MotoGP 2025 Valencian Grand Prix: Preview
- Finn Glover
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
Written by Finn Glover, Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
For one final time in a season of utter remarkability, chaos and in some parts, total domination, the field of 22 will take to the racetrack this weekend for the return of the beloved Valencian Grand Prix.
It will be the first time since 2021 that we are heading into the final round with no rider’s championship on the line. Nevertheless, the excitement remains, and if the last quarter of the season is anything to go by, this could be a brilliant way to finish what has been an extraordinary season.
The Valencian Grand Prix: Circuit Ricardo Tormo
Catastrophic floods in the Cheste region meant the Valencian Grand Prix was tragically cancelled last season. Eventually, it was replaced with a second round in Barcelona, but we can safely say we are happy for the return of this beloved racetrack in its honorary position as the season’s crescendo.
With a capacity of 125,000, the Valencian Grand Prix is a phenomenal event, and even without beloved home hero Marc Márquez, the crowd will still be in full force.
The track stands at 2.489 mi (4.005 km), and houses 14 unique and individual corners, making it one of MotoGP’s twistiest, most technical and most challenging circuits. Racing here can be extremely do-or-die, with only the bravest overtakes coming out on top in what are often attritional races.
The first corner, Nieto, is forever iconic, the scene of near misses (like that in the 2023 championship finale), great saves (hint: Marc Márquez) and brilliant battles. Will there be some more drama there this year, especially if the winter weather has something to say?
Past results
Apart from last year, the Valencian Grand Prix has been a mainstay on the MotoGP calendar since 1999. Homeboy hero Dani Pedrosa leads the charge for victories here, with a whopping seven across the three classes.
More recently, the form has been extremely mixed, and the impenetrable Marc Márquez has only won here just twice, in 2014 and 2018. Ducati have won two of the last three here; both Bagnaia masterclasses, one of which leading him to his second world championship in 2023.
Other riders to win here include a brilliant win by Alex Rins in Suzuki’s farewell race in 2022, as well as Franco Morbidelli, Fermin Aldeguer, Pedro Acosta, Raul Fernandez, Jorge Martín, Brad Binder, Miguel Oliveira, Jack Miller, Johann Zarco and Maverick Vinales. Aannddd breathe… It’s fair to say that when winning Valencia, lots of riders have experience that may prove handy this weekend!
A forever iconic moment was the 2022 battle between championship foes, Pecco Bagnaia and Fabio Quartararo. It may have only lasted a lap, but remains one of MotoGp’s best ding-dongs, and we are all hoping for a repeat, between anyone and everyone, this weekend.
Key notices
The absentees certainly did not want to miss the end-of-season party; both Jorge Martín and Maverick Viñales are returning this weekend after missing several races. Form may be sketchy, but how amazing is it to see two of MotoGP’s most established riders back on the racetrack?
Nicolò Bulega will step in once more for the injured champion, Marc Márquez. He had a worthy trial for a future seat last time out in Portugal, scoring a point, having never raced a MotoGP bike prior. Can he build on that this weekend?
This weekend, for now, will also be the final race for two riders in the series. Both Miguel Oliveira and Somkiat Chantra are WorldSBK-bound, for BMW and Honda, respectively. Injury-affected seasons have been the downfall for both, and they will be replaced in 2026 by two supremely talented riders, likely Moto2 champion Diogo Moreira and WorldSBK champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu.
One rider to just keep an eye on is Australian Grand Prix winner Raúl Fernández, who withdrew from the last round after an awful accident in Portugal. He is on the list to race, but whether he will, that is a question to be answered.
What a season it has been, and what a pleasure it has been for us fans to watch the action. It started in March, and for months, months and months, it looked like Marc Márquez would sweep the season. Then came the Catalan Grand Prix, and since then, the 2025 season has witnessed six different winners in seven races.
Every race has produced surprises, and we have been given fairytale first victories, iconic battles and a whole heap of storylines. What will happen this weekend? Tune in to find out. The race begins at 1 pm GMT.
