Crash, Then Class: Alex Marquez Smashes Record as Bagnaia, Morbidelli Shine
Alex Márquez Bounces Back from Crash to Break Lap Record at Jerez
The 2025 Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain got off to a dramatic and record-breaking start as Alex Márquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) shrugged off a fast fall early in the day to end Friday at the very top of the timesheets. Despite crashing out at Turn 5 during Practice, the #73 came back out swinging, clocking a jaw-dropping 1:35.991 to set a new all-time lap record at the Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto.
That time was enough to edge out Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) by just over a tenth, with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) completing the top three. Meanwhile, Marc Márquez (Ducati Lenovo Team), the current Championship leader, had to settle for fourth—setting the stage for an explosive weekend in Andalusia.
Early Drama: Turn 5 Takes a Bite
Alex Márquez had a rough start to the afternoon session. After leading FP1, the Spaniard suffered a fast high-speed crash at Turn 5 while tailing older brother Marc. Thankfully, he walked away unscathed, but the red flags came out as his Ducati GP24 had plowed into the air fence, which needed time to be reset.
Calm Resumes, and the Times Start to Fall
Once the session resumed, it was Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) who initially set the pace, laying down a 1:37.071. Bagnaia was quick to respond and slotted into second with just over 30 minutes remaining. The order changed rapidly from there—Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) briefly took over at the top, only to be bested by Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), then rookie Pedro Acosta, and finally Quartararo again, as the field began dipping into the 1:36s.
Heading into the final stretch, Quartararo remained in front, trailed by Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3) just 0.090s behind. The top five was rounded out by Marc Márquez, Acosta, and Binder—though the South African went down at Turn 9 with just over 20 minutes to go. Zarco sat sixth, with Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) impressing in seventh. Bagnaia was lurking in eighth, while Alex Márquez remained in the mix at ninth and gearing up for another run.
Crunch Time Delivers Major Shake-Up
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Quartararo was on a flying lap before disaster struck—the front end of his Yamaha folded at the Jorge Lorenzo corner, sending him into the gravel and bringing out yellow flags. Those flags invalidated some fast laps, but not all. Bagnaia, Morbidelli, and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) all capitalized to jump to the top three spots, with Morbidelli briefly taking control.
That didn’t last. Marc Márquez punched in a 1:36.258 with 11 minutes to go, moving into P1. Then came the moment everyone was waiting for: Alex Márquez, back on track for the first time since his crash, vaulted from 14th to third on his first flyer. Moments later, Bagnaia responded again, lowering the benchmark to a 1:36.094.
More yellow flags flew after crashes for Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP), Raul Fernandez (Trackhouse MotoGP Team), and Ogura, adding tension to the closing minutes. Then Alex Márquez pulled out the stunner—a blistering 1:35.991—the first lap in the 1:35s ever recorded at Jerez.
Quartararo, now back on a repaired YZR-M1, recovered to grab P5, while a small error from Marc Márquez at Turn 6 cost him a shot at reclaiming the top spot. That moment also sealed the fate of the top ten, locking in the list of riders who earned a straight shot to Q2.
Who’s In and Who Missed the Cut
Behind the leading four, Quartararo’s fightback earned him P5. Rookie sensation Fermín Aldeguer (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) delighted the home crowd by securing P6 and advancing to Q2 on his debut Spanish GP weekend. Zarco finished P7, with Acosta right behind in P8 after a strong final push.
Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) claimed ninth, and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) rounded out the top ten. Notably, Brad Binder missed out on Q2 by a razor-thin margin of 0.055s, ending the day in 11th.
All Eyes on Qualifying
Next up: the all-important qualifying sessions. MotoGP qualifying kicks off at 10:50 local time (UTC+1), and with the field this tightly packed—and the emotions running high—it promises fireworks. Don’t miss a minute.
Turn 7 at Jerez to be renamed in tribute to Carmelo Ezpeleta
A Fitting Tribute: Turn 7 at Jerez to Be Named After Carmelo Ezpeleta
A significant moment is set to unfold on Saturday at the legendary Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, as MotoGP takes a pause to honour one of its most influential figures. In a special ceremony, Turn 7 of the circuit will officially be named after Carmelo Ezpeleta, the CEO of Dorna Sports, the company that holds the commercial rights to MotoGP.
This commemorative event is scheduled for 12:15 local time (UTC +2) on what’s being dubbed “Super Saturday” at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain. The renaming of the corner is a mark of recognition for Ezpeleta’s immense and lasting impact on the sport—not just through his leadership of Dorna, but through his unwavering commitment to the growth, safety, and global reach of motorcycle racing.
Having guided MotoGP through decades of evolution—from the two-stroke era to the present day of advanced electronics, global expansion, and competitive depth—Ezpeleta has been central to the championship’s transformation into the premier spectacle it is today. His vision and stewardship have left a legacy that touches every corner of the paddock and every fan around the world.
