Manuel Gonzalez earned pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard rider turned a 1:39.858 to top the field of 28 riders.
Spanish rider Albert Arenas was second-best with a 1:39.890 on his ITALJET Gresini Moto2 Kalex.
Gonzalez’s teammate, Senna Agius claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:39.926.
American Joe Roberts will start the race from row 6, in 16th place on his Onlyfans American Racing Team Kalex.
Gonzalez heads Arenas to make it a Spanish 1-2 ahead of Agius.
Home is where the heart is and whilst some crack under the pressure, others rise to the occasion and that’s exactly the case for Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Team) and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), who head a Spanish 1-2 in Moto2™ at Jerez. Both put in superb late laps to bag the first two grid slots and with both split by just 0.032s, it’s a mouthwatering prospect in the offing for Sunday’s Grand Prix. In third it’s a first front row for Australian Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) who is likewise close on the chase.
Q1 was always going to be a close-fought contest to scrape through. The likes of Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP), Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR-FRINSA-MSI) all booked their slot, although not without a potential late scare. Darryn Binder (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) was looking on course to move into the all-important top four but fell at the final corner, ending his hopes of moving up further.
In Q2 itself, there were surprises in store right the way through; Agius was the long-time session leader ahead of Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) but it was a set of late laps by Gonzalez and Arenas that propelled them up the order into pole and P2 respectively. Agius remains third, making it a double front row for the LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt squad. Baltus heads up the second row ahead of Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), so whilst it’s a Spain 1-2 on home turf, there’s an international flavour to the opposition behind.
There were costly crashes for Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the #44 crashing at Turn 6 on his final flying lap and the reigning Moto3™ World Champion at the final corner halfway through the session. Both came home in P7 and P8 respectively and Alonso improved on his last lap. Elf Marc VDS Racing Team duo Jake Dixon and Filip Salac complete the top ten. Two shocks outside the top ten in P13 and P14 were the Beta Tools SpeedRS Team duo of Celestino Vietti and Alonso Lopez, with work to do and a busy Sunday ahead.
Find full results from Moto2 qualifying from Jerez here and tune in for more as the lights go out for another showdown on Sunday!
Jose Antonio Rueda earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard topped the 26-rider field with a lap time of 1:43.755.
Joel Kelso was the best of the rest with a 1:44.042 on his LevelUp-MTA KTM, and David Muñoz claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:44.165 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM.
Rueda bounces back for home pole position in Jerez. The #99 will have the honour of going from P1 in front of his home crowd as he aims to take back the points lead in Jerez.
Home hero Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) has been mighty all weekend at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain, and he bagged a first pole of 2025 as he aims to retake the Championship lead he relinquished in Qatar through no fault of his own with that late technical issue. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) takes a third front row of the season in second, with David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) forced to settle for third. Championship leader Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) only just missed out, set to start fourth on home turf.
Having to fight through Q1, riders such as David Almansa (Leopard Racing), Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) were some of the big names in the hunt to move into Q2. Despite being provisionally inside the top four, late lap time cancellations meant Almansa, Ogden and Tatchakorn Buasri (Honda Team Asia) all missed out and instead, it was Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) and Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA) who moved into Q2.
The fight for pole position in the opening stages of Q2 was tight too, with just 0.047s separating home heroes Rueda and Muñoz at the halfway point. Going into the second half, it was all to play for but Rueda, like he had been all weekend, was in a class of his own and secured pole by just under three tenths of a second. A late charge welcomed Kelso to a third front row of the season in second, pipping Muñoz, and Piqueras in P4 is primed for a good home GP as he looks to protect his lead. Top rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) could be one to watch at a venue where he’s got a wealth of experience, and he’s just ahead of Lusail pole-sitter Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI).
There was drama late on for Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), who was held up on a fast lap by a touring Buchanan, before crashing on his final flying lap. He held onto P7 though ahead of Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Argentine star Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) who complete the top ten. Stand-out performances further down included super-sub Perez in P11 and South African rookie Ruche Moodley (DENSSI Racing – BOE) with a personal best of P15.
Find the full results from Moto3 qualifying in Jerez HERE!
French sensation, Fabio Quartararo claimed pole position during MotoGP qualifying Saturday at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 on the dry 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track, Quartararo turned a 1:35.610. Not only was that good enough to top the 23-rider field and broke Francesco Bagnaia’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:36.025 from 2024.
Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP25 riders Marc Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:35.643 and Francesco Bagnaia claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:35.755.
Row-two qualifiers included BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati’s Alex Marquez (1:35.758), Franco Morbidelli on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team (1:35.828) and Maverick Vinales on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16 (1:35.852).
Quartararo unleashes a showstopper for stunning Jerez pole. A heroic late dash to the top sees ‘El Diablo’ depose Marc Marquez to take his and Yamaha’s first pole since 2022.
They say class is permanent and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) would most certainly agree with that after taking a stunning pole position in Jerez, putting in a new lap record on his final dash around the packed out venue. It’s a first pole for Yamaha and the Frenchman since 2022, and he denies Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the #93’s home turf as he is forced to settle for second. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), winner here for the last three years, lurks in P3 too after running the gauntlet with only one bike following an FP2 crash at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain.
Q1: the battle to graduate
There were big names aplenty in Q1, meaning that there were always going to be some disappointments. Following the opening roll of the dice, Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) were sitting pretty but with the second half of the session to go and riders such as Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in contention, there were opportunities to shake things up. On the five-minute mark, Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) was a faller at Turn 9 but OK, although the yellow flags hampered flying laps.
Improving his time on his penultimate flying lap, Viñales went quicker again to secure his place in Q2 ahead of Bezzecchi, who despite not improving, held on to move up. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) missed most of the session due to a check-up at the medical centre following an FP2 fall and got out to set two laps at the end of the session.
Q2: a mighty scrap for pole at Jerez
A blistering opening lap saw Marc Marquez set a new lap record behind his brother Alex, with a 1’35.643 being his first attempt. Behind the Marquez brothers, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was right there too, ahead of Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) after a fast crash in FP2 at Turn 7 and Q1 graduate Viñales. However, the final five minutes would come alive and be the determining factor for the grid.
THE DECIDING MOMENTS: a qualifying crescendo
This time, it was Marc who lead his brother Alex around the track but the #93 was in a class of his own, as he stormed around the lap but lost time in the final sector and thus was unable to better his first stint benchmark. One rider could though: Quartararo. The #20 was putting in some of his best qualifying laps for some time and on his final flying lap, set a new lap record himself to deny Marc a home pole. For the first time since Mandalika 2022, Yamaha and Quartararo were on pole, his fifth at Jerez – the scene of his first pole in 2019 and first MotoGP™ win in 2020. With Marc forced into P2, Pecco emerged onto the front row in P3.
Alex Marquez heads up the second row of the grid ahead of Morbidelli and Viñales, once again inside the top six for the second round in succession and eyeing up a strong Spanish GP. The third row is a power packed one with Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) taking best rookie honours, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in eighth and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) making it a third top ten on the grid in four Grands Prix. Fellow Honda rider Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) rounds out the top ten on the head of row four with Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for company.
Marc Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Saturday morning at Circuito de Jerez, in Spain. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25 on spec Michelin tires, the six-time MotoGP Champion turned a lap time of 1:36.677.
Maverick Viñales was the best of the rest with a 1:36.887 on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16.
Fabio Quartararo was third at 1:36.978 on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1.
M.Marquez’s teammate, Francesco Bagnaia finished the session fourth with a 1:37.097.
