Sunday MotoGP Race
A little bit more magic was sprinkled on the early 2025 MotoGP World Championship fight by Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) as the famous #93 battled his way past younger brother Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) in the closing stages of the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina to remain undefeated. Third place went the way of Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), the Italian returning to a Sunday parc ferme for the first time since 2021, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) is forced to settle for P4 in Termas de Rio Hondo.
Marc Marquez fended off Alex Marquez to collect the holeshot into Turn 1 as drama unfolded for Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing). The Italian, who suffered contact with Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) after struggling to get his RS-GP stopped into Turn 1, crashed at the opening corner.
At the front, Johann Zarco (LCR Honda CASTROL) was hounding third place Bagnaia, with Turn 8 a popular passing place for the Frenchman. This squabbling between Pecco and Zarco saw the Marquez brothers skip to a 0.7s lead, with Alex shadowing Marc in the opening three laps.
On Lap 4, there was a change for the lead. Alex Marquez capitalized on a small mistake made by Marc Marquez at Turn 1, as blue led red for the first time in Argentina. Meanwhile, Morbidelli had picked his way past Zarco and Bagnaia to climb into P3.
After a busy opening handful of laps, the Grand Prix settled down a tad as the riders settled into their early race rhythms. The blue corner Marquez was leading the red corner Marquez by 0.3s, Morbidelli was 0.7s behind the #93, with Bagnaia a further 0.8s off the back of his fellow Italian. Zarco, meanwhile, was 0.3s behind the #63 Ducati.
On Lap 11, it was as you were at the front. Bagnaia was losing ground though on the top three and Zarco was still swarming all over the rear end of his GP25. A couple of laps later, Morbidelli began to lose touch with Alex Marquez and Marc Marquez, but crucially, the #21 was still over a second clear of Bagnaia and Zarco.
With 10 to go, Marc Marquez had a bit of a moment coming through the fast Turn 11. It was a warning that cost the six-time MotoGP World Champion a couple of tenths, but a lap later, that deficit had been clawed back. And now, the #93 was properly swarming all over the rear Michelin tire of Alex Marquez.
Lap 18 of 25 – an attempted pass. Marc Marquez lunged at Turn 5 but couldn’t get his bike hooked up and stopped in time, so Alex Marquez kept the lead with seven laps to go. And having run wide, the margin between the leader and chaser was up to 0.4s.
What a showdown this was. On Lap 19, the brothers exchanged fastest laps of the race, with Marc going slightly quicker to latch himself on the back of Alex. Then, another move. Again it was Turn 5 and this time, it was a pass that stuck. Now it was all about whether Alex Marquez had anything in response.
The early signs were no, there wasn’t a response. With four laps to go, Marc Marquez stretched his advantage to 0.7s. At the beginning of Lap 22 of 25, the gap was then just over a second, as Marc Marquez’s teammate Bagnaia was trying to put a late attack together to steal P3 from Morbidelli.
Marc Marquez held a 1.5s lead over Alex Marquez, with Bagnaia 0.5s behind Morbidelli. Could the 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion find a way to earn a late podium? No he couldn’t. And Alex Marquez couldn’t do anything about Marc Marquez from clinching another victory in 2025 as the #93 made it four wins from four – two Sprints, two Grands Prix – to begin his factory Ducati career in perfect fashion.
Another brilliant effort from Alex Marquez saw the #73 finish second again, as Morbidelli clung on to pocket his first MotoGP podium since the 2021 Spanish GP. Bagnaia was breathing down his neck but the latter walks away from Argentina with an underwhelming P4.
On the final lap, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) pinched P5 away from the incredibly impressive Zarco, as Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) collected a P7 after yesterday’s Lap 1 crash in the Tissot Sprint. Reigning Moto2 World Champion Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) produced a stellar ride to finish P8 from 15th on the grid, the Japanese rookie ended the Grand Prix just over a second clear of Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol), the two Spaniards completed the top 10.
Luca Marini’s (Honda HRC Castrol) P11 is the Italian’s best Sunday result in Honda colours, as Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP), Maverick Viñales (Red Bull KTM Tech3), Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) and Quartararo rounded out the points scorers in Termas.
Two Sprints, two Grands Prix, four wins for Marc Marquez. It’s been a magical start to 2025 for the six-time MotoGP King and next up is a trip to the Circuit of The Americas – a track the #93 adores. Can anyone halt Marc Marquez’s momentum in Austin? Alex Marquez and Bagnaia will be two riders who’ll be desperate to do just that.
