MotoGP: Back after two years away, MotoGP touches down for a grand finale – with much to be decided in a final roll of the dice.
Last year we raced for Valencia, this year we return to race IN Valencia. The iconic amphitheatre of the Circuit Ricardo Tormo awaits as MotoGP returns to a sold-out crowd ready to watch the most exciting sport on Earth fire into life. Six different winners in a row, the battle for bronze in the Championship, final shuffles in the standings and even vital points in the concession ranking system guarantee a weekend of storylines. All the drama, battles, ups, downs, and iconic moments of the season come down to one last chapter left to write before we start looking ahead to 2026.
THE BATTLE FOR BRONZE: three become two
Remaining a favourite ahead of the last round of 2025, Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) has had such an impressive season that he has already sewn up the runner up spot and now can ride for wins and nothing but. Like in Portugal though, he could have plenty to say in the battle to finish third overall – staying just ahead of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) on Sunday means the #37 is now out of the fight for third. Neither of them will likely be outside the battle for the wins this weekend, however.
The battle for bronze is therefore now Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) vs Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team). But after a tough run for the #63 and an excellent victory for the #72 last time out, ‘Bez’ put one hand – or maybe even more – on the prize, taking a second Grand Prix win of 2025 in Portugal. That – plus their win in Australia with Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) – makes it the best ever season in MotoGP for Aprilia. In even more good news to round out their year too, Bezzecchi will be joined in the box again by 2024 World Champion Jorge Martin, who returns from injury to try and finish 2025 on a higher note – and take part in the Valencia Test on Tuesday.
SIX WINNERS IN A ROW: who could be #7?
The run is Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), Bagnaia, Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), Raul Fernandez, Alex Marquez and Bezzecchi – so there are plenty names who could be in the hat. Still looking for a maiden win, the most obvious is surely Acosta, although that’s not to say he’s not maximising his package in recent rounds. With just one dust of magic and a little luck, however…
Then there’s Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), five points behind Aldeguer in the standings as he continues to hammer in the consistent results, and hammer home his pure class over one lap. Top speed at Valencia doesn’t count for as much, which is one area where the Frenchman says they need to improve – could he be a candidate? One of many, surely, with the calibre of the grid.
CONCESSIONS: can Honda break rank?
After a podium in Japan and another in Malaysia, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) was building some much better luck until Portimao. There, two DNFs with technical issues halted his progress – but Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) did put in some solid scoring to take 10 points from the weekend. That means the Japanese factory need just nine points from Valencia to move from Rank D to Rank C – a heartening sign to underline their clear progress even more, but also a tricky one given it’s run so close and they’d lose the benefits of Rank D. Mir, Zarco and Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol), who will want more from the final round, have all scored big at times this season. For Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR), the rookie in the ranks, the focus will likely be a different one as he prepares for a new adventure – some more points to round out his MotoGP experience.
FINAL SHOWDOWN: aiming to end the season on a high
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) may have struggled at Portimao but he’s sixth in the standings, and after teammate Franco Morbidelli’s point-less weekend last time out, just 12 points split them. Can they upset the top five? Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was right back at the sharp end in Portugal, and sometimes Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) seems to roll out with sudden magic like in Barcelona – both of the KTMs have experience of winning, too. They can’t be counted out of the battle at the front.
Meanwhile, Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) is back for the final round of the season after his injury lay-off, hoping to end the season on a high, and Miguel Oliveira (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) hopes to end his MotoGP chapter the same. His teammate Jack Miller looks to round out a tougher season with a top ten at least, which would be a first on Sunday since Brno.
For Viñales the Tuesday test is likely key too, and for Miller and Yamaha – with he, Quartararo, Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) and new arrival Toprak Razgatlioglu all ready to roll out on Tuesday as work looks forward. On that note, they’ll also have Augusto Fernandez wildcarding this weekend on the V4-powered YZR-M1 too – another point of interest, as is replacement rider Nicolo Bulega as he continues to sub for Marc Marquez at Ducati Lenovo Team, specifically as part of his brief ahead of 2027 bike development as a test rider. Interesting times lie ahead – and it all starts this weekend in Valencia. The final chapter of one history-making season, and the prologue to another.
Tune in this weekend for the Motul Grand Prix of the Valencian Community for a finale like no other.
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