Deniz Oncu was quickest during Moto2 World Championship practice Saturday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex on the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:39.564 to lead the field of 28 riders and broke Jake Dixon’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:40.394 from 2024.
Manuel Gonzalez was the best of the rest with a 1:40.115 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
Celestino Vietto was third-fastest with a 1:40.171 on his Beta Tools SpeedRS Boscoscuro.
American Joe Roberts finished Saturday morning’s practice session 15th with a best time of 1:40.635 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Adrian Fernandez led Moto3 World Championship practice Saturday morning, at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Fernandez used his Pirelli-shod Leopard Racing Honda to lap the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track in 1:44.386, which led the field of 26 riders.
Joel Kelso was second-best with a time of 1:44.427 on his LevelUp-MTA KTM.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:44.505.
Alex Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Desmosedici GP24 on spec Michelin tires, the Spaniard turned a lap time of 1:35.991 and it was good enough to lead to the 23-rider field.
Francesco Bagnaia was the best of the rest with a 1:36.094 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Franco Morbidelli was third at 1:36.153 on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Desmosedici GP24.
Bagnaia’s teammate and Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez finished the session fourth with a 1:36.258, making it four Ducatis in the top four.
Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 rider Fabio Quartararo broke the Ducati stranglehold at the top with a fifth-fastest 1:36.419.
Gravel trap to P1: Alex Marquez storms to record-breaking top spot in Jerez. A fast Turn 5 crash was followed by an all-time lap record for the #73 as Bagnaia and Morbidelli cement top three spots.
A fast Turn 5 Practice crash for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) didn’t stop the #73 from ending Friday as the rider to beat in MotoGP at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain – and with an all-time lap record too. Marquez’s stunning 1:35.991 was enough to beat Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) by 0.103s, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) claimed P3 as World Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) settled for P4 to set us up nicely for the rest of the weekend.
EARLY DRAMA FOR ALEX MARQUEZ
There was early drama for FP1 pacesetter Alex Marquez after the Gresini star suffered a fast crash at Turn 5 while shadowing Marc Marquez. The #73 was able to walk away from the incident but the red flags were shown because the air fence that his Ducati GP24 collected needed re-deploying.
BACK UNDERWAY
Once we were back underway, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) led the way with a 1:37.071, with Bagnaia moving into P2 just north of the 30 minutes to go mark. With 28 minutes left, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) went P1 before Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Pedro Acosta and then Quartararo again climbed to the summit, as we witnessed the first 1:36 lap times of the afternoon.
So heading into the business end of the session, how were we looking? Quartararo led Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) by 0.090s, with Marc Marquez, Acosta and Binder your top five – the latter though hit the deck at Turn 9 with just over 20 minutes to go. Zarco was P6, Ai Ogura(Trackhouse MotoGP Team) had climbed into P7 ahead of Bagnaia, with Alex Marquez still inside the top 10 in P9 and after a bit of time in his office, the Spaniard was ready to head back out on track.
CRUNCH TIME
The final 15 minutes had arrived and Quartararo was on a flyer – but the Frenchman’s front end washed away at the Jorge Lorenzo corner. That cost a few riders their times with the yellow flags out, but not Bagnaia, Morbidelli and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). The Italians went P1, P2 and P3 to shuffle Quartararo down to P4, with Morbidelli the rider now leading the way.
Not for long though. Marc Marquez set a 1:36.258 to go P1 with 11 minutes left, and Alex Marquez then shot to P3 from P14 on his first flying lap since the earlier fall. The goalposts were then moved by Bagnaia as the Italian set a 1:36.094 to go P1, 0.164s clear of teammate Marquez. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) crashes, then one for Ogura too, brought out yellow flags before Alex Marquez delved into the 1:35s. The #73 was the first rider ever to lap in that bracket as Quartararo, back on his YZR-M1 that he crashed, pounced back to P5 after sitting outside the top 10.
A moment for Marc Marquez at Turn 6 cost the six-time MotoGP World Champion a chance at beating his brother to Friday honours, and with that, the all-important top 10 was set after no one else was able to improve enough to gain automatic Q2 entry.
Behind the fastest quartet was Quartararo, the 2021 World Champion recovered well after his final corner crash. Rookie star Fermin Aldeguer(BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) sails into Q2 on home turf in P6, Zarco joins the Spaniard in P7 as Acosta ends Day 1 in P8 after a late PB time. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Joan Mir(Honda HRC Castrol) are the final two Q2 qualifiers on Friday, as Binder misses out by 0.055s in P11.
QUALIFYING UP NEXT
Tune into MotoGP qualifying at 10:50 local time (UTC+1) – don’t miss it! Full results from Friday can also be found HERE!
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP:
Quartararo 5th and Rins 15th After First Day in Andalusia.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins got to work at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto today, kicking off the Gran Premio de España weekend. The duo gave it their all during the eventful afternoon Practice session and finished it in 5th and 15th place respectively.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins ended a perfectly sunny first day of the Gran Premio de España Practice session in 5th and 15th place respectively. These results have Fabio Quartararo advance to tomorrow‘s Q2 session, while Álex Rins will take part in Q1.
Having finished FP1 in P3, Quartararo was feeling positive. He was already pushing halfway through the Practice and leading the session when, 15 min before the end, the first time attacks started to flood in. El Diablo was on a fast lap (-0.3s under his own time) but suffered a crash in the last corner. By the time he had returned to the garage and was ready to go back out on track, he was in P10. His next hot lap was cancelled due to yellow flags, but he had time for two more. He managed to set a 1’36.419s in between more yellow flags. His best lap, achieved on lap 21/22, was enough for 5th place in the Practice timesheets, 0.428s from first.
Fabio Quartararo at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing Team.
Rins had wrapped up the morning session in P9 and used a big chunk of the 1-hour Practice to further tweak his bike’s set-up. He was following his teammate during his first time attack and briefly moved up to 11th place, but then the times dropped. The Spaniard locked in during his second time attack, but several yellow flags made it difficult to set a hot lap. In the end, his 1’36.957s, posted on lap 22/24, had him rank 15th in the Practice classifications, 0.966s from the top.
Tomorrow, the teammates will be back in action for FP2, held from 10:10-10:40 (GMT+2). The qualifying sessions will follow from 10:50-11:30, and the 12-lap Sprint will start at 15:00.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI- Team Director, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP: “It was an eventful day. We started the weekend off quite well in FP1, with both riders setting a decent time. Fabio is clearly strong this weekend, and it especially showed during the Practice session, which he led for a long time. He was on a really good lap when he crashed, which was a pity. But luckily he was able to set another good lap later, avoiding the numerous yellow flags in the final stages. He improved on his morning time by 1s, and he is in Q2, as was our target. The times are very close this weekend, though. At one point in the Practice session, the top 18 riders were covered by 1s. Álex also managed to find 0.6s in the afternoon, but unfortunately that was not enough to secure a place in Q2. We will go over the data now to try to find something to further boost our performance for tomorrow’s qualifying and the Sprint.”
FABIO QUARTARARO – Rider : “The pace was good. Unfortunately, I had the crash during my first real time attack, but it was still a positive day. I have confidence, especially on the front, the feeling is incredible. My goal is being inside the top 10 on the Friday. If we are higher, like today, even better, but the top 10 is the main goal. It’s difficult at this track though because here the times are super close. But we did it, so I’m happy.”
ALEX RINS – Rider : “It was a tough day today. There’s a margin for improvement in the hard braking areas for me. I decided to ride behind Fabio during my first time attack to set a fast lap, but as soon as we started the lap I went wide, and also in Turn 6. In the fast corners, Fabio and I are on the same level though. So, we need to find the same potential on the brakes for tomorrow.”
