Seven wins on the bounce. A 175-point championship cushion. The chance to set up a title-clinching scenario at Misano. The story heading into Round 15 of the 2025 MotoGP World Championship is clear: Marc Márquez is homing in on what could be one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time. The #93 has rewritten the script since his move to Ducati Lenovo, and now he arrives at home in Barcelona with momentum that feels almost unstoppable.
Yet, history reminds us this track hasn’t been the friendliest of hunting grounds for him in recent years. Márquez has not won at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya since 2019, even though he’s stood on the top step there three times in MotoGP. The Catalan faithful will roar him on this weekend, but the question remains: can anyone halt his march towards an eighth premier-class crown?
Márquez’s Championship Stranglehold
The numbers tell the story. Márquez has strung together seven consecutive wins between Sprints and Grands Prix, stretching his championship advantage to a massive 175 points over his younger brother Álex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP). If Marc can extend that lead by at least ten more points this weekend, the possibility of sealing the crown at Misano becomes mathematically real – a tantalising scenario for the man chasing greatness.
For Álex, the home race represents both an opportunity and a challenge. He hasn’t stepped onto a podium since Germany, but Catalunya offers the stage to turn things around. The Gresini rider knows his brother’s form is daunting, but if ever there was a weekend to reignite his campaign, this is it.
Bagnaia, Bezzecchi, and the Fight for Third
Further down the standings, another intriguing subplot is unfolding. Francesco “Pecco” Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) was last year’s Barcelona hero, taking a famous double win across the Catalan and Solidarity Grands Prix. However, the defending champion hasn’t seen a podium since Germany and admitted that the Hungarian round was one of his toughest weekends in factory Ducati colours.
That dip in form has left him vulnerable to Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). Bezzecchi has been a model of consistency since Assen, standing on the rostrum in nearly every Grand Prix. With just 31 points separating the two Italians, the battle for third place overall is wide open heading into the final stretch of the season.
Bezzecchi isn’t Aprilia’s only hopeful. Jorge Martín, last year’s world champion, delivered one of the rides of the season in Hungary, storming from 16th to fourth. Returning now to the circuit where he sealed the 2024 crown, Martín has unfinished business. A podium here would both boost Aprilia’s morale and underline that his championship pedigree remains intact.
KTM’s Rising Force
While Ducati and Aprilia dominate headlines, KTM are quietly building momentum. Rookie sensation Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has climbed to fifth overall thanks to four podiums across the last three rounds. His charge from seventh to second in Hungary was another reminder that the young Spaniard is maturing rapidly into a race-winning threat.
Teammate Brad Binder has also rediscovered form, finishing inside the top eight across the last four Grands Prix. Binder credits improvements to the RC16’s front end, which have restored his confidence under braking. Meanwhile, Tech3 duo Enea Bastianini and Maverick Viñales are showing glimpses of promise. Bastianini, in particular, looks increasingly comfortable in KTM orange, while Viñales hopes to pass a Thursday medical check in time to race at his home Grand Prix.
The Midfield Scrap for Sixth
Behind the frontrunners, the battle for sixth overall is heating up. Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing) has slipped to seventh after a tough run of form, while his teammate Franco Morbidelli has leapfrogged him following solid results. Morbidelli knows this circuit well, having scored pole here in 2020.
Lurking just 28 points back is Fermin Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini MotoGP). The Spanish youngster has been one of the revelations of the year, and although Hungary wasn’t as strong as his Austrian heroics, he remains firmly in contention to upset the established order in the closing rounds.
Past Masters Eye a Revival
Barcelona has often been a happy hunting ground for several big names hoping to rediscover form. Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) may be enduring a frustrating 2025, but the Frenchman has history here: his first Grand Prix win came at this track in Moto2 in 2018, followed by his first MotoGP podium in 2019 and victories in both 2020 and 2022. Quartararo knows how to deliver in Catalunya.
Johann Zarco (Castrol Honda LCR) also has podium pedigree at this venue. Fresh off signing a new contract, the Frenchman will be eager to end his recent dry spell. Raul Fernández (Trackhouse MotoGP) is another to watch. He led the Sprint here in 2024 before crashing, and with consistent results in 2025, he has the speed to trouble the front-runners again.
Riders with Points to Prove
Elsewhere, plenty of riders arrive in Barcelona with unfinished business. Luca Marini (Honda HRC Castrol) recently secured his best result since joining Honda and wants to build on it, while teammate Joan Mir returns to the scene of his last top-four finish back in 2022. Honda’s recent resurgence suggests both could figure strongly inside the top ten.
Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP) has struggled with qualifying but remains a Sunday performer. He won the Moto2 race here last season and will hope that positive energy translates into MotoGP results.
Pramac Yamaha’s Jack Miller has fond memories of a podium in 2021 and will be pushing to end a turbulent run. His teammate Miguel Oliveira shares that motivation, while Alex Rins will draw extra firepower from racing at home. Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR), meanwhile, is hoping to pass a medical to make it a full complement of 22 riders on the grid.
Moto2: Momentum Shifts Toward Moreira
If MotoGP is Márquez’s playground, then Moto2 is shaping up to be a three-way brawl. David Alonso (CFMOTO Inde Aspar) stole headlines in Hungary with his maiden win, but it was Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing) who benefited most, cutting Manuel Gonzalez’s (Dynavolt Intact GP) lead to just 25 points. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) slipped to third after a disappointing P6, leaving the top three split by just 31 points.
Momentum clearly lies with Moreira, who has clawed back nearly 30 points in two races. Gonzalez is consistent but winless since Mugello, while Canet hasn’t topped a podium since Qatar. Barcelona could prove pivotal in swinging the balance.
Jake Dixon (Marc VDS Racing) also showed signs of resurgence in Hungary, narrowly missing the rostrum. With Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) still just ahead of him in the standings, Dixon could yet force his way into the title narrative.
Moto3: Rueda Defends His Turf
Finally, Moto3 brings its own Catalan drama. Championship leader José Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) still holds a comfortable 69-point advantage, but challengers Angel Piqueras, Maximo Quiles, and David Muñoz are not giving up the chase.
Quiles, in particular, has been sensational in his rookie year, with six podiums already under his belt. Muñoz arrives buoyed by a new contract, while Piqueras continues to chip away at Rueda’s margin. The defending leader hasn’t been on the podium in two races, and Barcelona offers his rivals a chance to ramp up the pressure.
Alvaro Carpe, meanwhile, will look to rediscover his early-season form at a track he knows well. The ingredients are all there for another unpredictable Moto3 showdown.
A Catalan Feast Awaits
Barcelona never fails to deliver. With Márquez chasing history, Bagnaia and Bezzecchi locked in a scrap for third, KTM rising fast, and Moto2 and Moto3 title fights tightening, the 2025 Catalan Grand Prix promises another unforgettable weekend of two-wheeled theatre.
Images Official MotoGP
