Marco Bezzecchi signed off the 2025 MotoGP season in style, converting pole position into a commanding lights-to-flag victory in the Valencia Grand Prix at the Ricardo Tormo circuit, the final round of the championship.
The Aprilia Racing rider led the 27-lap race from the first corner and never looked back, although a ferocious late charge from Trackhouse team-mate Raúl Fernández kept him honest all the way to the chequered flag. The Spaniard, who had sat out the previous round in Portugal through injury, closed to within four-tenths of a second in the closing laps but had to settle for second, 0.686s behind.
The result gave Aprilia its first one-two finish since the 2023 Catalan Grand Prix and back-to-back premier-class wins for the first time, following Bezzecchi's dominant display at Portimão a week earlier.
Fabio Di Giannantonio completed the podium for VR46 Ducati, sweeping past Pedro Acosta on the penultimate lap to take third and extend Ducati's remarkable run to 88 consecutive races with at least one podium finisher. Acosta settled for fourth, a result that confirmed him fourth in the final championship standings, while rookie Fermín Aldeguer snatched fifth from sprint winner Álex Márquez on the last lap.
There was chaos before the race had even begun. Franco Morbidelli ran into the back of Honda wildcard Aleix Espargaró as the field rolled into its grid slots, and the VR46 rider was forced to pull out with a fractured left hand that also ruled him out of Tuesday's post-season test. Francesco Bagnaia's miserable campaign then ended on the opening lap, when Johann Zarco lost control of his LCR Honda and collected the two-time champion, sending him into the gravel for a fifth successive retirement. Zarco was handed a long-lap penalty. Bagnaia finishes the season fifth in the standings.
Luca Marini's seventh place was significant, triggering Honda's move up the concession rankings for 2026, while Brad Binder, Jack Miller and Enea Bastianini rounded out the top 10. Miller's ninth place was his best result in 10 rounds aboard the outgoing inline-engined Yamaha.
"Raul was super-fast, super close and always getting closer lap by lap, so it was tough," Bezzecchi said. "But I'm very, very happy, super satisfied about the job from the guys. I can't hope for a better way to finish the season."
Sources
- https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/1086796/1/2025-valencia-motogp-marco-bezzecchi-wins-season-finale-pecco-bagnaia-crashes
- https://speedcafe.com/motogp-news-2025-valencia-results-marco-bezzecchi-wins-dominates-aprilia-one-two-raul-fernandez/
