Bezzecchi Shatters Valencia Track Record, Secures Pole Position for Season Finale

Marco Bezzecchi, piloting an Aprilia, delivered a stunning performance at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit, obliterating the existing lap record and seizing pole position for the season-ending Valencia Grand Prix. The Italian rider’s feat marks a dramatic turn in the final stretch of the MotoGP campaign, underscoring his growing dominance in qualifying sessions.

Bezzecchi’s path to pole was not without its challenges. During his initial flying lap in Q2, a minor mishap at Turn 2 saw him briefly venture off-track, relegating him to ninth position on the timing sheets. Undeterred, he swiftly regrouped and, on his subsequent attempt, unleashed a blistering lap time of 1 minute, 28.809 seconds. This benchmark proved insurmountable for his competitors, solidifying Bezzecchi’s claim to the top spot.

This pole position represents Bezzecchi’s second consecutive qualifying triumph, following his performance at the Portugal Grand Prix the previous weekend. The back-to-back poles highlight Bezzecchi’s prowess in extracting maximum performance from his machine during the critical qualifying sessions.

Trailing closely behind Bezzecchi was Alex Marquez, riding for Gresini Ducati. Marquez, who has been demonstrating consistent form, came within a hair’s breadth of dethroning Bezzecchi. He initially broke the 1 minute, 29-second barrier earlier in the weekend, securing the provisional pole with a lap of 1 minute, 28.967 seconds during his first run. Despite managing to shave off over a tenth of a second on his final lap, Marquez fell short of Bezzecchi’s time by a mere 0.026 seconds.

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Fabio di Giannantonio, representing VR46 Ducati, delivered a noteworthy performance to secure third place on the grid. Di Giannantonio’s consistent pace throughout the weekend positioned him well for a strong qualifying result, solidifying his place on the front row for the Valencia Grand Prix.

Raul Fernandez, riding for Trackhouse Racing, mounted an impressive charge through the qualifying sessions. Having navigated his way through Q1, Fernandez showcased his adaptability and speed, ultimately securing fourth place on the grid. His ability to improve his lap times under pressure highlights his potential for a strong race performance.

Pedro Acosta, considered a pre-qualifying favorite on his factory KTM, found himself in fifth position. Despite his talent and the capabilities of his machine, Acosta ended the session just 0.096 seconds adrift of pole position, underscoring the highly competitive nature of the qualifying session. The 20-year-old’s preparations were further hampered by a crash in the closing minutes of FP2, impacting his rhythm and setup ahead of qualifying.

Fabio Quartararo, representing the factory Yamaha team, continued his strong qualifying form, securing sixth place and a spot on the second row. Quartararo’s consistent performances in qualifying have been a bright spot for Yamaha, demonstrating his ability to maximize the potential of the M1 machine.

Franco Morbidelli, piloting the second VR46 Ducati, secured seventh place on the grid, outperforming Pramac rider Jack Miller and Gresini’s Fermin Aldeguer. Morbidelli’s performance contributes to VR46’s strong presence in the top ten, showcasing the team’s overall competitiveness.

Honda faced a subdued qualifying session, with factory rider Joan Mir finishing in tenth place and LCR’s Johann Zarco following closely in eleventh. The Honda riders struggled to match the pace of the frontrunners, highlighting the challenges the team faces in extracting maximum performance from their RC213V machines.

Ai Ogura, representing Trackhouse Racing, topped the FP2 session leading into qualifying but finished twelfth, the slowest of the Q2 runners. Ogura’s qualifying time was 0.562 seconds slower than Bezzecchi’s pole effort, underscoring the intensity of the competition and the importance of peak performance during the critical qualifying moments.

Luca Marini, riding for the factory Honda team, narrowly missed out on Q2, finishing just outside the qualification threshold by half a tenth of a second. Marini will start the race from thirteenth position, ahead of HRC test rider Aleix Espargaro and KTM’s Brad Binder.

Francesco Bagnaia, the two-time MotoGP champion, encountered significant setbacks during qualifying. A technical issue forced him to park his factory Ducati at Turn 8, resulting in a disappointing sixteenth-place start. Bagnaia had been sitting in second position during Q1 with three minutes remaining when his bike encountered the problem. A flurry of late improvements from other riders pushed him back to the sixth row of the grid, leaving him with a challenging task ahead for the race.

Jorge Martin, returning to MotoGP action after a crash in the Motegi sprint race in September, qualified seventeenth on the Aprilia RS-GP. Martin’s return to racing after his injury marks a significant moment, and his performance in Valencia will be closely watched as he aims to regain his competitive edge.

Nicolo Bulega, substituting for Marc Marquez, concluded qualifying in twenty-second position. Bulega’s participation provides valuable experience for the young rider as he steps into the spotlight on the Ducati machine.

Augusto Fernandez, Yamaha’s test rider, finished twenty-third on the V4-powered M1 after an early crash in Q1. Fernandez’s incident underscores the challenges of pushing the machine to its limits during qualifying, highlighting the fine line between success and failure.

The Valencia Grand Prix marks the final race of the 2025 MotoGP season, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the campaign. The grid positions established during qualifying will play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the race, as riders battle for victory and seek to end the season on a high note.

Rider and Team Backgrounds:

Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia): Bezzecchi’s recent performances have showcased his potential as a future star in MotoGP. His consistent pace and ability to extract maximum performance from his machine have established him as a formidable competitor. This is his first season on the Aprilia machine.
Alex Marquez (Gresini Ducati): Marquez has displayed consistent form throughout the season, earning a reputation as a strong contender. His ability to challenge for podiums and victories underscores his talent and the competitiveness of the Gresini Ducati team. Alex is the younger brother of 8-time world champion, Marc Marquez.
Fabio di Giannantonio (VR46 Ducati): Di Giannantonio’s progression in MotoGP has been steady, demonstrating his potential to compete at the highest level. His consistent results and improved performance have solidified his place within the VR46 team.
Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse Racing): Fernandez’s qualifying performance is a significant step forward for Trackhouse Racing, highlighting the team’s commitment to improvement and development. His ability to navigate through Q1 and secure a strong grid position demonstrates his talent and the team’s progress.
Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing): Acosta’s entry into MotoGP has been highly anticipated, and his performances have lived up to expectations. His talent and adaptability have positioned him as a future star in the sport.
Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha Factory Racing): Quartararo’s experience and skill have made him a key rider for Yamaha, and his qualifying performances often exceed the perceived limitations of the Yamaha M1. His ability to consistently challenge for top positions underscores his talent and determination.
Joan Mir (Honda HRC): Mir, a former MotoGP World Champion, has faced challenges in recent seasons with Honda. The team is working to improve the bike.
Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Team): Bagnaia’s recent run of technical problems is worrying to the team and him, since he is one of the favourites to be champion.
Jorge Martin (Aprilia Racing): Martin has returned to racing after a crash in the Motegi sprint race in September.

The Valencia Grand Prix promises to be a captivating event, with a grid full of talented riders eager to showcase their skills and secure a strong result in the final race of the season. The stage is set for a thrilling battle as the MotoGP campaign concludes at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.