With this tribute, one of the most technical and respected turns at Jerez will forever carry the name of a man whose influence is woven into the fabric of MotoGP. It’s not just a corner—it’s a lasting symbol of respect and gratitude for decades of dedication to the sport.
Gonzalez Sets the Pace on Home Turf as Baltus and Öncü Shine
Gonzalez Dominates Opening Day at Home as Baltus and Öncü Impress
Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) couldn’t have asked for a better start to his home Grand Prix weekend. The Spanish rider laid down a blistering 1:40.142 lap on Friday, topping the Moto2 timesheets and finishing a commanding 0.338s ahead of his closest rival, Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego). Rounding out the top three was Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo), who showed solid pace despite ending the day four tenths off the top.
Gonzalez’s flying lap came within just three-tenths of the all-time lap record at the Circuito de Jerez–Ángel Nieto, an impressive benchmark considering the weekend has only just begun. With track conditions expected to improve, Gonzalez looks like a serious contender to add another victory to his 2025 campaign—but he’ll have to fend off a tight field hungry to close the gap.
Senna Agius (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), who swapped the top spot with his teammate throughout the session, secured P4. He was followed closely by Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) in P5, and Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego), who won in Lusail, closing out the top six. That put three Spanish riders in the top six on home ground—further fueling local enthusiasm.
Riding the momentum from Qatar, David Alonso (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) continued to show his consistency by claiming P7 and securing a direct path to Q2. His teammate, Daniel Holgado, was just 0.026s behind in P8, making it a strong showing for the Aspar squad.
Completing the top ten were Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) in P9 and Celestino Vietti (Beta Tools SpeedRS Team) in P10. Vietti provided one of the day’s standout moments with a spectacular save at Turn 1, narrowly avoiding a crash while still maintaining a competitive lap time.
Just missing out on the top ten was Alonso Lopez, who still did enough to book his place in Q2 by finishing 11th. He’ll be joined in the session by Joe Roberts (OnlyFans American Racing Team), Filip Salac (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team)—despite a fall at Turn 1—and Brazilian rising star Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team), who just edged out rookie teammate Adrian Huertas by a mere 0.030s. That narrow margin forced the #99 into Q1, where he’ll now have to battle through for a shot at a stronger grid position.
As Friday wraps, Gonzalez holds the early advantage—but Saturday is shaping up to be a showdown.
Rueda Sets the Pace with Commanding Friday Performance in Jerez
Rueda Reigns Supreme on Opening Day in Jerez
The first day of Moto3™ action at the Estrella Galicia 0,0 Grand Prix of Spain was all about one man: José Antonio Rueda. The Red Bull KTM Ajo rider delivered a stunning performance across both sessions, ending Friday more than a second clear of his nearest challenger and laying down a serious marker heading into the rest of the weekend.
Untouchable Pace from the Start
From the very first laps of FP1, Rueda looked like a man on a mission. The Spaniard was untouchable throughout the morning session and carried that momentum straight into the afternoon. As track temperatures rose, so did his confidence, and when the time attacks began toward the end of Practice, Rueda elevated his pace even further. His blistering 1:43.770 lap time was not only the fastest of the day—it came within a whisker of the all-time Moto3 lap record at Jerez.
Carpe and Furusato Trail Behind
The only rider even remotely close was his teammate, Álvaro Carpe, who also looked strong on home soil. But even Carpe, on identical machinery, couldn’t match Rueda’s relentless rhythm and finished the day +1.016s behind. Third place went to Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia), who also put in a solid day’s work but was 1.057s adrift—highlighting just how far ahead Rueda was of the rest of the field.
Yamanaka Continues His Strong Form
Fresh off a podium finish in Qatar, Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) looked sharp once again. The Japanese rider slotted into fourth place and is once again in the mix at the front. Australia’s Jacob Roulstone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) also impressed, landing P5 with a mature ride and underlining his growing confidence in the category.
Late Charge from Muñoz, Championship Leader in Check
David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) had a frustrating session due to a mechanical issue that kept him sidelined for most of the running, but he still managed to pull out a fast lap late in the day to secure sixth. Just behind him was current World Championship leader Ángel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI), who closed out the day in seventh. While not quite at the sharp end, Piqueras is in a solid position heading into Saturday.
Q2 Hopefuls Line Up
Rounding out the top ten were Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA) in eighth, rookie Ruche Moodley (DENSSI Racing – BOE) in ninth—who impressed with his first automatic Q2 appearance—and Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) in tenth, salvaging a competitive time after a Turn 1 crash earlier in the session.
Q2 Direct Entry: The Final Four
The final riders to clinch a direct ticket to Q2 were Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Guido Pini (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), Noah Dettwiler (CIP Green Power), and Joel Esteban (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team). Unfortunately for David Almansa (Leopard Racing), he just missed the cut and will need to fight his way through Q1.
As the weekend heats up, all eyes will be on Rueda to see if he can maintain this incredible pace—and whether anyone can step up to challenge his dominance at home.
Official MotoGP Press Release