2025 Argentinean MotoGP Results
| 1 | Marc Marquez | Ducati Lenovo | 41:11.1s |
| 2 | Alex Marquez | Gresini Ducati | +1.362s |
| 3 | Franco Morbidelli | Pertamina VR46 Ducati | +4.695s |
| 4 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo | +5.536s |
| 5 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Pertamina VR46 Ducati | +7.138s |
| 6 | Johann Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | +7.487s |
| 7 | Brad Binder | Red Bull KTM | +14.294s |
| 8 | Ai Ogura | Trackhouse Aprilia | +14.447s |
| 9 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM | +15.646s |
| 10 | Joan Mir | Honda HRC Castrol | +15.787s |
Moto2 Race
Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was in a league of his own at the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina as the British rider won the Moto2 Grand Prix by 3.5s, with Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) picking up a valuable 20 points in P2. Meanwhile, Celestino Vietti (Team HDR Heidrun) pocketed his first top three of the season in P3.
Getting the best launch from the front row was Dixon as the British stole the holeshot from polesitter Gonzalez. Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) was a keen starter, the Czech rider was an early P3 and then passed Gonzalez for P2 to make it a Marc VDS 1-2 at the front in the early laps.
Gonzalez got his revenge a couple of laps later though as Dixon began to get the hammer down. On Lap 5 the #96’s lead was 0.488s, 0.526s a lap later, as the top two started to set a superior pace. On Lap 8 of 21, Dixon’s lead rose above the one second barrier for the first time, and on Lap 12 the gap had climbed to a smidgen over 1.5s.
In the podium fight, Salač’s race ended on Lap 11 at Turn 5 after attempting to pass Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing), with the incident costing the latter time in his attempts to chase third place Vietti and fourth place Aron Canet (Fantic Racing).
As the scrap for the final spot on the rostrum played out, there was nothing anyone could do about stopping Dixon from clinching a phenomenal victory in Argentina. Dixon was in cruise control to take a debut win on board a Boscoscuro, with Gonzalez picking up an important P2, 3.5s behind the race win. Vietti covered off Canet for P3 to bounce back well from his Thailand disappointment, a great ride from ninth on the grid from the Italian.
Canet settled for P4 in the end, important points for the #44, with Ramirez completing the top five. Darryn Binder (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) was sixth ahead of the impressive Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team) in seventh, with Alonso Lopez (Team HDR Heidrun), star rookie Daniel Holgado (CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team) and Albert Arenas (ITALJET Gresini Moto2) completing the top 10 in Termas.
2025 Argentinean Moto2 Results
| 1 | Jake Dixon | Elf Marc VDS Racing | 35:48.525s |
| 2 | Manuel Gonzalez | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact | +3.525s |
| 3 | Celestino Vietti | Team HDR Heidrun | +10.098s |
| 4 | Aron Canet | Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO | +10.508s |
| 5 | Marcos Ramirez | OnlyFans American Racing Team | +11.009s |
| 6 | Darryn Binder | Italjet Gresini Moto2 | +14.409s |
| 7 | Alex Escrig | KLINT Forward Factory Team | +16.673s |
| 8 | Alonso Lopez | Team HDR Heidrun | +17.373s |
| 9 | Daniel Holgado | CFMOTO Inde Aspar Team | +19.035s |
| 10 | Albert Arenas | Italjet Gresini Moto2 | +19.366s |
Moto3 Race
Angel Piqueras (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) is a race winner in 2025 after coming out on top in a titanic last lap battle at the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina. The 2024 Rookie of the Year forced his way through on third place finisher Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) at the penultimate corner, with Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing) profiting from the late squabbling to earn P2 in Termas.
Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) grabbed the holeshot from the front row, but it was Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo) who led at the end of the opening lap. David Almansa (Leopard Racing) took a turn leading in the early exchanges too, as a lead group of 11 formed at the front, with the chasing pack just shy of a second further down the road.
That soon changed though. By the end of Lap 5, the top 25 riders were covered by four seconds – everyone, bar pit lane starting David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP), were locked together in Termas. Not a lot changed in terms of how tightly congested the pack were over the next few laps, with four seconds covering the fastest 22 riders.
