Closing Act With A Twist: An Aprilia Showcase in the Final Race of the Year
- Ramiza Donlic
- Nov 16, 2025
- 3 min read
Written by Ramiza Donlic
The 2025 season of MotoGP concluded at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia with Marco Bezzecchi sealing the deal - closely followed by Raúl Fernández for Trackhouse and Fabio Di Quartararo for VR46. Pedro Acosta came close to the podium but ultimately finished fourth for KTM, with Fermín Aldeguer in fifth and newly crowned runner-up in the clampionship Álex Márquez taking sixth place. The earlier sprint race was also won by Álex Márquez, setting up what turned out to be one of the most memorable finale weekends of the year.
Race Results:
Marco Bezzecchi, Aprilia Racing, 40:52,458 min
Raúl Fernández, Trackhouse MotoGP Team, +0,686
Fabio Di Giannantonio, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, +3,765
Pedro Acosta, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, +4,749
Fermin Aldeguer, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, +8,048
Álex Márquez, BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP, +8,166
Luca Marini, Honda HRC Castrol, +12,644
Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, +14,582
Jack Miller, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, +15,497
Enea Bastianini, Red Bull KTM Tech3, +17,460
Miguel Oliveira, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP, +19,304
Johann Zarco, Castrol Honda LCR, +21,286
Joan Mir, Honda HRC Castrol, +22,079
Alex Rins, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team, +23,255
Nicolo Bulega, Ducati Lenovo Team, +26,144
Augusto Fernandez, Yamaha Factory Racing Team, +36,854
Somkiat Chantra, Idemitsu Honda LCR, +39,136
OUT- Aleix Espargaro, Honda HRC Test Team, 25 lap
OUT Maverick Viñales, Red Bull KTM Tech3, 23 laps
OUT - Fabio Quartararo, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team, 23 laps
OUT – Jorge Martin, Aprilia Racing, 15 laps
OUT – Ai Ogura, Trackhouse MotoGP Team, 6 laps
OUT – Franco Morbidelli, Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, 1 lap
OUT – Francesco Bagnaia, Ducati Lenovo Team, 0 laps
Sprint Report:
The sprint at the Valencia Grand Prix kicked off with the polesitter Marco Bezzecchi taking the lead into turn 1 - only to be immediately overtaken by Álex Márquez, who wasted no time in asserting himself at the front.
Márquez dictated the tempo early on, choosing a measured rhythm: save the tyres initially, push later. He later reflected: "We still need to make one step ", after the win.
Behind him, Pedro Acosta made an aggressive opening move and briefly held - limiting his ability to challenge for the lead. The fight for third was intense between Di Giannantonio and Raúl Fernández, with the former eventually emerging ahead.
Meanwhile, Bezzecchi, who had secured pole with a new lap record, stumbled early in the sprint after a holeshot device issue, dropping to fifth and ending any shot at a perfect weekend for Aprilia.
Elsewhere, incidents reshaped the mid-field: Jack Miller served a Long-Lap penalty after failing to take an earlier penalty, dropping to 12th.
In short: Márquez timely, Acosta bold yet under pressure, Di Giannantonio resolved. A meaningful closing chapter to the sprint series of the season.
Race Report:
The grand prix on Sunday unfolded under crisp conditions at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, with the focus squarely on Aprilia and whether Bezzecchi could convert his pole into a win. The Italian got off to a flawless start - unlike in the sprint - and pulled away to lead from turn 1 onwards. By mid-race, he had established a gap that the rest could not bridge.
Behind him, Raúl Fernández delivered a strong performance to secure second place, locking in a 1-2 for Aprilia and allowing the manufacturer a triumphant goodbye to the season.
The podium was rounded out by Fabio Di Giannantonio, whose late-race charge denied Pedro Acosta a podium finish.
In the sub-plots, Bezzecchi´s victory reinforced his third-place finish in the championship standings, the best result in Aprilia´s history in MotoGP.
Late-race attrition also shaped the final outcome. A crash in the closing stages took out several riders, including Fabio Di Quartararo, who retired only a few laps from the finish. Earlier, the first lap had already claimed a major casualty: Francesco Bagnaia slid into the gravel and registered his fifth consecutive DNF.
As the chequered flag fell, Aprilia marked the perfect end to their most successful season yet - a dominant one-two finish in Valencia, with Bezzecchi and Férnandez sealing the deal. Their performance underscored Aprilia´s evolution from contender to powerhouse. Meanwhile, reigning world champion Marc Márquez watched the finale from the sidelines, still recovering from his shoulder injury.
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