MotoGP: More From Teams at Valencia

MotoGP: More From Teams at Valencia

© 2025, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc. By Mathilde Gasnier.

More from a press release issued by Aprilia Racing: 

Marco Bezzecchi and Aprilia Racing conquer Valencia for the best season ever.

The 2025 season ended in the best possible way for Aprilia Racing. Marco Bezzecchi started from pole position and dominated the long race from flag to flag, taking his third win of the season. For the first time in his career, the Italian rider won two GP races in a row, dominating every lap from the front both in Portimão and in Valencia. Before him, no Aprilia rider had ever managed to take the lead for an entire Grand Prix race. With the pole position earned on Saturday, he also tied the record for number of poles won with Aprilia, set by Aleix Espargaró, and with the win in Valencia, he also matched Espargaró for the number of wins, with this being his third. This is also a historic milestone for Aprilia Racing. In fact, for the first time ever, the team has taken to consecutive MotoGP wins. For the manufacturer from Noale, this also marks their first victory in Valencia, where they had never before been on the podium, and it is the second one-two after the 2023 Barcelona race.

The Italian rider closes out a historic year – the most victorious ever for Aprilia Racing in MotoGP – made up of extraordinary numbers: 15 podiums in all, with 3 wins in the sprint races and 3 in the long races, as well as 5 pole positions. This set of results gave him third place in the riders championship and placed Aprilia Racing second in the Manufacturers Championship.

After starting from the seventeenth spot on the grid, Jorge Martín had to comply with two long lap penalties for the incident in Motegi. During the fifteenth lap, Aprilia Racing decided to withdraw Jorge Martín from the race as a precaution.

Completing the Aprilia celebrations was Trackhouse MotoGP Team’s Raúl Fernández who finished his home race in second place behind Bezzecchi, making it a brilliant one-two for the RS-GP25.

 

Marco Bezzecchi on the podium after claiming victory at Valencia. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing

 

Marco Bezzecchi:This was a fantastic season finale. Raúl definitely put me to a hard test during the race because he was really fast and good, especially in the finale, but at the start I had set up the race well and created some margin that I knew I’d be able to manage. The last two laps were not easy, but I wanted this victory so much and I just stayed super focused, trying not to make any mistakes whatsoever.”

 

Jorge Martin (1) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Aprilia Racing

 

Jorge Martin:I think withdrawing from the race was the right decision because I’m rather tired and I think it’s smart to turn up fresh on Tuesday so we can do a good test, since we have several things to try. There was no point in tiring myself out now without achieving anything of substance.”

 

 

Massimo Rivola:Finally a season finale as protagonists. It was fantastic to see two Aprilias out front, as we wait for Jorge and Ai to be at 100% as well. The statistics this year are extremely important. Marco had a perfect season, finishing third in the championship with a good margin. As manufacturers, we have seen our growth and we surpassed 400 points to clinch second place. All of this must not be enough for us, but it should be motivation for a 2026 as protagonists. A 2026 that actually begins already on Tuesday, and where we can’t wait to test the many upgrades that are being cranked out constantly from Noale. An immense thank you to the Piaggio Group for supporting us with great faith, and obviously to all the guys and girls in Noale who have done a brilliant job and who will certainly do an even better job next year. Forza Aprilia!”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by BK8 Gresini Racing Team:

Top six for Fermin Aldeguer and Alex Marquez in the final race of the year.

  • Raceday – ValenciaGP

5th – FERMIN ALDEGUER #54

6th – ALEX MARQUEZ #73 

 

  • World Championship Standings

2nd – ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (467 points)
Runner Up MotoGP 2025

8th – FERMIN ALDEGUER #54 (214 points)
Rookie of the Year 2025

 

Fermin Aldeguer (54) at Valencia. Photo courtesy BK8 Gresini Team

 

Fermin Aldeguer: “It’s always important to finish the season with a good result. To overtake your teammate at the last corner is not the most pleasant thing, I wish it was another rider. Thanks to Gresini and Ducati for allowing me to experience an incredibly smooth season, and now it’s time to think about 2026.”