With two to go, Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP MTA Team) was 0.4s clear at the front and on the last lap, he had edged it up to 0.5s. Could Piqueras and Rueda do anything about it? The advantage had disappeared halfway around the last lap as Piqueras made his move at Turn 7. Rueda followed his compatriot through at Turn 9 and then on the exit of Turn 11, Piqueras was wide and on the green.
That cost the #36 the place to Rueda, but a lunge at Turn 12 followed. Piqueras carved past Rueda, and Fernandez managed to pick off the Thai GP race winner too to shadow Piqueras over the line as the latter clinched his first win of the season. Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) pocketed P4 ahead of Bertelle, but that result was flipped after Furusato exceeded track limits on the final lap. Almansa was a career-best P6, Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) claimed P7 ahead of the recovering Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA Team) as the Australian managed to bag P8 despite venturing through the Long Lap penalty lane twice.
Yamanaka and Stefano Nepa (SIC58 Squadra Corse) closed out the top 10, as home hero Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3) unfortunately crashed out of contention on the final lap after a solid weekend.
2025 Argentinean Moto3 Results
| 1 | Angel Piqueras | FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | 32m 31.036s |
| 2 | Adrian Fernandez | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +0.036s |
| 3 | Jose Antonio Rueda | Red Bull KTM Ajo (KTM) | +0.125s |
| 4 | Matteo Bertelle | LEVELUP – MTA (KTM) | +0.373s |
| 5 | Taiyo Furusato | Honda Team Asia (Honda) | +0.473s |
| 6 | David Almansa | Leopard Racing (Honda) | +1.591s |
| 7 | Luca Lunetta | SIC58 Squadra Corse (Honda) | +1.997s |
| 8 | Joel Kelso | LEVELUP – MTA (KTM) | +2.187s |
| 9 | Ryusei Yamanaka | FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI (KTM) | +4.780s |
| 10 | Stefano Nepa | SIC58 Squadra Corse (Honda) | +4.939s |
2025 Argentinean MotoGP News—Saturday
Acosta-Ducati links emerge?
KTM’s slow start to the season has fueled speculation Pedro Acosta may have a clause to escape his contract in KTM at the end of 2025, according to Spanish publication AS.
Acosta played this down on Friday, stating, “I mean, er…I have ’25 and ’26 contract. I don’t have to see anything. I just want to keep being competitive. All manufacturers, not only my bike, are improving and we are coming closer to Ducati. This is what we need…not for staying in KTM just to be happy in my life! We need to keep working. It’s the second race of the season! Come on boys…”
Yet VR46 Ducati didn’t exactly play the links down. “This is the second race! Every year it’s earlier and earlier to talk about the future,” said Team Principle Pablo Nieto. “At the moment it’s difficult to talk about that. We have to be focused on our riders. We can make a good job. But we know Pedro is a fantastic rider and everyone wants that. Let’s see.”
Ducati to contest Martin’s MotoGP test
Ducati appear set to stand in the way of Aprilia’s plan to let Jorge Martin test its MotoGP bike before making a comeback from injury. The Noale factory is keen for the reigning World Champion to try its bike in Misano to see whether his left wrist has healed sufficiently before confirming his return in Qatar.
This is currently against the rules, which forbid full-time riders from testing MotoGP machinery outside official tests or Grand Prix. And while Ducati Team Principle Davide Tardozzi thinks it’s a good idea, they aren’t keen to agree to it this season.
“I think it could be a good idea for the future,” he said. “I think we faced the same problem with (Enea) Bastianini (in 2023). But nobody gave us the opportunity to make a test so I think it’s a good opportunity to change the rules for next year.
“I think (Aprilia) has a very competitive road bike. this bike will be good to have Jorge on a test to see if it’s possible to ride a MotoGP bike (or not). I don’t think Jorge needs a MotoGP test. When he’s recovered, he will be one of our contenders. He’ll be one of the guys that will fight with us for victories.”
Honda back in the mix
Honda enjoyed its best Sprint performance since the finale of 2023 as Johann Zarco finished fourth after qualifying a highly promising third. The fact Joan Mir was able back up in eighth confirmed HRC’s strong start in Thailand.
“The P3 was already something magic for the Saturday,” said Zarco. “Then I really believed a podium was possible., and it was. But the start – it wasn’t a bad start. In the time we’re used to doing, it was still a good start. But the others are doing it better.