More from a press release issued by Honda Racing :
Espargaro makes Honda HRC debut in Jerez.
A first taste of racing in Honda HRC Test Team colours for Aleix Espargaro as the experienced Spanish rider returned to MotoGP action.
The Honda HRC Test Team were back on track for their first wildcard of 2025 with experienced rider Aleix Espargaro at the helm of the Honda RC213V. A first taste of racing for the #41 after a busy winter with the Test Team, the combination continuing the work they had started during a private Valencia Test. 21st with a best time of 1’37.392, the eldest Espargaro kept his powder dry as he returned to Grand Prix racing, ready to continue his important development work on Saturday.
Aleix Espargaro is back to Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda Racing Team.
Aleix Espargaro : “I had a lot of fun today, it is an incredible honour to ride this bike, in these colours at a race like the Spanish GP. I was hoping to be a little bit faster honestly, but you can’t ask more from yourself after being away from the bike for so long when the level in MotoGP is so high. We were able to try some things and for tomorrow I think we can make even more improvements – this is our target.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP :
Competitive Pace for Miller Despite Late Crash: Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Shows Promise at Spanish GP. It was a bittersweet Friday at Jerez de la Frontera for the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team. Jack Miller was a standout performer throughout the day, consistently running in the top ten, but a late crash during Practice saw him slip to 13th place, forcing him into Q1 tomorrow. Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez posted the 20th-fastest time but continues to show clear progress in terms of speed and race pace.
So close, yet just out of reach. Jack Miller and the Prima Pramac Yamaha team were among the key players from the very first minutes of free practice at the Spanish GP — the fifth round of the MotoGP World Championship. A crash at Turn 9 in the final minutes of Practice, however, denied the Australian what looked like a possible spot in Q2. At the time, Miller was on a flying lap with a second soft tire and was on the way to improve his time.
At a circuit like Jerez — where agility in direction changes and corner speed matter more than outright engine power — the Yamaha YZR-M1 is proving to be highly competitive, as also shown by Fabio Quartararo’s strong performance. After the struggles in Qatar, where Miller also dealt with physical issues, he bounced back at a track where he‘s previously taken both victory and podium finishes. His competitiveness was on full display today. Miller ultimately finished 13th with a best time of 1‘36”854, just over two-tenths off the top ten cut-off for Q2. He‘ll now head into Q1 with a realistic shot at claiming one of the two available spots for Q2, before turning his focus to the Sprint Race, which kicks off at 3 PM local time.
Jack Miller at Jerez during practice session. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team.
Augusto Fernandez, making his third consecutive appearance as a stand-in for the injured Miguel Oliveira, continued his steady progression. After a difficult morning session focused on setup work, the Spanish Official Yamaha MotoGP Test Rider found his rhythm. Although he ended the day in 20th with a time of 1‘37”219, he was just over two-tenths from the points-paying positions—a testament to both his improvements and the tight competitiveness of the field.
GINO BORSOI – Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP : “On one hand, we‘re obviously disappointed by Jack‘s crash at the end of Practice, which cost him a direct spot in Q2 that was well within reach. But on the other hand, it’s very encouraging to see how competitive he was from the first laps — both on a single lap and in race pace. That gives me a lot of confidence, not just for Q1 but also for the Sprint and, above all, Sunday‘s Grand Prix. This old-school circuit, narrower than the tracks we‘ve seen so far this season and less dependent on raw engine power, really seems to suit the Yamaha, as shown by Fabio Quartararo‘s performance as well. The Yamaha engineers are working incredibly hard, and the data and feedback exchange between the two garages is constant. You can see that in the steady progress we‘re making. Jack has a real shot at Q2 tomorrow, and Augusto is also showing consistent growth. The gap to the leaders is narrowing, even if the tight classification makes that harder to see.”
JACK MILLER – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider : “It didn‘t end as the perfect day, but the pace was there and the feeling on the bike was good right from the morning. On my first lap with the new tire, I was behind Marc, but we hit a yellow flag in the final corner, so we both ran wide to get a clean exit onto the straight. That ended up being my best lap, even though I missed the rear brake slightly into Turn 6, went a bit wide, and lost some time. On the second tire, I was following Pecco and tucked the front at Turn 1, but I managed to save it. Still, I lost some time behind him and had to push hard through the next two corners to close the gap. I was feeling strong, though. Then in Turn 7, I came in a bit too hot, didn‘t get much stopping from the rear, forced the front a little, and the bike just gave up—down I went. It‘s a shame, but the pace is there. We just need a bit more support from the engine braking, and I‘m confident we‘ll get that sorted for tomorrow.”
AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider : “The morning was tough—I was struggling quite a bit, and we had to make some setup changes that eventually gave me a better feeling. But we’re still not getting much support from the rear, which is making things difficult. On the other hand, the bike feels great at the front, as you can see from Quartararo‘s times—he‘s a rider who really pushes the front end. Overall, the bike feels good. We just need to better understand the tire drop-off so we can maintain a consistent pace. As for me, I‘m still chasing, but I‘m getting closer to making up some positions. I‘m right on the edge of the top 15, and if we can improve the feeling from the rear, I think we can take a good step forward. Top 15 is our goal this weekend—to grab a few points. Let‘s see if we can make it happen.”
Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 2.7-mile road course in 1:40.142, topping the field of 28 riders.
Barry Baltus was second-best with a time of 1:40.480 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex. Deniz Oncu did a third-fastest 1:40.629 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 12th with a best time of 1:41.008 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Jose Antonio Rueda led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Rueda used his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Ajo to lap the 2.7-mile (4.42 km) track in 1:43.770, which led the field of 25 riders.
His teammate, Alvaro Carpe was second-best with a time of 1:44.812.
Taiyo Furusato, piloting his Team Asia Honda, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:44.827.
Grip. Time after time, during his debrief, Jeremy Toye kept coming back to that word.
“This thing is hooked up front and rear,” Toye said after riding the 2025 KTM 450 SMR competition-only Supermoto machine at Apex Racing Center. “It produces more grip in more places than I’ve ever felt from a Supermoto.”
KTM turned journalists loose on the latest iteration of its dedicated Supermoto machine at Apex on Wednesday. The company’s goal was to increase grip and feel on the machine, which is based on the 450 SX-F 450 cc four-stroke Single. A new frame is the most important change compared to the prior SMR, which has been a cornerstone of KTM’s lineup. “Supermoto is in KTM’s DNA,” said Ryan Sarancha, product manager for KTM North America.
After a day of wheelies, powerslides and full-on aerial activities, Toye concluded that the new bike is a significant improvement over the prior model. “I wouldn’t change a thing on this,” Toye said.
Jeremy Toye (57) was impressed by the level of grip the 2025 KTM 450 SMR produced. Photo by Michael Gougis.
KTM 450 SMR Specifications
The SMR’s 95 x 63.4 bore and stroke creates a displacement of 449.4 cc and produces a claimed 63 horsepower. Breathing is handled by a new, stiffer airbox/inlet that prevents the suction created on the intake side from collapsing it and reducing its volume, a 44mm throttle body, and a high-mounted single exhaust pipe. Electronic rider aids include a simple on/off traction control function, launch control, two engine maps, and a quickshifter for upshifts from second through fifth gears. A Suter slipper clutch operates on ball bearings and is easily adjustable. The whole engine weighs just a tick over 59 pounds.