 

Alex Marquez (73) on the grid at Valencia. Photo courtesy Gresini Team

 

Alex Marquez: “We don’t know exactly what happened. We need to analyse the data. Between the fifth and the seventh lap, we lost a lot of performance and now we’ll work to get a better understanding of it. A sixth place is not the type of result we wanted to finish the season with, especially after feeling good on the bike in the early stages. Still, it’s a 9 out of 10 season.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Honda HRC Castrol: 

Honda HRC move to C Concessions after year of improvements in 2025.

The season ended on a high for Honda HRC Castrol as Luca Marini achieved the target of seventh place while Joan Mir authored another strong recovery ride after his Long Lap Penalty.

Overcoming the momentary blip of Saturday, the Honda HRC Castrol team ended their resurgent 2025 season on a positive note with both riders showing the speed for the top ten. Achieving the primary objective as a manufacturer and ‘leveling up’ from D to C Concessions, cementing a clear sign of the progress made by Honda HRC in 2025. With one win and three podiums, Honda finish the year fourth in the Constructor standings with 285 points – 210 points more than in 2024.

Crossing the line in seventh place, Luca Marini was able to take the final points required for the C Concessions and end his season on a positive note. Failing to score just once on Sunday and earning 12 top-ten Grand Prix finishes, 2025 was a marked improvement for the Italian aboard the factory Honda. 13th in the final World Championship standings, Marini finished as the second highest placed Honda and achieved a best result of fifth in Hungary.

Joan Mir signed off his season with a spirited ride, showing the pace of the top five as he cut through the field after his Long Lap Penalty from Saturday’s collision. 13th when the flag came out at the end of the Valencia GP, Mir finishes the championship in 15th and with two hard-fought podiums to his name. There is no doubting Mir’s speed and the still untapped potential he and Honda have together.

The pace of development can never relent, and the 2026 season will start in just 48 hours, on Tuesday November 18.

 

Luca Marini (10) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Honda HRC Castrol

 

Luca Marini: “A fantastic result in the end, we really needed this seventh place and I was so focused on getting it. With how we were looking until this morning, it seemed hard at some points, but I think it shows the progress we have made this year to be able to overcome this. Thank you to my crew, to Honda, not just for today but for the whole year – we have improved the whole bike so much and we’re already looking forward to next year. I’m really happy to stay inside the Honda family because it’s a great group and we are all working together very well and heading in the right direction. Something to celebrate tonight before it’s straight back to work on Tuesday. Thanks to everyone.”

 

Joan Mir (36) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Honda HRC Castrol

 

Joan Mir: “From the start of the race, we didn’t have the best grip but I was able to be quite comfortable. Then I did the Long Lap Penalty, and I had to restart my progress, coming through quite well again until there was quite a big drop in performance at the end of the race. We need to check and understand why we had such a big drop. Anyway, we have a chance now to look back at the whole season and be pleased with the high points in Motegi and Sepang. Of course, there were complicated moments, but I think overall we need to be pleased with what we have done over this year and aim to do more in 2026. The direction of travel is correct and on Tuesday we continue our work.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha: 

Burnouts and Farewells: Prima Pramac Yamaha Ends 2025 MotoGP Season in Style with Miller in P9 and Oliveira in P11.

Prima Pramac Yamaha wraps up its 2025 MotoGP season, with Jack Miller finishing 9th in the Valencia GP, while Miguel Oliveira, in his last appearance in the premier class before moving to the 2026 Superbike World Championship, comes home 11th after a strong recovery from 18th on the grid. But 2026 is already on the horizon: on Tuesday, the official test will see all teams back on track in Valencia, with Prima Pramac Yamaha making the official debut of Toprak Razgatlioglu alongside Jack Miller, both riding the new M1 prototype equipped with the V4 engine.

 

 

Burnouts and flames. Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira close their 2025 season with Prima Pramac Yamaha in front of 93,972 spectators at the Valencia circuit (205,319 over the three days), in a race that saw the Australian finish 9th while the Portuguese rider climbed from 18th on the grid to 11th. It was a race, the 22nd race of the season, where Miller maximized his eighth-place starting position with an attacking yet measured ride, navigating much of the race between sixth and seventh. However, a late tire drop forced him to ride defensively in the final 10 laps, losing two positions to Luca Marini and Brad Binder.