“I think it’s the first five laps, the first third of the race the Ducatis are able to use better the new tires. even the KTM because Pedro was good but then he dropped. We can be very constant but we missed a bit this extra speed, like when you need it you can catch it. No, this was difficult today.”
Saturday MotoGP Sprint Race
A second perfect Saturday on the spin comes the way of Marc Marquez as the Ducati Lenovo Team star fends off the threat of Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) to win his second Tissot Sprint of the season, this time at the Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina. Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) bagged P3 for the third time in 2025 to pocket more important points, but last year’s #1 was 3.8s off the win.
Marc Marquez got another perfect launch from pole and grabbed the holeshot ahead of Alex Marquez, as Bagnaia grabbed an early P3 with Johann Zarco (LCR Honda CASTROL) not getting away well from Row 1 – the Frenchman was P6.
Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was a faller on Lap 1 following contact with Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team), as the former’s teammate Pedro Acosta climbed up to P4 ahead of the fast starting Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP). Meanwhile, the Marquez brothers were pulling the pin at the front.
On Lap 4 of 12, Alex was 0.2s behind Marc, while Pecco was operating 1.3s away from the scrap. The 2022 and 2023 MotoGP World Champion was 0.5s ahead of Acosta, who in turn had Zarco right up his tailpipes.
At the halfway stage, Alex Marquez wasn’t allowing Marc Marquez to escape. Both were setting 1:37.7s, with Bagnaia also in the 1:37s but a couple of tenths slower per lap at this stage. And on the next lap, Bagnaia was back in the 1:38s. The Italian didn’t have any answers to the Marquez duo, so it was a two-horse race for Tissot Sprint victory in Argentina.
With four laps to go, the gap was 0.371s. Was Alex Marquez now struggling to keep tabs on his older brother? It looked like that was the case. The gap grew to 0.475s with three laps left, and then it was 0.721s with two laps to go. The fight was now seemingly over, but Alex Marquez was still close enough to keep his sibling sweating.
Sweat he did, but the six-time MotoGP World Champion made zero mistakes on the last lap to bring his Ducati GP25 home for a third win of the season, his second in a row on a Saturday. Alex Marquez crossed the line 0.903s shy to claim another podium, with Bagnaia forced to settle for P3 – but it’s more important points on the board for the #63.
After a sluggish launch from the grid, Zarco picked his way back up to P4 to finish just 1.1s behind Bagnaia. That’s a top Saturday outing for the incredibly impressive LCR Honda star, as Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) rounded out the top five. Marco Bezzecchi flew the Aprilia Racing flag in P6, the Italian beat his VR46 Academy stablemate, Morbidelli, by a second. The latter collected P7 in the Sprint, with Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) claiming two Sprint points in P8 after a late move on Acosta as the KTM rider dropped to P9 after a bright opening few laps. Quartararo likewise dropped back.
2025 Argentinean MotoGP Results—MotoGP Sprint Race
| 1 | Marc Marquez | Ducati Lenovo | 19m 37.331s |
| 2 | Alex Marquez | Gresini Ducati | +0.903s |
| 3 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo | +3.859s |
| 4 | Johann Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | +5.026s |
| 5 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Pertamina VR46 Ducati | +6.451s |
| 6 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | +7.333s |
| 7 | Franco Morbidelli | Pertamina VR46 Ducati | +8.368s |
| 8 | Joan Mir | Honda HRC Castrol | +10.858s |
| 9 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM | +11.229s |
| 10 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Yamaha | +12.356s |
MotoGP Qualifying
Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) has now taken back-to-back poles for the first time since 2019, with another stunner coming in from the #93 at the Gran Premio YPF Energia de Argentina. His 1:36.917 is the first ever 1:36 of the venue, a new lap record, and puts him quarter of a second clear at the top.
Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP), who was close on Friday too, is next on the chase in second, with Johann Zarco (CASTROL Honda LCR) making some magic in third for Honda’s first front row since 2023 – just 0.042 off the #73 ahead.
An early hot lap on bagged Franco Morbidelli (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) a slot at the top with Jack Miller (Prima Pramac Yamaha MotoGP) in hot pursuit in P2 provisionally, but the final 4 minutes were going to be dramatic as everyone hit the track for their shot at going into Q2. It was all over at Turn 2 for Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda LCR) who fell and would therefore not improve, whilst Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) replicated his fellow rookie a lap later, likewise missing out on a plac in Q2. On the first lap of his second run, Joan Mir (Honda HRC Castrol) then came to the fore and went P2, demoting Miller to P3 and joining Morbidelli in the pole shootout.