The new frame is a combination of forged steel, stamped steel, and tubular steel sections welded together. The goal was increased rigidity in the lateral plane with more flex in the longitudinal (front-to-back) plane. The rear shock upper mount no longer has a straight frame section connecting it to the steering stem, and it has cutouts to absorb some of the input from the shock.
The bike features spoked Alpina rims, 16.5 inches in the front and 17 inches in the rear. To accommodate bigger Supermoto rubber, the swingarm is designed specifically for the SMR. A Metzeler Supermoto-specific 125/75 slick is mounted up front, mated to the 165/55 in the rear.
The 48mm inverted forks use conventional springs, unlike the air forks found on the SMR’s motocross counterpart, and a closed cartridge design for more consistent damping. The rear dogbones/pullrod and knuckle are different from the motocrosser as well. The triple clamps are offset 16mm instead of 22mm for quicker steering, the seat height of 35.3 inches is lower, and suspension travel is reduced to 11.1 inches in the front and 10.4 inches in the rear.
The bike weighs in at a claimed 239.8 pounds without fuel. Suggested retail is $12,149, and it is for closed-course competition use only.
Jeremy Toye (57) on the 2025 KTM 450 SMR. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Riding The KTM 450 SMR
As mentioned, Toye was absolutely blown away by the grip and feel provided by the Metzeler Racetec SM slicks and the new chassis.
“The stereotypical Supermoto riding, you’re sideways going in, you wheelie coming out (of a corner) and you’re usually searching for grip, the thing shaking its head on the way out,” Toye says. “This thing doesn’t do any of that. That level of grip is producing so much confidence.” It was so impressive, Toye said, that he felt he needed more time to really come to grips with how much performance was available. “It’s like it’s a barrier right now, and it’s a good barrier to have, because there’s just nothing going wrong. You have to be aggressive. The stability is so good … the level is way up there.”
Jeremy Toye (57) wheelies the 2025 KTM 450 SMR onto the final straight at Apex Racing Center. Photo by Michael Gougis.
The engine response, Toye felt, was smooth and powerful, allowing him to get on the gas sooner. Although he felt the softer power map was better initially, he felt the more aggressive map would be the one he would chose as he got more familiar with the machine. The brakes didn’t fade, front or rear, and Toye’s only desire was for higher pegs, as the increased grip left him with greater lean angle and dragging his toes.
Watch for a full review in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World!
Manuel Gonzalez in parc fermé after taking pole position. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Manuel Gonzalez earned pole position during Moto2 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard rider turned a 1:39.858 to top the field of 28 riders.
Spanish rider Albert Arenas was second-best with a 1:39.890 on his ITALJET Gresini Moto2 Kalex.
Gonzalez’s teammate, Senna Agius claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:39.926.
American Joe Roberts will start the race from row 6, in 16th place on his Onlyfans American Racing Team Kalex.
Gonzalez heads Arenas to make it a Spanish 1-2 ahead of Agius.
Home is where the heart is and whilst some crack under the pressure, others rise to the occasion and that’s exactly the case for Manuel Gonzalez (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Team) and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), who head a Spanish 1-2 in Moto2™ at Jerez. Both put in superb late laps to bag the first two grid slots and with both split by just 0.032s, it’s a mouthwatering prospect in the offing for Sunday’s Grand Prix. In third it’s a first front row for Australian Senna Agius (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) who is likewise close on the chase.
Q1 was always going to be a close-fought contest to scrape through. The likes of Izan Guevara (BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2), Zonta Van Den Goorbergh (RW-Idrofoglia Racing GP), Collin Veijer (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Ivan Ortola (QJMOTOR-FRINSA-MSI) all booked their slot, although not without a potential late scare. Darryn Binder (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) was looking on course to move into the all-important top four but fell at the final corner, ending his hopes of moving up further.
In Q2 itself, there were surprises in store right the way through; Agius was the long-time session leader ahead of Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) but it was a set of late laps by Gonzalez and Arenas that propelled them up the order into pole and P2 respectively. Agius remains third, making it a double front row for the LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt squad. Baltus heads up the second row ahead of Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), so whilst it’s a Spain 1-2 on home turf, there’s an international flavour to the opposition behind.
There were costly crashes for Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) and David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), with the #44 crashing at Turn 6 on his final flying lap and the reigning Moto3™ World Champion at the final corner halfway through the session. Both came home in P7 and P8 respectively and Alonso improved on his last lap. Elf Marc VDS Racing Team duo Jake Dixon and Filip Salac complete the top ten. Two shocks outside the top ten in P13 and P14 were the Beta Tools SpeedRS Team duo of Celestino Vietti and Alonso Lopez, with work to do and a busy Sunday ahead.
Find full results from Moto2 qualifying from Jerez here and tune in for more as the lights go out for another showdown on Sunday!
Jose Antonio Rueda (99) at Circuito de Jerez during practice. Photo courtesy Dorna.
Jose Antonio Rueda earned pole position during Moto3 World Championship qualifying Saturday at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Red Bull KTM Ajo on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard topped the 26-rider field with a lap time of 1:43.755.
Joel Kelso was the best of the rest with a 1:44.042 on his LevelUp-MTA KTM, and David Muñoz claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:44.165 on his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP KTM.
Rueda bounces back for home pole position in Jerez. The #99 will have the honour of going from P1 in front of his home crowd as he aims to take back the points lead in Jerez.
Home hero Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) has been mighty all weekend at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain, and he bagged a first pole of 2025 as he aims to retake the Championship lead he relinquished in Qatar through no fault of his own with that late technical issue. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) takes a third front row of the season in second, with David Muñoz (LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP) forced to settle for third. Championship leader Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) only just missed out, set to start fourth on home turf.
Having to fight through Q1, riders such as David Almansa (Leopard Racing), Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) and Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power) were some of the big names in the hunt to move into Q2. Despite being provisionally inside the top four, late lap time cancellations meant Almansa, Ogden and Tatchakorn Buasri (Honda Team Asia) all missed out and instead, it was Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse), Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team), Cormac Buchanan (DENSSI Racing – BOE) and Vicente Perez (LEVELUP-MTA) who moved into Q2.
The fight for pole position in the opening stages of Q2 was tight too, with just 0.047s separating home heroes Rueda and Muñoz at the halfway point. Going into the second half, it was all to play for but Rueda, like he had been all weekend, was in a class of his own and secured pole by just under three tenths of a second. A late charge welcomed Kelso to a third front row of the season in second, pipping Muñoz, and Piqueras in P4 is primed for a good home GP as he looks to protect his lead. Top rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) could be one to watch at a venue where he’s got a wealth of experience, and he’s just ahead of Lusail pole-sitter Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI).
There was drama late on for Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing), who was held up on a fast lap by a touring Buchanan, before crashing on his final flying lap. He held onto P7 though ahead of Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Argentine star Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) who complete the top ten. Stand-out performances further down included super-sub Perez in P11 and South African rookie Ruche Moodley (DENSSI Racing – BOE) with a personal best of P15.
Find the full results from Moto3 qualifying in Jerez HERE!
Fabio Quartararo claimed pole position after 830 days. Photo courtesy Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team.
French sensation, Fabio Quartararo claimed pole position during MotoGP qualifying Saturday at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 on the dry 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track, Quartararo turned a 1:35.610. Not only was that good enough to top the 23-rider field and broke Francesco Bagnaia’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:36.025 from 2024.
Lenovo Team Ducati Desmosedici GP25 riders Marc Marquez was the best of the rest with a 1:35.643 and Francesco Bagnaia claimed the third and final spot on the front row with a 1:35.755.