Oliveira, meanwhile, raced entirely in recovery mode. He gained three positions on the opening lap and picked up several more towards the end, finishing just outside the top ten in his final MotoGP outing. A fitting celebration for a long career spanning 15 years across 125cc, Moto3, Moto2, and MotoGP, in which he claimed 17 wins (five in MotoGP), 41 podiums, 12 fastest laps, and five pole positions.

To cap off the season, both riders performed a spectacular burnout returning to the pit lane — with the rubber‘s deposit on the ground of Oliveira‘s YZR-M1 rear tire even catching fire briefly, creating a fun scene that thrilled the fans.

With the checkered flag falling on the 2025 season, the final riders‘ standings see Miller finish 17th with 79 points and Oliveira 20th with 43 points. Prima Pramac Yamaha ends 11th in the Teams‘ Championship with 125 points.

But 2026 is just around the corner. In two days, all teams will return to the Ricardo Tormo circuit for collective testing that effectively opens the new season. For Prima Pramac Yamaha, it will also mark the Yamaha debut of Toprak Razgatlioglu, the three-time Superbike World Champion who will join Miller in defending the team colors next year.

 

GINO BORSOI – Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha:

“It was a nice way to end the season. A great race from Miller and a great race from Oliveira as well, in what was the best possible way for him to say goodbye to MotoGP — with a race that, once the problems of the past days were solved, saw him riding for a long time with the pace of the frontrunners. He deserved it, and the whole team deserved it. I‘m happy he can leave our team and MotoGP with a smile. Miller made us dream of finishing inside the top eight right until the end, before the tyre dropped off a bit in the final laps. But finishing in the top ten was our goal, and we achieved it. We didn‘t miss the show at the end — as always, we know how to stand out — and it was a great way to close the season.”

 

 

Jack Miller (43) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha

 

Jack Miller: “It was a good race, even though I suffered from having to push too much to stay with the guys. In turns 1, 2, 6 and up to 8 the tyre was spinning massively, but you can‘t sacrifice anything there because the others aren‘t, and they‘re gaining. So we‘re spinning more than the others, with less acceleration. I tried to manage the left-hand side of the tyre on entry and control the way I was carrying the speed, but in the end, with ten laps to go, the tyre gave up and I was just bleeding time, trying to survive. We know the issues. Now we‘ll put this bike in the cellar and start working on the new one to see what we can do. It won‘t be as big a step as the one I had during the year, going from what I knew to this bike. Over the season we‘ve been up and down — some good highlights and some decent lowlights too — but in the last couple of races, since Australia, we‘ve managed to understand the front end a bit more. Maybe we lost a little in terms of outright performance, but we gained good feedback in stability and in managing the tire. Now I understand this bike more and more. Next year‘s bike will be different, but the DNA is the same. Finally, let me say goodbye and thank you to Miguel, who raced his last MotoGP race today. He has been a fantastic rider for this sport, and we‘ve shared great times together, as we‘ve been racing each other since we were kids. It‘s sad to see him leave the paddock, but I‘m looking forward to seeing his journey in Superbike. And I‘m ready to start working with Toprak: he‘s another fantastic rider, and I‘m excited to see what he can do.”

 

 

Miguel Oliveira (88) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Yamaha

 

Miguel Oliveira: “It was a good farewell race for me. We made a few adjustments for the warm-up, the bike felt a lot better, and the race confirmed that. I had a good, consistent pace, and starting so far back, I was happy to recover seven positions. It was a race where I enjoyed myself — a nice way to say goodbye to my fans and also to the team. Jack finished in the top ten and I was very close, so it was a good day for us. Now I feel excited for the new adventure, but also sad to leave… a mix of emotions. I‘m facing a new challenge that feels as scary as it is exciting. It‘s sad because I know I still have a lot of potential in this paddock, and leaving like this is not easy. But today was a good day — a day of celebration — and I‘m happy to finish this way. I‘ve had a career that many riders can only dream of. I‘ve had the privilege to win in different categories, and I‘ve been part of great teams that helped me bring out my best potential, especially in Moto3 and Moto2. I am indebted to many manufacturers, many teams, and many people I‘ve met over these years who brought out the best in me. Whatever I achieve in the future will also be the result of all these experiences.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Red Bull KTM Tech3: 

Emotions ran high on Sunday at the Grand Prix of Valencia for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 MotoGP™ team, the final round of the 2025 season, but most importantly, the final race of our team principal Hervé Poncharal, after 36 amazing years leading our historic Tech3 team. It seems impossible to sum up in just a few lines how grateful everyone in the team is to you, how much of a model you have been to every single one of us in the team, so we will just keep it simple: Merci pour tout Hervé, tu vas nous manquer.