The business end of qualifying: Q2 ignited and straight away, the lap record was obliterated by none other than Marc Marquez, who was fractionally outside the first-ever 1’36s motorcycle lap of the Termas de Rio Hondo circuit. A huge performance by Zarco then put him provisionally on the front row, and it looked like that was actually quite a benchmark for the rest.
With the final five minutes beckoning, it was full throttle to try and better their lap times. Alex Marquez was following his brother, whilst Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) salvaged P4. However, it was his teammate Marquez who was lighting up the time screens; on his penultimate flying lap, he set the first and only-ever 1’36 lap of Termas de Rio Hondo. A 1’36.917 sees him go from pole, his first back-to-back poles since 2019’s Austrian and British Grands Prix. Alex Marquez secures P2 and Zarco clung on to a first Honda front row and his first since 2023’s season-closing Grand Prix in Valencia, with no one else able to pip the Frenchman.
It’s fourth place for Pecco who seeks to make a traditional fast start off the line but he’ll have ‘El Tiburon’ Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) for company too, with the #37 putting himself right in amongst the sharp end of the grid. Completing the second row, Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) is still less than a tenth of a second off the front row and after he was second fastest on Friday.
Fabio Quartararo (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) bettered his season opener qualifying with P7 in Argentina, ahead of Q1 ascendant Morbidelli. Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) goes from P9, one place ahead of Mir, with the 2020 World Champion making it two Hondas in the top ten in tenth. Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) round out the Q2 field, with Rins taking his best grid slot since Sepang last year after direct entry to Q2 gained on Friday too.
2025 Argentinean MotoGP Results—MotoGP Qualifying
| 1 | Marc Marquez | Ducati Lenovo | 1:36.917s |
| 2 | Alex Marquez | Gresini Ducati | +0.246s |
| 3 | Johann Zarco | Castrol Honda LCR | +0.288s |
| 4 | Francesco Bagnaia | Ducati Lenovo | +0.351s |
| 5 | Pedro Acosta | Red Bull KTM | +0.357s |
| 6 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Pertamina VR46 Ducati | +0.369s |
| 7 | Fabio Quartararo | Monster Energy Yamaha | +0.430s |
| 8 | Franco Morbidelli | Pertamina VR46 Ducati | +0.465s |
| 9 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia Racing | +0.497s |
| 10 | Joan Mir | Honda HRC Castrol | +0.679s |
Moto2 Qualifying
Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) has continued his stunning start to 2025 as he takes pole in Argentina, edging out Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) and Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing). With some Thai GP frontrunners in Q1 and only some making it through, it was close as ever in the Triumph-powered class.
There were plenty of fast faces not often in Q1 who had their eye on a place in the pole shootout. Deniz Öncü (Red Bull KTM Ajo) led much of the session before Celestino Vietti (Team HDR Heidrun) and then Alex Escrig (KLINT Forward Factory Team) pipped him. That put more at risk of not moving through and late on, the Turkish rider was denied the chance as Brazilian Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) and Czech rider Filip Salač (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) just edged him out.
After the first runs it was Gonzalez leading the way ahead of Dixon, with Vietti, Ramirez and Moreira next up. But as they headed back out, Dixon improved first to take provisional pole, and then Escrig slotted into second. Gonzalez was on a fast one though and the #18 took it back with just over a minute left on the clock, putting in a 1:40.870. Ramirez then made another move to take over in third, joining Dixon and polesitter Gonzalez on the front row.
Behind that trio, the second row is an all-Q1 affair: Escrig, Moreira and Salač. Alonso Lopez (Team HDR Heidrun) heads Row 3 from Darryn Binder (ITALJET Gresini Moto2), with Vietti in P9. Aron Canet (Fantic Racing Lino Sonego) completes the top ten.
