The battle for third place turned into a three-way fight. Fabio Di Giannantonio prevailed over Pedro Acosta and Alex Marquez, ensuring that a Ducati was on the podium for the 88th consecutive race.
Bezzecchi’s weekend: From frustration to perfection
After what he considered a disappointing sprint, Bezzecchi was highly motivated. The Italian described how he immediately felt comfortable and found his rhythm. It was only in the last two laps that he felt the rear becoming more unstable, which brought Fernandez closer. However, there was no moment of panic, just a growing risk.
Third place overall was already secured on Saturday, marking an important milestone for Aprilia. The manufacturer was among the top three in the MotoGP overall standings for the first time.
Bezzecchi made headlines after the race. During the lap of honor, he symbolically “asked” his RS-GP if it would come home with him – an emotional moment that rounded off the finale.
Raul Fernandez: Strong race and fastest lap
Fernandez delivered one of his best performances of the year. After working his way through traffic in the early laps, he steadily closed the gap on Bezzecchi and set the fastest lap of the race. However, the fact that he lost time in the early stages is still a concern: his pace could possibly have allowed for more.
Alex Marquez and the inexplicable collapse
The runner-up in the world championship started strongly and fought for the lead at the beginning. But from the middle of the race onwards, his tires suddenly lost performance. Marquez fell back and was unable to respond. No explanation was available at the time of the race.
Pedro Acosta: A finale with a bitter aftertaste
Although fourth place is a solid result, Acosta was dissatisfied. The KTM rider once again emphasized the difficulties with tire durability. Added to this was a technical problem with the two starting devices, which cost him time. His original goal of fighting for the world championship slipped out of reach over the course of the season. Nevertheless, he is looking ahead and hoping for improvements at the upcoming test day.
Fabio Quartararo and the end of an era
For Yamaha, Valencia was a symbolic moment. The manufacturer finally confirmed its departure from the inline engine and the switch to the V4 concept from 2026. However, Quartararo experienced a sobering farewell to the M1. A clutch problem and an unsolved starting device cost him many positions. Shortly before the end of the race, he crashed.
The Frenchman was relieved to have finished the season. He hopes to be able to compare old and new concepts during Tuesday’s test. According to his statements, the M1 remains relevant for development purposes.
Bagnaia in a downward spiral
Francesco Bagnaia ended the weekend with zero points. After a qualifying debacle due to a lack of fuel and an early exit from the Grand Prix, the Italian never got into the rhythm of the race. He spoke openly about the mental strain of the past few weeks. According to him, mistakes on the part of both the rider and the team had led to this difficult phase. A negative mood may have caused additional problems.
Curious incident: Morbidelli’s crash on the starting grid
One of the most unusual moments of the weekend occurred before the race even started. Franco Morbidelli touched Aleix Espargaro’s Honda while rolling into the starting position, crashed and broke the fifth metacarpal bone in his left hand. That ended his race before it even began. Espargaro’s bike was also damaged, forcing him to retire later on.
Honda achieves its season goal – despite fewer freedoms
Honda benefited in the background from Luca Marini’s seventh place. This result means that the Japanese manufacturer moves up to concession group C. Although this means losing some testing opportunities, the team considers the move a success. Marini emphasized that the goal had been set before the start of the season and had now been achieved. In his opinion, the restricted testing rights should help to focus resources more intensively on the race weekend.
World Championship standings: The season at a glance
Marc Marquez won the title with a clear lead over Alex Marquez and Marco Bezzecchi. They were followed by Pedro Acosta and Francesco Bagnaia. Ducati secured the constructors’ championship, while the Ducati Lenovo Team dominated the team standings.
Conclusion: A finale full of twists and turns
Valencia provided a symbolic end to the season. Aprilia showed strength, Honda celebrated a strategic success, KTM and Yamaha had to come to terms with difficult insights, and Ducati experienced both highs and lows. With testing starting on Tuesday, the focus is already turning to the coming season.