Enea Bastianini was all ready to go for the final one of the season, all boosted by his sprint pace. As he lined up in 20th on the grid, Bastianini took an exceptional launch to land in 12th after the opening lap, while it was poleman Marco Bezzecchi who took the holeshot ahead of Alex Marquez, to never look back until the finish-line. Maverick Viñales had taken a solid start too, with 6 positions gained as he entered lap 2 in P15. Both Red Bull KTM Tech3 riders pushed hard in the early laps, with Bastianini making it to 10th on lap 4 as Joan Mir completed his long lap penalty, with teammate Brad Binder ahead, while Maverick was up to 12th after 5 laps. Five laps later, Enea was still in 10th, but Binder had grown the gap, and almost one second separated the two KTM riders. Unfortunately, ‘Bestia’ made a small mistake on lap 13 that grew even bigger the gap to Binder, and he entered lap 14 in the battle for 10th against a charging Mir. The Italian resisted the Spaniard as much as he could, until Fabio Quartararo came tickle Mir, to eventually overtake the number 36, and allow Bastianini to breathe a bit more. The number 23 eventually crossed the finish line in P10, to end the season on a good note! On his side, Maverick had lost two positions to both Oliveira and Mir on lap 7 as he then sat in P14 for most of the race, but unfortunately he decided to retire from the race to protect his shoulder as he felt less and less strength as laps went by.

That’s it for 2025, one more season successfully achieved for the Red Bull KTM Tech3 team with our two riders Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales. Thank you to both of them for their dedication on and off track. We had some highs and lows, but we know 2026 will be even better. We ain’t done yet tough, as the squad will stay in Valencia for the first test of 2026, on Tuesday!

Last but not least, the whole team wishes the best to Mathilde Poncharal, our press officer, and Guy Coulon, Tech3 co-founder, both leaving the adventure alongside Hervé Poncharal. Thank you for everything.

 

Enea Bastianini (23) and Joan Mir (36) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team

 

Enea Bastianini:The start was so good! It was a bit strange though, because I saw all the early incidents, with Franco hitting Aleix on the grid, and then Zarco taking down Bagnaia in T4! I am happy with our first 4-5 laps, I had enough confidence to recover quite a few positions. Later on after 10 laps, the front tire started dropping a lot, and I could not give more sadly. I am usually quite good at managing tires, but today somehow we just did not make it work. I am quite happy with my defense against Joan Mir also, I did not let it go, and it is positive for us to finish with a top 10. 2025 has been full of ups and downs, we were competitive again in the middle of the season, but then I dropped again, and we struggled a bit more. Tuesday’s test will be very important for us with my new crew chief, we are all very tired, but we really want to have a good day. Also, thank you to Hervé and Mathilde, who are leaving, they have been both great.”

 

Maverick Viñales (12) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Tech3 Team

 

Maverick Viñales:I am keeping the highs of this season, when I was at the level, I was at the front fighting with the top guys, which is what I want to remember from this year. Tuesday’s test will be important for us as we continue the rehabilitation, and then we will have the full winter to spend time in the gym, work on myself, and come back stronger, which is the only mindset that I have. I am of course hungry for results, I still want to fight for victories, so I am already looking forward to next season.”