2025 Argentinean Moto2 Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 | Manuel Gonzalez | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP | 1:340.870ss |
| 2 | Jake Dixon | Elf Marc VDS Racing | +0.200s |
| 3 | Marcos Ramirez | OnlyFans American Racing Team | +0.226s |
| 4 | Alex Escrig | KLINT Forward Factory Team | +0.244s |
| 5 | Diogo Moreira | Italtrans Racing Team | +0.286s |
| 6 | Filip Salac | Elf Marc VDS Racing | +0.323s |
| 7 | Alonso Lopez | Team HDR Heidrun | +0.417s |
| 8 | Darryn Binder | Italjet Gresini Moto2 | +0.426s |
| 9 | Celestino Vietti | Team HDR Heidrun | +0.427s |
| 10 | Aron Canet | Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO | +0.444s |
Moto3 Qualifying
Matteo Bertelle (LEVELUP-MTA) was a surprise name in Q1 after Friday in Argentina, but the Italian definitely came out swinging on Saturday. He headed Q1 and then went out in Q2 and did it again, so he’ll head the grid for the second time in two Grands Prix. FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI pairing Angel Piqueras and Ryusei Yamanaka complete the front row at the Gran Premio YPF Energia de Argentina.
Ominous raindrops in the air ahead of qualifying made it a tense session but Bertelle got the job done by a stunning margin of 0.462 to head through. He was joined by Marcos Uriarte (GRYD – MLav Racing), Taiyo Furusato (Honda Team Asia) and Adrian Cruces (CIP Green Power), with one surprise being Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) as the Italian didn’t make the cut. He gave it a good go though, and on his final fast lap in worsening conditions pulled of a bucking bronco of a save – just losing the chance to move up the order and through to Q2.
The weather held for slicks and another early stunner came in from Bertelle that put the Italian provisional pole, ahead of Riccardo Rossi (Rivacold Snipers Team) and rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Heading out for their second runs though, drama hit for Rossi as he slid out and collected Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power).
In the meantime, Carpe improved, Thai GP winner Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) likewise, and then Piqueras leapfrogged into second. Friday’s fastest David Almansa (Leopard Racing) then moved into P2 before Piqueras hit back, with Yamanaka the last big mover – up into fourth and then into third on his last lap around.
Behind Bertelle, Piqueras and Yamanaka, Almansa heads Row 2 joined by rookie sensation Carpe and points leader Rueda. Then it’s Rossi, Joel Kelso (LEVELUP – MTA) and home hero Valentin Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), with his teammate Joel Esteban completing the top ten.
2025 Argentinean Moto3 Results—Moto2 Qualifying
| 1 | Matteo Bertelle | LEVELUP – MTA | 1:46.034s |
| 2 | Angel Piqueras | FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI | +0.232s |
| 3 | Ryusei Yamanaka | FRINSA -MT Helmets – MSI | +0.296s |
| 4 | David Almansa | Leopard Racing | +0.329s |
| 5 | Alvaro Carpe | Red Bull KTM Ajo | +0.611s |
| 6 | Jose Antonio Rueda | Red Bull KTM Ajo | +0.628s |
| 7 | Riccardo Rossi | Rivacold Snipers Team | +0.697s |
| 8 | Joel Kelso | LEVELUP – MTA | +0.857s |
| 9 | Valentin Perrone | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +0.862s |
| 10 | Joel Esteban | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +0.868s |
2025 Argentinean MotoGP News—Friday
Martin ruled out Austin
Jorge Martin made his first public appearance on Thursday since seriously damaging his left wrist. The reigning World Champion made a surprise appearance in the press conference, which he joined via videocall.
It was there he revealed he will not race in Austin as he “struggles to recover” from the multiple fractures to his left wrist. “I’m really suffering, it’s not my moment,” said the Spaniard. “I’m struggling to recover as fast as I would like. I won’t be in Austin. I would like to be there, but I won’t be racing. I don’t know if I can be also in Qatar. I would like to make some kind of test before coming back to racing, because I’m not feeling really good.”
Asked to offer some advice for his compatriot, Marc Marquez agreed with the decision to not rush a comeback. “It’s a smart decision” he said. “Austin is a very tricky circuit for the physical condition. But keep going Jorge, from one day to another you will feel better and we’re waiting for you here in the racetrack.”
Aprilia keen to allow Martin to test
Aprilia also revealed it is working to allow Martin to test its RS-GP before making a comeback. Current rules forbid full-time MotoGP riders from testing their machines away from race weekends and official tests.
Race Manager Paolo Bonora explained the factory is pushing to allow an amendment for Martin, after the Spaniard amassed just 13 laps of running on the RS-GP before ruling himself out of testing.