Row-two qualifiers included BK8 Gresini Racing Ducati’s Alex Marquez (1:35.758), Franco Morbidelli on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team (1:35.828) and Maverick Vinales on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16 (1:35.852).
Quartararo unleashes a showstopper for stunning Jerez pole. A heroic late dash to the top sees ‘El Diablo’ depose Marc Marquez to take his and Yamaha’s first pole since 2022.
They say class is permanent and Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) would most certainly agree with that after taking a stunning pole position in Jerez, putting in a new lap record on his final dash around the packed out venue. It’s a first pole for Yamaha and the Frenchman since 2022, and he denies Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) on the #93’s home turf as he is forced to settle for second. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team), winner here for the last three years, lurks in P3 too after running the gauntlet with only one bike following an FP2 crash at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain.
Q1: the battle to graduate
There were big names aplenty in Q1, meaning that there were always going to be some disappointments. Following the opening roll of the dice, Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) were sitting pretty but with the second half of the session to go and riders such as Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Enea Bastianini (Red Bull KTM Tech 3) in contention, there were opportunities to shake things up. On the five-minute mark, Lorenzo Savadori (Aprilia Racing) was a faller at Turn 9 but OK, although the yellow flags hampered flying laps.
Improving his time on his penultimate flying lap, Viñales went quicker again to secure his place in Q2 ahead of Bezzecchi, who despite not improving, held on to move up. Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) missed most of the session due to a check-up at the medical centre following an FP2 fall and got out to set two laps at the end of the session.
Q2: a mighty scrap for pole at Jerez
A blistering opening lap saw Marc Marquez set a new lap record behind his brother Alex, with a 1’35.643 being his first attempt. Behind the Marquez brothers, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) was right there too, ahead of Quartararo, Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) after a fast crash in FP2 at Turn 7 and Q1 graduate Viñales. However, the final five minutes would come alive and be the determining factor for the grid.
THE DECIDING MOMENTS: a qualifying crescendo
This time, it was Marc who lead his brother Alex around the track but the #93 was in a class of his own, as he stormed around the lap but lost time in the final sector and thus was unable to better his first stint benchmark. One rider could though: Quartararo. The #20 was putting in some of his best qualifying laps for some time and on his final flying lap, set a new lap record himself to deny Marc a home pole. For the first time since Mandalika 2022, Yamaha and Quartararo were on pole, his fifth at Jerez – the scene of his first pole in 2019 and first MotoGP™ win in 2020. With Marc forced into P2, Pecco emerged onto the front row in P3.
Alex Marquez heads up the second row of the grid ahead of Morbidelli and Viñales, once again inside the top six for the second round in succession and eyeing up a strong Spanish GP. The third row is a power packed one with Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) taking best rookie honours, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) in eighth and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) making it a third top ten on the grid in four Grands Prix. Fellow Honda rider Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) rounds out the top ten on the head of row four with Bezzecchi and Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for company.
Marc Marquez at Jerez during practice session. Photo courtesy Ducati Team.
Marc Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Saturday morning at Circuito de Jerez, in Spain. Riding his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25 on spec Michelin tires, the six-time MotoGP Champion turned a lap time of 1:36.677.
Maverick Viñales was the best of the rest with a 1:36.887 on his Red Bull KTM Tech3 RC16.
Fabio Quartararo was third at 1:36.978 on his Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1.
M.Marquez’s teammate, Francesco Bagnaia finished the session fourth with a 1:37.097.
Deniz Oncu at Jerez during FP2. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Ajo Team.
Deniz Oncu was quickest during Moto2 World Championship practice Saturday morning at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Ajo Kalex on the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track, the Turkish rider recorded a 1:39.564 to lead the field of 28 riders and broke Jake Dixon’s All-Time Lap Record of 1:40.394 from 2024.
Manuel Gonzalez was the best of the rest with a 1:40.115 on his LIQUI MOLY Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex.
Celestino Vietto was third-fastest with a 1:40.171 on his Beta Tools SpeedRS Boscoscuro.
American Joe Roberts finished Saturday morning’s practice session 15th with a best time of 1:40.635 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Adrian Fernandez at Jerez. Photo courtesy Leopard Racing.
Adrian Fernandez led Moto3 World Championship practice Saturday morning, at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Fernandez used his Pirelli-shod Leopard Racing Honda to lap the 2.7-mile (4.4 km) track in 1:44.386, which led the field of 26 riders.
Joel Kelso was second-best with a time of 1:44.427 on his LevelUp-MTA KTM.
Red Bull KTM Ajo’s Jose Antonio Rueda claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:44.505.
Alex Marquez was best In Friday Practice at Jerez. Photo courtesy Gresini Racing Team.
Alex Marquez led MotoGP World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP Desmosedici GP24 on spec Michelin tires, the Spaniard turned a lap time of 1:35.991 and it was good enough to lead to the 23-rider field.
Francesco Bagnaia was the best of the rest with a 1:36.094 on his Lenovo Ducati Desmosedici GP25.
Franco Morbidelli was third at 1:36.153 on his Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team Desmosedici GP24.
Bagnaia’s teammate and Six-time MotoGP World Champion Marc Marquez finished the session fourth with a 1:36.258, making it four Ducatis in the top four.
Monster Energy Yamaha YZR-M1 rider Fabio Quartararo broke the Ducati stranglehold at the top with a fifth-fastest 1:36.419.
Gravel trap to P1: Alex Marquez storms to record-breaking top spot in Jerez. A fast Turn 5 crash was followed by an all-time lap record for the #73 as Bagnaia and Morbidelli cement top three spots.
A fast Turn 5 Practice crash for Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) didn’t stop the #73 from ending Friday as the rider to beat in MotoGP at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain – and with an all-time lap record too. Marquez’s stunning 1:35.991 was enough to beat Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) by 0.103s, Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) claimed P3 as World Championship leader Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) settled for P4 to set us up nicely for the rest of the weekend.
EARLY DRAMA FOR ALEX MARQUEZ
There was early drama for FP1 pacesetter Alex Marquez after the Gresini star suffered a fast crash at Turn 5 while shadowing Marc Marquez. The #73 was able to walk away from the incident but the red flags were shown because the air fence that his Ducati GP24 collected needed re-deploying.
BACK UNDERWAY
Once we were back underway, Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) led the way with a 1:37.071, with Bagnaia moving into P2 just north of the 30 minutes to go mark. With 28 minutes left, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) went P1 before Brad Binder, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Pedro Acosta and then Quartararo again climbed to the summit, as we witnessed the first 1:36 lap times of the afternoon.
So heading into the business end of the session, how were we looking? Quartararo led Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) by 0.090s, with Marc Marquez, Acosta and Binder your top five – the latter though hit the deck at Turn 9 with just over 20 minutes to go. Zarco was P6, Ai Ogura(Trackhouse MotoGP Team) had climbed into P7 ahead of Bagnaia, with Alex Marquez still inside the top 10 in P9 and after a bit of time in his office, the Spaniard was ready to head back out on track.
CRUNCH TIME
The final 15 minutes had arrived and Quartararo was on a flyer – but the Frenchman’s front end washed away at the Jorge Lorenzo corner. That cost a few riders their times with the yellow flags out, but not Bagnaia, Morbidelli and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). The Italians went P1, P2 and P3 to shuffle Quartararo down to P4, with Morbidelli the rider now leading the way.