 

Nicolas Goyon, Team Manager:Last race of the season, and one thing is sure, Enea Bastianini is a racer! The weekend has been a summary of the season, meaning poor qualifying and incredible race pace. He achieved a strong top 10 from P20, so as I have already mentioned, our main focus during the pre-season tests will be on the one fast lap to improve the grid positions. Maverick Viñales had to retire a few laps to the end as his shoulder was getting weaker and weaker, so he just prefered returning to the pit box before making a mistake. The recovery has been a long road, and it is still going on, Maverick will need the next two months to be back at his 100%, which is our target. To finish, I would like to congratulate both our riders for their season. It has been a long one, the first with 22 rounds, with highs, including a podium with Enea, and lows, but it is racing, and I am sure that we will be back stronger next season. Finally, the whole team would like to say a huge thank you to both Hervé Poncharal and Guy Coulon, the founders of Tech3 thirty-six years ago in 1989, who both transmitted their passion for motorcycle racing to thousands of people. I really hope that the team’s future will be as bright as it has been in the last decade.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by CASTROL Honda LCR:

CASTROL Honda LCR rider Johann Zarco finished 12th on Sunday in Valencia.

  • Johann Zarco faced some difficulties in the early stages of the race. While trying to avoid contact with another rider, he unintentionally pushed a different competitor into the gravel and received a Long Lap Penalty.
  • After serving the penalty, Zarco pushed hard and recovered positions, climbing back to 12th place, scoring points and showcasing his resilience.
  • With today’s result, Johann Zarco ends the 2025 season as the top Honda rider in the standings, with 148 points, highlighted by an incredible victory in Le Mans and a second-place finish in Silverstone.
  • This is not the end, just two days from now, the 2026 season begins with the Valencia Test!
 
Johann Zarco (5) at Valencia. Photo courtesy CASTROL Honda LCR
 
 
Johann Zarco: “I’m really sorry for Pecco. I was trying to avoid contact with Binder while attempting to overtake Quartararo. In the change of direction, when I made the move, it was very hard to stop the bike, and I ended up crossing Pecco’s line. The impact was strong, and I’m sorry to have ended his race. I was expecting the penalty. Then I was almost last, so I took it easy and stayed consistent without overheating the tyre. The lap times were quite good, and I tried to gain as many positions as possible. I finally crossed the line in 12th, and I finish the year as the top Honda rider, which is positive. We are ready for the test and for what’s coming!”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha: 

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Wrap Up Inline-Four Era with Valencian 2025 Finale

It was an emotional Grand Prix of the Valencian Community for Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP: the final dance for the inline-four engine. Álex Rins and Fabio Quartararo wanted to say goodbye in the best way possible, but the 27-lap Race proved a challenge. Rins pushed to P14 at the chequered flag while Quartararo’s effort ended in an unlucky crash.

 

 

The Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team pushed for one last time in 2025 during today’s Grand Prix of the Valencian Community Race. Álex Rins rallied from P19 on the grid to P14. Fabio Quartararo was riding in P11 when a sudden crash ended his quest.

Rins started from P19 and in the busy mid-pack kept his position in the opening lap. He then battled with Somkiat Chantra for 18th place. With Johann Zarco completing a long-lap penalty on lap 4, Rins gained a position while his fight with Chantra continued. Rins came out victorious on lap 6 and, as Ai Ogura crashed on lap 7, Rins moved up to 16th. Soon a sizeable gap started to form to both the riders in front and behind him. The second half of the final race of the season was relatively uneventful for the number 42 as he pushed to the finish line. He only had to contend with Zarco, who passed him on lap 22. However, as Maverick Viñales, Quartararo, and Aleix Espargaró were unable to complete the race, Rins still took the chequered flag in P14, 23.255s from first.

Quartararo didn’t have a good start from P6 and ended the first lap in P11. He lost another spot to Enea Bastianini on the next, but as Joan Mir had to complete a long-lap penalty two laps later, the number 20 was back in eleventh. He continued to be on Bastianini’s heels but struggled to make a pass. A stalking Mir came through on lap 13, but Quartararo had his revenge on lap 21. However, on lap 24 he suffered a luckless crash going into Turn 8. Though unharmed, the Frenchman’s race ended in an NC result.

After today’s results, Quartararo stays in 9th place in the overall standings with 201 points, and Rins holds 19th position with 68 points. Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP are 6th in the team championship with 269 points, and Yamaha remain in 5th position in the constructor championship with 247 points.

Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP take this moment to sincerely thank its sponsors and partners, who power all our racing endeavours, for their continuous support.

The team will be back in action on Tuesday for a one-day 2026 pre-season test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, where all four 2026 Yamaha MotoGP riders will be riding with the V4 engine.

