Winners and Losers: MotoGP 2025 Australian Grand Prix
- Ramiza Donlic
- Oct 21
- 4 min read
Written by Ramiza Donlic, Edited by Meghana Sree
Raúl Fernández stunned the MotoGP paddock with a breakthrough victory at Phillip Island, turning a chaotic Australian Grand Prix into a landmark day for both himself and Trackhouse Aprilia. DIVEBOMB brings to you the winners and losers from a topsy-turvy weekend at Phillip Island.
Winner: Raúl Fernández
Fernández delivered the biggest surprise of the 2025 MotoGP season so far. At Philip Island, the Spaniard not only celebrated his first-ever premier class victory but also secured the first win for the Trackhouse Aprilia team.
It was a disciplined and tactically mature performance on a track known for punishing inconsistency. From the moment he took the lead early in the race, Fernández controlled the pace with calm precision, building a gap of around 1.5 seconds by Lap 10 and maintaining it to the chequered flag.
After several difficult seasons of adaptation and limited results, this victory marked a genuine breakthrough for both rider and team.
Winner: Fabio Di Giannantonio
Fabio Di Giannantonio also emerged from the weekend as one of the quiet winners. The VR46-Ducati rider didn’t have the outright pace to fight for victory, but he demonstrated impeccable timing and racecraft.
By overtaking Pedro Acosta twice in the final third of the race, which included a decisive move on Lap 19, Di Giannantonio claimed second place. His podium was built on consistency and smart race management, allowing him to capitalise on others’ mistakes in tricky conditions.
It wasn’t spectacular, but it was efficient and valuable for the championship standings.
Winner: Marco Bezzecchi
Marco Bezzecchi’s race was arguably one of the most testing stories of the day. Starting from pole, he appeared in control early on but suffered two long-lap penalties, one immediately after the start and another on Lap 7. Those penalties cost him several seconds and dropped him down the order.
Yet Bezzecchi responded with determination, carving his way back through the field to finish on the podium in third place.
That comeback was a reminder of his speed and mental strength. Importantly, the result lifted him to third in the championship, eight points clear of his nearest rival. A significant recovery considering how easily the race could have been lost.
Loser: Pedro Acosta
Not everyone left Australia in a good mood. Among the clear losers was Acosta, who looked poised to challenge Fernández for victory in the early stages. Running in second position, Acosta made a small but costly mistake at the Stoner Corner on Lap 16, running wide and losing several places.
From that point onward, he never recovered the rhythm, finishing fifth. A solid result on paper, but a missed opportunity given his early pace and potential.
Loser: Francesco Bagnaia
Francesco Bagnaia endured an even worse outcome. While not running at the front, the reigning champion´s race ended in frustration when he crashed out four laps from the finish. He had been in 12th position at the time, but the fall meant zero points and another setback in an increasingly uneven title defence.
With rivals like Bezzecchi and Di Giannantonio scoring strongly, the Phillip Island crash could carry heavy consequences for the remaining championship fight.
Loser: Fabio Quartararo
For Fabio Quartararo, the Australian Grand Prix became another reminder of Yamaha´s ongoing struggles. Having started from pole position, he faded steadily as the race progressed, ultimately finishing in 11th place.
The contrast between qualifying speed and race pace was stark. While the single-lap performance remains encouraging, the lack of consistency over distance continues to be the decisive weakness.
Dropping from pole to outside the top 10 qualifies as a major disappointment for both rider and manufacturer.
Notable mention: Marc Márquez
One notable absence also deserves mention: Marc Márquez missed the Australian Grand Prix due to a shoulder injury he sustained in Indonesia. Márques was thrown off his GP25 after being struck from behind by Bezzecchi. He suffered a “coracoid fracture and ligament damage” to his right shoulder.
Hopes were high that the Ducati rider could recover without surgery, but scans revealed that his shoulder had to be stabilised surgically. The Spaniard could be sidelined for up to 16 weeks. Medical examinations have confirmed no link to his prior injuries, offering reassurance to the nine-time world champion after multiple surgeries on his right arm stemming from his 2020 accident at Jerez.
Beyond the individual performances, the 2025 Australian Grand Prix will be remembered as a milestone for Trackhouse Aprilia. The team’s maiden victory validates its long-term investment and confirms that Aprilia’s satellite program is capable of challenging the established factory squads.
Meanwhile, Bezzecchi’s recovery underlines the value of resilience in a race filled with penalties, crashes and fluctuating pace. Several established names - including Johann Zarco, Jack Miller and Joan Mìr, also failed to finish, further reshaping the points landscape ahead of the final rounds.
With Bezzecchi now moving into third place in the championship and Bagnaia’s zero-point result tightening the top of the standings, the battle for the final races is wide open. The championship now heads to Sepang, Malaysia, a venue where momentum and confidence tend to make all the difference.
Fernández and Trackhouse arrive there as surprise heroes, while Bagnaia, Quartararo and Acosta will be looking for redemption after a weekend that exposed both limits and opportunities.
Comments