Not for long though. Marc Marquez set a 1:36.258 to go P1 with 11 minutes left, and Alex Marquez then shot to P3 from P14 on his first flying lap since the earlier fall. The goalposts were then moved by Bagnaia as the Italian set a 1:36.094 to go P1, 0.164s clear of teammate Marquez. Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) crashes, then one for Ogura too, brought out yellow flags before Alex Marquez delved into the 1:35s. The #73 was the first rider ever to lap in that bracket as Quartararo, back on his YZR-M1 that he crashed, pounced back to P5 after sitting outside the top 10.
A moment for Marc Marquez at Turn 6 cost the six-time MotoGP World Champion a chance at beating his brother to Friday honours, and with that, the all-important top 10 was set after no one else was able to improve enough to gain automatic Q2 entry.
Behind the fastest quartet was Quartararo, the 2021 World Champion recovered well after his final corner crash. Rookie star Fermin Aldeguer(BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) sails into Q2 on home turf in P6, Zarco joins the Spaniard in P7 as Acosta ends Day 1 in P8 after a late PB time. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and Joan Mir(Honda HRC Castrol) are the final two Q2 qualifiers on Friday, as Binder misses out by 0.055s in P11.
QUALIFYING UP NEXT
Tune into MotoGP qualifying at 10:50 local time (UTC+1) – don’t miss it! Full results from Friday can also be found HERE!
More from a press release issued by Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP:
Quartararo 5th and Rins 15th After First Day in Andalusia.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins got to work at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto today, kicking off the Gran Premio de España weekend. The duo gave it their all during the eventful afternoon Practice session and finished it in 5th and 15th place respectively.
Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP’s Fabio Quartararo and Álex Rins ended a perfectly sunny first day of the Gran Premio de España Practice session in 5th and 15th place respectively. These results have Fabio Quartararo advance to tomorrow‘s Q2 session, while Álex Rins will take part in Q1.
Having finished FP1 in P3, Quartararo was feeling positive. He was already pushing halfway through the Practice and leading the session when, 15 min before the end, the first time attacks started to flood in. El Diablo was on a fast lap (-0.3s under his own time) but suffered a crash in the last corner. By the time he had returned to the garage and was ready to go back out on track, he was in P10. His next hot lap was cancelled due to yellow flags, but he had time for two more. He managed to set a 1’36.419s in between more yellow flags. His best lap, achieved on lap 21/22, was enough for 5th place in the Practice timesheets, 0.428s from first.
Fabio Quartararo at Jerez. Photo courtesy Yamaha Racing Team.
Rins had wrapped up the morning session in P9 and used a big chunk of the 1-hour Practice to further tweak his bike’s set-up. He was following his teammate during his first time attack and briefly moved up to 11th place, but then the times dropped. The Spaniard locked in during his second time attack, but several yellow flags made it difficult to set a hot lap. In the end, his 1’36.957s, posted on lap 22/24, had him rank 15th in the Practice classifications, 0.966s from the top.
Tomorrow, the teammates will be back in action for FP2, held from 10:10-10:40 (GMT+2). The qualifying sessions will follow from 10:50-11:30, and the 12-lap Sprint will start at 15:00.
MASSIMO MEREGALLI- Team Director, Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP: “It was an eventful day. We started the weekend off quite well in FP1, with both riders setting a decent time. Fabio is clearly strong this weekend, and it especially showed during the Practice session, which he led for a long time. He was on a really good lap when he crashed, which was a pity. But luckily he was able to set another good lap later, avoiding the numerous yellow flags in the final stages. He improved on his morning time by 1s, and he is in Q2, as was our target. The times are very close this weekend, though. At one point in the Practice session, the top 18 riders were covered by 1s. Álex also managed to find 0.6s in the afternoon, but unfortunately that was not enough to secure a place in Q2. We will go over the data now to try to find something to further boost our performance for tomorrow’s qualifying and the Sprint.”
FABIO QUARTARARO – Rider : “The pace was good. Unfortunately, I had the crash during my first real time attack, but it was still a positive day. I have confidence, especially on the front, the feeling is incredible. My goal is being inside the top 10 on the Friday. If we are higher, like today, even better, but the top 10 is the main goal. It’s difficult at this track though because here the times are super close. But we did it, so I’m happy.”
ALEX RINS – Rider : “It was a tough day today. There’s a margin for improvement in the hard braking areas for me. I decided to ride behind Fabio during my first time attack to set a fast lap, but as soon as we started the lap I went wide, and also in Turn 6. In the fast corners, Fabio and I are on the same level though. So, we need to find the same potential on the brakes for tomorrow.”
More from a press release issued by Honda Racing :
Espargaro makes Honda HRC debut in Jerez.
A first taste of racing in Honda HRC Test Team colours for Aleix Espargaro as the experienced Spanish rider returned to MotoGP action.
The Honda HRC Test Team were back on track for their first wildcard of 2025 with experienced rider Aleix Espargaro at the helm of the Honda RC213V. A first taste of racing for the #41 after a busy winter with the Test Team, the combination continuing the work they had started during a private Valencia Test. 21st with a best time of 1’37.392, the eldest Espargaro kept his powder dry as he returned to Grand Prix racing, ready to continue his important development work on Saturday.
Aleix Espargaro is back to Jerez. Photo courtesy Honda Racing Team.
Aleix Espargaro : “I had a lot of fun today, it is an incredible honour to ride this bike, in these colours at a race like the Spanish GP. I was hoping to be a little bit faster honestly, but you can’t ask more from yourself after being away from the bike for so long when the level in MotoGP is so high. We were able to try some things and for tomorrow I think we can make even more improvements – this is our target.”
More from a press release issued by Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP :
Competitive Pace for Miller Despite Late Crash: Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Shows Promise at Spanish GP. It was a bittersweet Friday at Jerez de la Frontera for the Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP team. Jack Miller was a standout performer throughout the day, consistently running in the top ten, but a late crash during Practice saw him slip to 13th place, forcing him into Q1 tomorrow. Meanwhile, Augusto Fernandez posted the 20th-fastest time but continues to show clear progress in terms of speed and race pace.
So close, yet just out of reach. Jack Miller and the Prima Pramac Yamaha team were among the key players from the very first minutes of free practice at the Spanish GP — the fifth round of the MotoGP World Championship. A crash at Turn 9 in the final minutes of Practice, however, denied the Australian what looked like a possible spot in Q2. At the time, Miller was on a flying lap with a second soft tire and was on the way to improve his time.
At a circuit like Jerez — where agility in direction changes and corner speed matter more than outright engine power — the Yamaha YZR-M1 is proving to be highly competitive, as also shown by Fabio Quartararo’s strong performance. After the struggles in Qatar, where Miller also dealt with physical issues, he bounced back at a track where he‘s previously taken both victory and podium finishes. His competitiveness was on full display today. Miller ultimately finished 13th with a best time of 1‘36”854, just over two-tenths off the top ten cut-off for Q2. He‘ll now head into Q1 with a realistic shot at claiming one of the two available spots for Q2, before turning his focus to the Sprint Race, which kicks off at 3 PM local time.
Jack Miller at Jerez during practice session. Photo courtesy Prima Pramac Team.
Augusto Fernandez, making his third consecutive appearance as a stand-in for the injured Miguel Oliveira, continued his steady progression. After a difficult morning session focused on setup work, the Spanish Official Yamaha MotoGP Test Rider found his rhythm. Although he ended the day in 20th with a time of 1‘37”219, he was just over two-tenths from the points-paying positions—a testament to both his improvements and the tight competitiveness of the field.