 

MASSIMO MEREGALLI – Team Director, Monster Energy Yamaha

“This was not the way we wanted to end the season and say goodbye to the inline-four engine. We are disappointed for Fabio. He didn’t have as good a start as yesterday and his early pace was not what we expected. He was gaining in the later stages, but then a crash ended his race. The main thing is that he is unharmed and okay for the important upcoming IRTA test. Rins also struggled at the start, but I’m sure he did enjoy battling with Chantra in the last race. We have completed the race weekend. I want to thank the Yamaha engineers, the Yamaha staff, the hospitality staff, the team crew, and the riders for their great dedication. Moreover, I’d like to thank our sponsors and partners for their continuous support. We now shift our attention completely towards 2026, which, for us, already starts on Tuesday.”

 

Alex Rins (42) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha

 

Alex Rins: “This last race was quite demanding. It was difficult to manage, due to rear tyre degradation, similar to in Portimão. This weekend was a little bit hard for us, but I think I was able to manage it in a good way. We finished a difficult season with a lot of learning and improvements on my personal side and with my team. Now, we start a new chapter. We are going to focus on the V4. I’m super excited to jump on the bike on Tuesday!”

 

Fabio Quartararo (20) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha

 

Fabio Quartararo: “The first four corners were a nightmare because I had an issue with the clutch. I didn’t disengage the front device until Turn 4. I lost many positions, and my pace was not great. I was pushing a bit more at the end to see what my pace was with the used tyre. I was catching Bastianini a bit. We were struggling to overtake, but I was still trying to be as close as possible. I didn’t do anything unusual, but I crashed. So, it was a race to forget.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Ducati Lenovo Team:

The Ducati Lenovo Team wraps up the season at Valencia: Nicolò Bulega fifteenth, Francesco Bagnaia forced to retire after a crash in the early stages of the race.

The Ducati Lenovo Team has completed the 2025 edition of the MotoGP World Championship with the final race of the season at Valencia’s ‘Circuito Ricardo Tormo’. Nicolò Bulega was fifteenth at the flag, while Francesco Bagnaia crashed during the opening lap’s close scrap.

Bulega, eleventh in the warmup, managed – after a challenging start – to finish the encounter in fifteenth place. Bagnaia got a good start from row six as he made his way up to tenth position. At turn four, following a coming together, Pecco ran off track, with his race coming to an unfortunate premature end.

The season draws to a close with Marc Márquez as World Champion and Francesco Bagnaia fifth in the final standings. The Triple Crown is completed by the Teams’ Title secured by the Ducati Lenovo Team and by the Constructors’ Championship won by Ducati.

The Ducati Lenovo Team will resume proceedings this Tuesday, November 18th, for the first official test ahead of the 2026 season, taking place at the same track in Valencia.

 

Nicolò Bulega (11) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Ducati Lenovo Team

Nicolò Bulega : “We made a modification to the bike in this morning’s warm up and it worked, as I had better grip. The start to the race wasn’t the best as I had to ride with a lowered front fork up to turn five. Then, I struggled with grip, especially at the rear-end, and under acceleration. In any case, I’m satisfied with this experience: I made my debut at the penultimate event and the level is extremely high. I’ll try to make a step forward in Tuesday’s test, trying to lap as much as I can and to improve my confidence with the bike.”

 

Francesco Bagnaia (63) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Ducati Lenovo Team.

Francesco Bagnaia : “Unfortunately these situations are part of our sport. It was a racing incident. It was surely positive the fact that I didn’t get hurt, as during the crash the boot hit the wheel. I felt better at the start compared to yesterday: I overtook some riders and some more straight afterwards, and recovered six positions in total. Then the incident happened. It was a really challenging season, so now I want to focus on Tuesday’s test. The goal is to make a step forward and lay the foundations upon which we’ll start working towards 2026.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Yamaha Factory Racing:

Yamaha Factory Racing Team Successfully Complete Final 2025 Wild Card in Valencia Race.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team used the Grand Prix of the Valencian Community Sunday to collect the final V4-Powered Prototype race data at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo before the 2026 pre-season testing starts. Wild-card entry Augusto Fernández stuck to his plan: he completed the 27-lap MotoGP Race and brought the bike home in 16th place.