“It’s a very good idea,” he said. “It’s not only for us. We talked about this many times in the last years. There were many times when riders came back to the track and after one or two laps, they cancelled the weekend and the team had one less rider. We think it’s a very good option for everybody. It’s also something we can do to improve the show.”
Asked when he’d like Martin to test the RS-GP, he said, “Before Qatar, maybe in Misano.”
Riders react to Pirelli deal
Thursday was the first opportunity to gauge rider reaction to the news Pirelli will replace Michelin as MotoGP’s sole tire supplier from 2027 onward.
The news was a shock to the majority of the MotoGP field. And not necessarily a positive one. “I already experienced the change from Bridgestone to Michelin,” said Marc Marquez. “And I don’t like to change. Sure, Pirelli will be good tyres, but always when you change it’s an adaptation from the manufacturer to the tyres, the riding style to the tyres. And you remember when Michelin arrived here after Bridgestone, there were strange crashes that the riders didn’t understand why we crashed.”
The switch will coincide with MotoGP’s biggest technical switch since 2002, as capacity will be reduced from 1000cc to 850cc engines, with ride height devices banned and aerodynamics reduced. “This I think is the biggest change compared to all the other technical regulations,” said Luca Marini. “Will be fun, more spicy.”
Friday MotoGP
The #93 on top in Termas – it’s a talisman track and it was a familiar story on Friday at the 2025 Gran Premio YPF Energía de Argentina. Marc Marquez (Ducati Lenovo Team) tangoed his way to the summit in Practice as everyone chases the Spaniard’s pace heading into Tissot Sprint Saturday.
A late corker from Fabio Di Giannantonio (Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team) and a consistent Friday from Alex Marquez (BK8 Gresini Racing MotoGP) see the Italian and Spaniard sit as the title chase leader’s main early contenders, as Francesco Bagnaia (Ducati Lenovo Team) narrowly avoids another Q1 showing following a Turn 2 crash in the closing minutes. All five factories are in Q2 too, with Friday throwing up plenty of storylines.
Just as he did in the morning outing, Marc Marquez quickly clambered his way to the top of the Practice timesheets on Friday afternoon, with Johann Zarco (LCR Honda Castrol) and Marco Bezzecchi (Aprilia Racing) keeping the #93 company up at the sharp end with 25 minutes left on the clock.
Having produced a more than fine day in Free Practice 1 and for the first half of Practice, Zarco’s weekend hit a bump when the Frenchman crashed unhurt at Turn 2. At this stage, Zarco was P3 behind Marquez and Bezzecchi, with Alex Marquez P4. With 20 minutes to go, Bagnaia was sat in P10, seven tenths away from his teammate.
One of the first riders to slot a fresh soft Michelin rear tyre in was Pedro Acosta (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing). The sophomore climbed to P2, 0.088s shy of Marquez’s effort, before the oldest lap record in MotoGP was bettered. Bezzecchi’s 1:37.510 was good enough to send Marc Marquez’s 2014 effort packing, as plenty of improvements started rolling in. Bagnaia and Brad Binder (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) were now P4 and P5, with Zarco now down in P8.
Bezzecchi’s lap record didn’t last long though. Marc Marquez put his name back next to the number one with a 1:37.438, with Alex Rins (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) shadowing the World Championship leader to help him leap up to P4.
Heading into the final five minutes, Bagnaia wasn’t desperate for a lap time but the Italian was P6. In other words, not safely into Q2 yet. And then, it was session over for the double MotoGP World Champion. Turn 2 bit, Bagnaia slid into the gravel, and that was all she wrote for the #63 who now had an anxious wait to see if he’d avoid a second consecutive Q1 appearance.
After his early session issues, Fabio Quartararo put his Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP machine in P5 to demote Bagnaia to P7. Binder and Zarco then shoved Bagnaia to P9 with less than a minute left, as Ai Ogura (Trackhouse MotoGP Team) pinched a late P10 – but it wasn’t session done yet. A late Rins flyer saw Ogura get shuffled out the automatic Q2 places, as Bagnaia survived needing to go through Q1 by the skin of his teeth.
Marquez’s final flying lap sees the six-time MotoGP World Champion sit over a tenth clear of the late improving Di Giannantonio, with Alex Marquez, Bezzecchi and Binder the top five at the end of play. Rins, Zarco and Quartararo make sure both Japanese manufacturers have something to shout about so far in Termas, as Acosta and Bagnaia scrape through.