GINO BORSOI – Team Director, Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP : “On one hand, we‘re obviously disappointed by Jack‘s crash at the end of Practice, which cost him a direct spot in Q2 that was well within reach. But on the other hand, it’s very encouraging to see how competitive he was from the first laps — both on a single lap and in race pace. That gives me a lot of confidence, not just for Q1 but also for the Sprint and, above all, Sunday‘s Grand Prix. This old-school circuit, narrower than the tracks we‘ve seen so far this season and less dependent on raw engine power, really seems to suit the Yamaha, as shown by Fabio Quartararo‘s performance as well. The Yamaha engineers are working incredibly hard, and the data and feedback exchange between the two garages is constant. You can see that in the steady progress we‘re making. Jack has a real shot at Q2 tomorrow, and Augusto is also showing consistent growth. The gap to the leaders is narrowing, even if the tight classification makes that harder to see.”
JACK MILLER – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider : “It didn‘t end as the perfect day, but the pace was there and the feeling on the bike was good right from the morning. On my first lap with the new tire, I was behind Marc, but we hit a yellow flag in the final corner, so we both ran wide to get a clean exit onto the straight. That ended up being my best lap, even though I missed the rear brake slightly into Turn 6, went a bit wide, and lost some time. On the second tire, I was following Pecco and tucked the front at Turn 1, but I managed to save it. Still, I lost some time behind him and had to push hard through the next two corners to close the gap. I was feeling strong, though. Then in Turn 7, I came in a bit too hot, didn‘t get much stopping from the rear, forced the front a little, and the bike just gave up—down I went. It‘s a shame, but the pace is there. We just need a bit more support from the engine braking, and I‘m confident we‘ll get that sorted for tomorrow.”
AUGUSTO FERNANDEZ – Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP Rider : “The morning was tough—I was struggling quite a bit, and we had to make some setup changes that eventually gave me a better feeling. But we’re still not getting much support from the rear, which is making things difficult. On the other hand, the bike feels great at the front, as you can see from Quartararo‘s times—he‘s a rider who really pushes the front end. Overall, the bike feels good. We just need to better understand the tire drop-off so we can maintain a consistent pace. As for me, I‘m still chasing, but I‘m getting closer to making up some positions. I‘m right on the edge of the top 15, and if we can improve the feeling from the rear, I think we can take a good step forward. Top 15 is our goal this weekend—to grab a few points. Let‘s see if we can make it happen.”
Manuel Gonzalez was fastest in Friday practice. Photo courtesy Dynavolt Intact GP Team.
Manuel Gonzalez led Moto2 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Riding his Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP Kalex on Pirelli control tires, the Spaniard lapped the 2.7-mile road course in 1:40.142, topping the field of 28 riders.
Barry Baltus was second-best with a time of 1:40.480 on his Fantic Racing Lino Sonego Kalex. Deniz Oncu did a third-fastest 1:40.629 on his Red Bull KTM Ajo.
American Joe Roberts finished Friday afternoon’s practice session 12th with a best time of 1:41.008 on his OnlyFans American Racing Team Kalex.
Jose Antonio Rueda (99) was fastest this Friday at Jerez. Photo courtesy Red Bull KTM Ajo.
Jose Antonio Rueda led Moto3 World Championship practice Friday afternoon at Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto, in Spain. Rueda used his Pirelli-shod Red Bull KTM Ajo to lap the 2.7-mile (4.42 km) track in 1:43.770, which led the field of 25 riders.
His teammate, Alvaro Carpe was second-best with a time of 1:44.812.
Taiyo Furusato, piloting his Team Asia Honda, claimed the third and final spot on the front with a lap time of 1:44.827.
Jeremy Toye (57) in full flight on the 2025 KTM 450 SMR at Apex Racing Center. Photo by Michael Gougis.
The 2025 KTM 450 SMR. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Grip. Time after time, during his debrief, Jeremy Toye kept coming back to that word.
“This thing is hooked up front and rear,” Toye said after riding the 2025 KTM 450 SMR competition-only Supermoto machine at Apex Racing Center. “It produces more grip in more places than I’ve ever felt from a Supermoto.”
KTM turned journalists loose on the latest iteration of its dedicated Supermoto machine at Apex on Wednesday. The company’s goal was to increase grip and feel on the machine, which is based on the 450 SX-F 450 cc four-stroke Single. A new frame is the most important change compared to the prior SMR, which has been a cornerstone of KTM’s lineup. “Supermoto is in KTM’s DNA,” said Ryan Sarancha, product manager for KTM North America.
After a day of wheelies, powerslides and full-on aerial activities, Toye concluded that the new bike is a significant improvement over the prior model. “I wouldn’t change a thing on this,” Toye said.
Jeremy Toye (57) was impressed by the level of grip the 2025 KTM 450 SMR produced. Photo by Michael Gougis.
KTM 450 SMR Specifications
The SMR’s 95 x 63.4 bore and stroke creates a displacement of 449.4 cc and produces a claimed 63 horsepower. Breathing is handled by a new, stiffer airbox/inlet that prevents the suction created on the intake side from collapsing it and reducing its volume, a 44mm throttle body, and a high-mounted single exhaust pipe. Electronic rider aids include a simple on/off traction control function, launch control, two engine maps, and a quickshifter for upshifts from second through fifth gears. A Suter slipper clutch operates on ball bearings and is easily adjustable. The whole engine weighs just a tick over 59 pounds.
The new frame is a combination of forged steel, stamped steel, and tubular steel sections welded together. The goal was increased rigidity in the lateral plane with more flex in the longitudinal (front-to-back) plane. The rear shock upper mount no longer has a straight frame section connecting it to the steering stem, and it has cutouts to absorb some of the input from the shock.
The bike features spoked Alpina rims, 16.5 inches in the front and 17 inches in the rear. To accommodate bigger Supermoto rubber, the swingarm is designed specifically for the SMR. A Metzeler Supermoto-specific 125/75 slick is mounted up front, mated to the 165/55 in the rear.
The 48mm inverted forks use conventional springs, unlike the air forks found on the SMR’s motocross counterpart, and a closed cartridge design for more consistent damping. The rear dogbones/pullrod and knuckle are different from the motocrosser as well. The triple clamps are offset 16mm instead of 22mm for quicker steering, the seat height of 35.3 inches is lower, and suspension travel is reduced to 11.1 inches in the front and 10.4 inches in the rear.
The bike weighs in at a claimed 239.8 pounds without fuel. Suggested retail is $12,149, and it is for closed-course competition use only.
Jeremy Toye (57) on the 2025 KTM 450 SMR. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Riding The KTM 450 SMR
As mentioned, Toye was absolutely blown away by the grip and feel provided by the Metzeler Racetec SM slicks and the new chassis.
“The stereotypical Supermoto riding, you’re sideways going in, you wheelie coming out (of a corner) and you’re usually searching for grip, the thing shaking its head on the way out,” Toye says. “This thing doesn’t do any of that. That level of grip is producing so much confidence.” It was so impressive, Toye said, that he felt he needed more time to really come to grips with how much performance was available. “It’s like it’s a barrier right now, and it’s a good barrier to have, because there’s just nothing going wrong. You have to be aggressive. The stability is so good … the level is way up there.”
Jeremy Toye (57) wheelies the 2025 KTM 450 SMR onto the final straight at Apex Racing Center. Photo by Michael Gougis.
The engine response, Toye felt, was smooth and powerful, allowing him to get on the gas sooner. Although he felt the softer power map was better initially, he felt the more aggressive map would be the one he would chose as he got more familiar with the machine. The brakes didn’t fade, front or rear, and Toye’s only desire was for higher pegs, as the increased grip left him with greater lean angle and dragging his toes.
Watch for a full review in an upcoming issue of Roadracing World!