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team completed their 2025 testing programme in today’s Grand Prix of the Valencian Community MotoGP Race. Wild-card entry Augusto Fernández rode to 16th place in the 27-lap contest, successfully wrapping up the V4-Powered Prototype’s third full-length Race.

Augusto Fernández started from P23 and managed to avoid the opening lap chaos to complete the first lap in P20. He was shadowing Somkiat Chantra and Álex Rins battling for P18. Johann Zarco completed a long-lap penalty on lap 4, allowing the test rider into 19th, albeit shortly: on lap 6 the Frenchman passed Fernández and Nicolo Bulega followed in the next lap. But as Ai Ogura crashed shortly after, the Spaniard was moved up to 20th again. Augusto Fernández stayed hot on Chantra’s heels and successfully overtook him on lap 21 after multiple tries. He held the position to the chequered flag. With Maverick Viñales dropping down the order and retiring, Fabio Quartararo crashing out, and Aleix Espargaró returning to the pits in the final stages, the number 7 ultimately crossed the finish line in 16th place, 36.854s from first.

After today’s results, Augusto Fernández still holds joint 24th place in the final championship standings with 8 points, and Yamaha is in 5th position in the constructor championship with 247 points.

Augusto Fernández now hands over the V4-Powered Prototype to the four 2026 Yamaha MotoGP riders, who will be riding with the V4 engine on Tuesday during the one-day IRTA test at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo.

 

Augusto Fernandez (7) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Yamaha Factory Racing Team

 

Augusto Fernández: “I think we performed quite well on Friday. On the Saturday and Sunday, we have confirmed what the next step will be – the direction we need to take during the winter is clear. It’s been a positive weekend. Our pace is not super far off, and the bike is behaving quite well. I’m curious to see the other guys now, and hopefully they will confirm the same thing. We will keep working to get the package ready for Sepang in February.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Idemistu Honda LCR:

The Valencia Grand Prix marked the closing chapter for IDEMITSU Honda LCR and Thai rider Somkiat Chantra.

  • Beginning from 24th on the grid, Somkiat Chantra set out to push to the limit and savour his final MotoGP appearance, something he undoubtedly achieved, battling his competitors and ultimately finishing in 17th place.
  • The entire team extends its gratitude to Somkiat for his dedication throughout the season and takes pride in having written a meaningful page in history: Chantra will forever be the first Thai rider to reach the MotoGP class. Moreover, his points-scoring performance stands as an additional milestone for Thailand in the premier category.
  • Finally, Honda LCR wishes to express its profound appreciation to IDEMITSU for an adventure that began in 2018, marked by unwavering commitment and exceptional support in their mission to guide Asian riders to realise their dreams and ascend to the pinnacle of motorcycle racing.

 

Somkiat Chantre (35) at Valencia. Photo courtesy IDEMITSU Honda LCR

 

Somkiat Chantra: “Today was my last MotoGP race, and I enjoyed it as much as possible. I want to thank LCR for the work done this year; we worked hard, and I learned a lot. Being the first-ever Thai rider to reach MotoGP is an honor. I’m ready for my next chapter. Many thanks to everyone who supported me throughout this journey.”

 

 

 

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More from a press release issued by Honda Racing Corporation: 

Promising Valencia GP cut short for Aleix Espargaro

An impact from Franco Morbidelli on the grid caused damage to the Honda RC213V of Aleix Espargaro, immediately compromising his race. Soldiering on, Espargaro valiantly fought for the points paying positions to bring home a reward for the Honda HRC Test Team’s hard work. Eventually forced to retire due to the damage, Espargaro’s potential at the Valencia GP remained shrouded.

 

Aleix Espargaro (41) at Valencia. Photo courtesy Honda HRC

 

Aleix Espargaro: “Our pace was good all things considered. A shame what happened on the grid but honestly, I feel bad because Morbidelli has picked up an injury. We were racing with some damage and at the start it was OK, but the exhaust was dragging and the footpeg was getting more and more loose, so I had to retire. Overall, I am happy with what we have shown this weekend, of course it would have been great to have some more tangible rewards, but this can happen. Very happy with the work all Honda has done to end the year in this way.”

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