2025 Argentinean MotoGP Results—Friday MotoGP
| 1 | Marc Marquez | Ducati Lenovo | 1:37.295s |
| 2 | Fabio Di Giannantonio | Ducati | +0.135s |
| 3 | Alex Marquez | Ducati | +0.201s |
| 4 | Marco Bezzecchi | Aprilia | +0.215s |
| 5 | Brad Binder | KTM | +0.251s |
Friday Moto2
World Championship leader Manuel Gonzalez (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) hit the ground running in Termas de Rio Hondo as the Spaniard ends Moto2 Practice at the top of the Triumph-powered timesheets. Gonzalez’s 1:41.713 was 0.160s quicker than Alonso Lopez’s (Team HDR Heidrun) best time, but it was the #21’s crash on the exit of Turn 3 that signalled the premature end to Practice with a Red Flag. Just over one minute was left unused on the clock, but Lopez was all OK after the crash. Jake Dixon (ELF Marc VDS Racing Team) rounds out the top three.
Marcos Ramirez (OnlyFans American Racing) and Barry Baltus (Fantic Racing) ease into Q2 on after pocketing P4 and P5, with Aron Canet (Fantic Racing) in P6 – but that wasn’t the story of the session for the #44. In the closing stages, Canet suffered a big crash at Turn 11 but has been confirmed as fit for the remainder of the event.
There was drama for another key names too as Diogo Moreira (Italtrans Racing Team) suffered a dramatic fall at Turn 1, missing the remainder of the session and thus finding himself in P15 and heading through Q1. He’ll be looking to make short work of that on Saturday as an interesting set of names get ready to fight it out.
2025 Argentinean MotoGP Results—Friday Moto2
| 1 | Manuel Gonzalez | Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP | 1:41.713s |
| 2 | Alonso Lopez | Team HDR Heidrun | +0.160s |
| 3 | Jake Dixon | Elf Marc VDS Racing | +0.175s |
| 4 | Marcos Ramirez | OnlyFans American Racing Team | +0.432s |
| 5 | Barry Baltus | Fantic Racing LINO SONEGO | +0.563s |
Friday Moto3
David Almansa (Leopard Racing) heads the Moto3™ timesheets on Day 1 at Termas, topping a session for the first time in his career and with a new lap record. His advantage was impressive too, with 0.364 in hand over rookie Alvaro Carpe (Red Bull KTM Ajo). Carpe already raised eyebrows in Thailand with a maiden podium first time out and at a venue he’d never previously ridden. Jose Antonio Rueda (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was third fastest as the Thai GP winner proved a key player once again, and was also second fastest in FP1.
Fourth goes to home hero Valentino Perrone (Red Bull KTM Tech3), who impressed to head a tightly packed group of riders where thousandths made the difference. Joel Kelso (LEVELUP-MTA), Ryusei Yamanaka (FRINSA – MT Helmets – MSI) and his teammate Angel Piqueras were next up, ahead of Scott Ogden (CIP Green Power), Dennis Foggia (CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team) and Buriram podium finisher Adrian Fernandez (Leopard Racing).
One notable name not heading straight through to Q1 is David Muñoz (Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP) as he ended Practice in P15 – and after topping FP1. But the #64 was involved in an incident with Foggia in the afternoon which hampered his session. No further action will be taken there. Muñoz already has a pitlane start here for causing a crash with Luca Lunetta (SIC58 Squadra Corse) in Thailand though, so qualifying won’t be his key focus.
Lunetta too is another surprise who heads for Q1, as does Buriram polesitter Matteo Bertelle (LEVEL UP – MTA) after a crash in the afternoon in Argentina. The incident brought out the Red Flag briefly, but rider ok.
2025 Argentinean MotoGP Results—Friday Moto3
| 1 | David Almansa | Leopard Racing | 1:46.981s | |
| 2 | Alvaro Carpe | Red Bull KTM Ajo | 0.364s | |
| 3 | Jose Antonio Rueda | Red Bull KTM Ajo | +0.470s | |
| 4 | Valentin Perrone | Red Bull KTM Tech3 | +0.704s | |
| 5 | Joel Kelso | LEVELUP – MTA | +0.773s |
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