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda) ran Pecco Bagnaia (Lenovo Ducati) off track and into the gravel at Turn 4 to cap the Italian’s truly wretched year. Fermin Aldeguer (Gresini Ducati), Jack Miller (Pramac Yamaha) Luca Marini (HRC Castrol) and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) all followed.

Initially Sprint winner Alex appeared most likely to push Bezzecchi hardest. But it didn’t take long for Fernandez to get up to speed. Moves on Acosta (lap two) and Di Giannantonio (lap three) saw him rise to the final podium spot early on. And soon he had caught Alex ahead, making his superiority count with a fine move at Turn 14 the 11th time around.

By then, Alex started feeling vibration from his rear tyre. And he was soon on the defensive as Acosta – fourth, having passed Di Giannantonio on lap four – closed in. From 1.6s back on lap 13 he had eradicated that gap by lap 18. And Di Giannantonio had come with him.

That made two fights of note up front, as Fernandez had put the discomfort of his left shoulder aside to hone in on Bezzecchi ahead; from 1.1s in arrears on lap 13, just half a second separated the lead pair starting lap 23. He got closer still the next time around. Yet Bezzecchi always had just enough in the first Sector to ensure Fernandez’s superiority around the long final double left never resulted in an overtaking attempt. 0.6s was in it at the chequered flag, with Aprilia enjoying just the second one-two finish in its premier class history.

For six laps it appeared that Ducati’s podium run, which stretched all the way back to the 2021 British Grand Prix, was under threat as Acosta disposed of Alex on lap 20 at Turn 4 to threaten a third Sunday podium in succession. But Di Giannantonio would save Ducati’s blushes. Passing Alex for fourth at Turn 4 with five to go, he repeated the move on the KTM on the penultimate circuit to take a fourth podium of the year.

Behind and Aldeguer got by Miller with a neat pass on lap 18 once the Australian’s rear tyre dropped significantly. Having come together in the Sprint, and then come under fire from the Australian for “inviting contact”, the rookie had taken his time to ensure a clean overtake. Such was his late rhythm, he even reeled in Alex by the final lap. A final corner move brought about fifth and ensured his teammate’s runner-up season was capped with a rather underwhelming sixth.

Marini also caught and passed Miller with six to go for a crucial seventh place. After Joan Mir (HRC Castrol) had taken them both out of the Sprint, it appeared the Japanese factory may not lose its Category D concessions for 2026. Yet those nine points ensured Honda had scored 35.01% of the points available in this year’s Constructor’s Championship, meaning they’ll be in Category C next year.

The Italian’s move was celebrated wildly by both his and teammate Mir’s side of the garage. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM) was frustrated in eighth around a track that used to be his playground, while Miller’s lack of rear grip saw him drop back to ninth. Enea Bastianini (Tech3 KTM) was tenth with Miguel Oliveira (Pramac Yamaha) bowing out from MotoGP with a solid ride to 11th.

Marc (545 points) missed the final four rounds but still ended the year 78 points clear of Alex (467). Bezzecchi (353) confirmed third with Acosta (307) taking fourth of Bagnaia (288).

Surprise of the weekend

Raul Fernandez. The Spaniard’s season was in danger of petering out in Portugal. But he showed signs here that he could be ready to fulfil his talent. Finally.

Dud of the weekend

Franco Morbidelli. The Italian ensured he couldn’t even start this race with an inexplicable start line incident. What’s more, he was the strongest Ducati during Free Practice. A wasted opportunity of a late podium.

2025 VALENCIA MOTOGP RACE RESULTS

2025 MOTOGP FINAL STANDINGS

Moto2 – Guevara winner, Moreira champ

Diego completes the greatest Moto2 comeback ever

Izan Guevara capped a record-breaking year in Moto2, as he became the 11th different winner of the season while Ivan Ortola (MSI Boscoscuro) was the 18^th different podium finisher of 2025, equalling last year’s tally.

Most importantly, Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Kalex) was the champion after coming home in a nervy tenth to cap the greatest comeback in intermediate class history. Holding a 24-point advantage over Manuel Gonzalez (IntactGP Kalex), a 14^th would seal the title for the Brazilian. Gonzalez, meanwhile, simply had to win.

That always seemed an outside shot as Guevara passed pole-sitter Dani Holgado (IntactGP Kalex) on the run to Turn 1 with Albert Arenas, Senna Agius (IntactGP Kalex) and Gonzalez all following suit. As Moreira circulated in ninth, his qualifying position, Gonzalez began to encounter a huge rear tyre drop, and pitted on lap 18, once his title contender had passed by.