A “press release” is promotional text issued by a rider, team, company or organization to inform
the public about an event, product, or service from the issuer’s own point of view, and if deemed
to have news value, may be placed on roadracingworld.com as a service to our readers.
A press release is not an article written by Roadracingworld.com staffers. When a post is labeled with the words “press release”, it means that Roadracingworld.com is not responsible for its content and that Roadracingworld.com makes no guarantee that it is accurate. Not all press releases are posted and Roadracingworld.com may reject press releases if the content is too heavy on commercial promotion with little or no news value or if the press release contains obvious errors.
Accessibility
Accessibility modes
Epilepsy Safe Mode
Dampens color and removes blinks
This mode enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode
Improves website's visuals
This mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode
Helps to focus on specific content
This mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode
Reduces distractions and improve focus
This mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode
Allows using the site with your screen-reader
This mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Online Dictionary
Readable Experience
Content Scaling
Default
Text Magnifier
Readable Font
Dyslexia Friendly
Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Font Sizing
Default
Line Height
Default
Letter Spacing
Default
Left Aligned
Center Aligned
Right Aligned
Visually Pleasing Experience
Dark Contrast
Light Contrast
Monochrome
High Contrast
High Saturation
Low Saturation
Adjust Text Colors
Adjust Title Colors
Adjust Background Colors
Easy Orientation
Mute Sounds
Hide Images
Hide Emoji
Reading Guide
Stop Animations
Reading Mask
Highlight Hover
Highlight Focus
Big Dark Cursor
Big Light Cursor
Cognitive Reading
Virtual Keyboard
Navigation Keys
Voice Navigation
Accessibility Statement
www.roadracingworld.com
June 19, 2025
Compliance status
We firmly believe that the internet should be available and accessible to anyone, and are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience,
regardless of circumstance and ability.
To fulfill this, we aim to adhere as strictly as possible to the World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) at the AA level.
These guidelines explain how to make web content accessible to people with a wide array of disabilities. Complying with those guidelines helps us ensure that the website is accessible
to all people: blind people, people with motor impairments, visual impairment, cognitive disabilities, and more.
This website utilizes various technologies that are meant to make it as accessible as possible at all times. We utilize an accessibility interface that allows persons with specific
disabilities to adjust the website’s UI (user interface) and design it to their personal needs.
Additionally, the website utilizes an AI-based application that runs in the background and optimizes its accessibility level constantly. This application remediates the website’s HTML,
adapts Its functionality and behavior for screen-readers used by the blind users, and for keyboard functions used by individuals with motor impairments.
If you’ve found a malfunction or have ideas for improvement, we’ll be happy to hear from you. You can reach out to the website’s operators by using the following email
Screen-reader and keyboard navigation
Our website implements the ARIA attributes (Accessible Rich Internet Applications) technique, alongside various different behavioral changes, to ensure blind users visiting with
screen-readers are able to read, comprehend, and enjoy the website’s functions. As soon as a user with a screen-reader enters your site, they immediately receive
a prompt to enter the Screen-Reader Profile so they can browse and operate your site effectively. Here’s how our website covers some of the most important screen-reader requirements,
alongside console screenshots of code examples:
Screen-reader optimization: we run a background process that learns the website’s components from top to bottom, to ensure ongoing compliance even when updating the website.
In this process, we provide screen-readers with meaningful data using the ARIA set of attributes. For example, we provide accurate form labels;
descriptions for actionable icons (social media icons, search icons, cart icons, etc.); validation guidance for form inputs; element roles such as buttons, menus, modal dialogues (popups),
and others. Additionally, the background process scans all the website’s images and provides an accurate and meaningful image-object-recognition-based description as an ALT (alternate text) tag
for images that are not described. It will also extract texts that are embedded within the image, using an OCR (optical character recognition) technology.
To turn on screen-reader adjustments at any time, users need only to press the Alt+1 keyboard combination. Screen-reader users also get automatic announcements to turn the Screen-reader mode on
as soon as they enter the website.
These adjustments are compatible with all popular screen readers, including JAWS and NVDA.
Keyboard navigation optimization: The background process also adjusts the website’s HTML, and adds various behaviors using JavaScript code to make the website operable by the keyboard. This includes the ability to navigate the website using the Tab and Shift+Tab keys, operate dropdowns with the arrow keys, close them with Esc, trigger buttons and links using the Enter key, navigate between radio and checkbox elements using the arrow keys, and fill them in with the Spacebar or Enter key.Additionally, keyboard users will find quick-navigation and content-skip menus, available at any time by clicking Alt+1, or as the first elements of the site while navigating with the keyboard. The background process also handles triggered popups by moving the keyboard focus towards them as soon as they appear, and not allow the focus drift outside it.
Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Disability profiles supported in our website
Epilepsy Safe Mode: this profile enables people with epilepsy to use the website safely by eliminating the risk of seizures that result from flashing or blinking animations and risky color combinations.
Visually Impaired Mode: this mode adjusts the website for the convenience of users with visual impairments such as Degrading Eyesight, Tunnel Vision, Cataract, Glaucoma, and others.
Cognitive Disability Mode: this mode provides different assistive options to help users with cognitive impairments such as Dyslexia, Autism, CVA, and others, to focus on the essential elements of the website more easily.
ADHD Friendly Mode: this mode helps users with ADHD and Neurodevelopmental disorders to read, browse, and focus on the main website elements more easily while significantly reducing distractions.
Blindness Mode: this mode configures the website to be compatible with screen-readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack. A screen-reader is software for blind users that is installed on a computer and smartphone, and websites must be compatible with it.
Keyboard Navigation Profile (Motor-Impaired): this profile enables motor-impaired persons to operate the website using the keyboard Tab, Shift+Tab, and the Enter keys. Users can also use shortcuts such as “M” (menus), “H” (headings), “F” (forms), “B” (buttons), and “G” (graphics) to jump to specific elements.
Additional UI, design, and readability adjustments
Font adjustments – users, can increase and decrease its size, change its family (type), adjust the spacing, alignment, line height, and more.
Color adjustments – users can select various color contrast profiles such as light, dark, inverted, and monochrome. Additionally, users can swap color schemes of titles, texts, and backgrounds, with over seven different coloring options.
Animations – person with epilepsy can stop all running animations with the click of a button. Animations controlled by the interface include videos, GIFs, and CSS flashing transitions.
Content highlighting – users can choose to emphasize important elements such as links and titles. They can also choose to highlight focused or hovered elements only.
Audio muting – users with hearing devices may experience headaches or other issues due to automatic audio playing. This option lets users mute the entire website instantly.
Cognitive disorders – we utilize a search engine that is linked to Wikipedia and Wiktionary, allowing people with cognitive disorders to decipher meanings of phrases, initials, slang, and others.
Additional functions – we provide users the option to change cursor color and size, use a printing mode, enable a virtual keyboard, and many other functions.
Browser and assistive technology compatibility
We aim to support the widest array of browsers and assistive technologies as possible, so our users can choose the best fitting tools for them, with as few limitations as possible. Therefore, we have worked very hard to be able to support all major systems that comprise over 95% of the user market share including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera and Microsoft Edge, JAWS and NVDA (screen readers).
Notes, comments, and feedback
Despite our very best efforts to allow anybody to adjust the website to their needs. There may still be pages or sections that are not fully accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or are lacking an adequate technological solution to make them accessible. Still, we are continually improving our accessibility, adding, updating and improving its options and features, and developing and adopting new technologies. All this is meant to reach the optimal level of accessibility, following technological advancements. For any assistance, please reach out to