With the title sealed, the lead group narrowed to three. Agius started suffering from similar rear tyre issues as his teammate from lap 12, and Ortola took over third. And while Holgado pressed Guevara, the former Moto3 champion held on for a maiden Moto2 win by 0.7s. Behind Ortola, Collin Veijer (Ajo Kalex) rose to fourth ahead of Arenas with Moreira triumphant in tenth. From 60 points down post-Brno, Moreira (286 points) managed an 89-point reversal in ten races to lead Gonzalez (257) by 29.

2025 Moto2 Final Standings

Moto3 – First for Fernandez

Patience pays off in a frantic finale

It took 86 attempts, but Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Honda) is finally a grand prix winner after he kept his cool in a tight, five-way Moto3 finale.

Attentions turned to the battle for second in the championship after Jose Antonio Rueda (Ajo KTM), back in the paddock this weekend after his Malaysia injury, wrapped the title up one round earlier. Max Quiles (Aspar KTM) needed to outscore Angel Piqueras (MSI KTM) by nine points to seal the place.

The encounter had plenty of jeopardy with the two riders in the lead group early on. But pole-sitter Fernandez’s rapid pace was too much for Piqueras, David Almansa (Leopard Honda) and Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Honda), who all dropped away from the lead quintet that also included Taiyo Furusato (HTA Honda), Alvaro Carpe (Ajo KTM) and Guido Pini (IntactGP KTM).

There was little to separate them as they started the final lap. And as Fernandez assuredly held off Furusato for his first-ever win, Quiles’ hopes of second overall evaporated when Carpe passed him at the final turn. Carpe’s third was soon a second as Furusato was demoted one place for exceeding track limits on the final lap. Rueda (365 points) ends the year 84 ahead of Piqueras (281) with Quiles (274) third.

2025 Moto3 Final Standings

THE AUSSIES

Jack Miller (Sprint: 12^th, Result: 9^th)
A solid end to the year. Jack qualified eighth but was outraged when handed a Long Lap Penalty in the Sprint after touching Aldeguer. He regrouped on Sunday to come home as top Yamaha and continue solid momentum from Portugal. “Decent race. We just have to push too much to try and do anything with the guys around. The biggest thing was between Turn 6 and 8 the thing would spin massively. But the tyre gave up with ten to go and I was bleeding massively by the end, trying to manage it. Once I got past Fermin, I felt I had the pace to go with the guys ahead. We’ll put this bike in retirement and go again with the new one.”

Senna Agius (Result: 7^th)
This should have been another podium finish. Senna showed scintillating pace all weekend but was frustrated to drop back in the last ten laps. “It seems to be something with our team. I had my eyes on the victory. I felt the drop immediately from the second lap and tried to stay calm. Then when the two ahead felt their drop, I was going to attack. But then it started to feel like my tyre was deflating. It was bouncing around on the rim and I felt out of control.” On his season: “Two victories, four podiums is great. We’ve been really unlucky with technical things. I’ve made mistakes. Riding the rollercoaster. But I made a massive step forward from last year and want to do the same next year.”

Joel Kelso (Result: 23^rd)
A tough way to end a positive year. Knowing he had to beat Carpe by four points to claim fourth overall, he went all in after qualifying 12th. But that didn’t pay off as he crashed out of a top-ten spot on lap three. “We were bloody fast. But in my mind I wanted to finish fourth in the championship so I risked it for the biscuit. Unfortunately, I made a pass and had to release the brakes and didn’t have enough weight on the front tyre. Anyway, it’s been a great year. When we had our shit sorted, we could do some great things and I’m really proud of that. Now we’re going on to bigger and better things.”

Jacob Roulstone (Result: 16^th)
Making a return from the left-hand fracture he sustained in Malaysia, Jacob was competitive with the help of a special glove that gave him added protection. Qualifying 23^rd, he rode heroically to finish just 0.3s off 13^th. “I didn’t think I could race this weekend. I got pins out of my hand five days ago. Not the result I wanted but really pleased with that performance. It’s been a difficult year but I always gave my all. I’ve had 200 problems this year but led laps, and got a first front row.” On plans for 2026: “There’s time until the first round next year. But a spot (in European Moto2) is the full focus now. I want to excel on the bigger bikes and be back here in 2027.”

Cormac Buchanan (Result: 24^th)
Another tricky weekend which started in the worst possible way: a crash in FP1 on a damp patch on track. From there, it was tough as Cormac qualified 26^th and placed a priority on finishing on Sunday. “My goal for these last two races was to bring it home and try and get something out of these races to prepare for the future. My confidence has taken a big hit with all the crashes. At the start of the season I wasn’t thinking about things so much – I was just chucking the bike in and I was fast. I’ll rebuild over preseason and come back stronger.”